The wild card.... I think I should get 10 pics for this thing because it just ain't fair!!!! But I'm going to jump out and say.....

1) Kevin Harvick
2) David Ragan ( long shoot, he's good at these things though)
3) Jamie McMurray

In the wreck:

1) Carl Edwards
2) Jeff Gordon
3) Jimmy Johnson
4) Denny Hamlin
5) Kyle Busch
6) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7) Brad Keselowski
8) Ryan Newman
9) Elliott Sadler
10) A.J. Allmendinger
11) Greg Biffle
12) Matt Kenseth
13) Clint Bowyer
14) Joey Logano
15) Sam Hornish

Top 10 Breakdown: 6 Chevys, a Ford, a Dodge, and 2 Toyotas!

Last Place; Landon Cassill

 

Martin made it through the big one! And he's been fastest in practice and has come on at the end of the year. Hes ready to win now and my pick for Sundays big race! This will be the best race of the year.

My picks

1. Mark Martin
2. Dale Jr (he ll be tough to beat)
3. Reutimann

 

..Thanks `Duane for starting the NASCAR member's picks for Talladega.....Great to see the Brent (JrCar) making his picks early : )~* I shall post mine b-4 the race...This is a difficult race to pick a winner...
Hope all our NASCAR Fans enjoy the race & post their picks below....EnJoy

TALLADEGA


1 p.m. ET Sunday, ESPN


Dance fever

At Talladega, it's all about finding the right partner for a two-car breakaway. Ideal for teammates, but not often the case. Many times, that is left to circumstance.

Talladega: Practice 1 | Practice 2 | Qual Order | Sound Off: Hamlin | Busch
Talladega, Ala.
Clear 38°
Forecast
Champion will handle pressure the best

Top three in Chase admit to feeling the heat with four races to go.
164 Comments
Sound Off: Johnson

Daily Pit Stop: Taming Talladega

Bowyer, Burton, Busch and Johnson talk about what they expect this weekend at Talladega.
Sound Off: Edwards

Harvick likes chances in wild-card race

Preview: Of three in the hunt, Harvick has the best stats at Talladega.
452 Comments
Movers and Chasers

Follow the Chase:
Talladega bound

Get the inside scoop on Race 7 of 10 as the top three hope to avoid the Big One at 'Dega.
12 Things To Know
Source: NASCAR.com

 

Practice numbers don't mean a first damn thing at this place. I know in the spring they were talking about how the fastest two in practice were like when Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne bump drafted for a lap.... so is Martin fastest in single car runs? 2-3 car runs? Bump drafting when no one else tried it?

Plus, was he setting up for race trim or qualifying trim? Since track position doesn't mean a whole lot.... sometimes weird names show up at the front because they had to make it on time and couldnt' risk qualifying in race trim (is this still an impound race?)

 

Practice speeds do indicate something, I'd say. Although it is true the slowest car could win here, top practice speed is evaluated over many laps with many other cars and scenarios - just like a race. But this is an impound race, so qualifying doesn't mean so much for 2 reason. Qualifying trim differs from racing trim and it is a single car run - nothing like the actual race.

In qualifying Martin didn't do well at all (30th), but if he can make it through the big one he stands a good (better then usual chance). And I really think Junior is poised.

I also wanna crap all over Nascar for blowing that call in the truck race yesterday. Kyle Busch won the truck race with 2 tires below the yellow line. I was okay with this a first because I thought the rule indicated it had to be 4 tires, but that isn't the rule. What Nascar invented to let KB keep the win: His truck was loose and he was trying to keep from wrecking, so its okay. This doesn't even make sense. If he was loose and just trying to save the truck, then how the hell did he pass the leader, Almirola? Doesn't getting loose usually slow a car down a bit? And the idea that you can win below the yellow saving your car, but you can't win below the yellow saving the field from wrecking (see Regan Smith/ Tony Stewart 2008) doesn't make sense either.

BTW I'd be thrilled to see Regan Smith win this one - nobody deserves a Talladega win more (after having his only career win stolen by inventive officiating here in the aforementioned 2008 incident where Tony Stewart forced him below the yellow at the finish. Smith brought it back above the line by the start/finish line, but was disqualified for the "illegal" pass and given something like 28th). Prior to 2008, finishing below the yellow line was commonplace.

Last place: Michael McDowell (qualified 15th - a career highlight!)
1st caution causer: Peblo
# of cautions: 7

Bonus pick - # of cars in the big one: 11 (I won't be as detailed a Duane's 15)

I'm excited about this one...

 

..Thanks `Duane & Brent,
I really enjoyed reading (posts), your thoughts on the race...
I will again try 2 listen to the race on the radio 2day : )

I just read & watched the vid on the Truck Race...It's below
if you want 2 check it `out...

Final Laps: Can't get any closer than this

Aric Almirola and Kyle Busch were nose-to-tail until the finish line was in sight at Talladega.
Post-race reactions


Big One puts Hornaday on his roof

Bodine gets bumped in the tri-oval leading to a six-truck wreck that brings out the red.
Several go spinning


Contenders looking for help from mates

Top three will take help in the draft from whoever will give it.
230 Comments
Finding right partner


Montoya rockets to second 'Dega pole

Takes pole with lap of 184.640 mph; only three Chasers in top 10.
166 Comments
JPM sets mark early


Amidst uncertainty, Ambrose to stay put

Forgoes trip back home, will stay in U.S. and prepare for 2011.
54 Comments
Concerned for future


One race far more arbitrary than Chase

Caraviello: Talladega is one race where chance wins out over ability.
104 Comments
Sound Off: Hamlin

 

Space Picks
1. Dale Jr
2. Jeff Gordon :p
3. Joey Logano

7 cautions
11 cars in the Big One
last place: Kyle Busch

Top Ten: 5 Chevy's/2 Mopar/3 Fords : )
Hope everyone enjoys the Race 2day 4-Sure.....

 

Brent, my understanding is that in the truck series, at least at one time, once you came off turn 4 it was all fair game, yellow lines or no. As for the rule itself... well, maybe NASCAR should expand "have at it, boys"

 

Hi Member's, are you going to watch the race ?

Next: Cup Series race

Cars are lined up on pit road and pre-race ceremonies are under way before 500 miles of racing begins at Talladega. Green flag at 1:16 p.m. ET.
~>Cowboy `Duane & Hot Rod `Brent,
look forward to your updates during the race & your posted thoughts on how the race is going ?

Member's, you can check out the race while it's in action.
Check out nascar Live Leaderboard...has great information
on where everyone is at + plus lots of infor...
EnJoy the race
http://www.nascar.com/races/leaderboard/cup/race/
click above for leaderboard during the race : )

 

Dale `Jr, was leading when I went in2 recharge mode, and when I awoke, he was in last : ( Maybe next year : )

Amazin move by Jeff G & J.J. to the front, then J.J> dumps Jeff G : ( on about the last 15 laps....

No one is helping `Joey L, but it's not over until it over : )

Caution lap comes out while J.J. is up front on lap 7
Debry on Track (I wonder if it came from a Hendrick plane above in the sky ?
WoW 26 leaders, and 84 lead changes on lap 7....
Restart on lap 5 MRN Radio annoncer's do a super `job of calling the Race...Wish I had cable TV (maybe next year : )