Talk Already Buzzing about Elimination Race of Contender Round -Talladega Superspeedway’s GEICO 500

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It’s now down to 12 Contenders in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but the talk has already begun about the most anticipated and unpredictable race – Talladega Superspeedway’s GEICO 500 on October 19.

Talladega will be filled with high intensity, pressure and anguish like never before as the field of eligible drivers for the title will dwindle to eight at the conclusion of the GEICO 500. There will be a sense of urgency that is unlike any other to get to the front and avoid the “Big One”, and the drivers’ thinking is in fast-forward.

“That place is going to be a crazy”, said Brad Keselowski of Talladega Superspeedway, site of his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) triumph in 2009. “There’s going to be a lot of guys on the bubble, and it’s probably all going to change on the last lap of the last corner.”

After Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway, the final event of the Challenger Round, Keselowski, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon (winner at Dover) advanced to the round of 12, along with Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne. Kurt Busch, A.J. Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, and Aric Almirola were eliminated.

Johnson, who won one of Talladega’s closest races in history by .002 second in 2011, says he hopes to be comfortably high in the standings when he returns for the GEICO 500.

“Talladega is definitely the wild card,” admits the two-time ‘Dega winner. “If I am one of the guys that wins at Charlotte or Kansas (first two races of the Contender Round), it’s sure going to make the race at Talladega fun. Otherwise, you’re just going to be on pins and needles and stressing like crazy. That’s the strategy; really try to win one of those first two so you can go to Talladega, pull them (belts) tight and let it rip.”

In addition to Keselowski and Johnson, six of the remaining 12 Chase Contenders have seen victories at NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track. The other four, however, have had solid finishes at Talladega’s 2.66 mile oval. Below, in order of the Chase Standings, are their highlights at Talladega Superspeedway:

  • Keselowski got his first taste of success in NASCAR with his first career triumph at Talladega Superspeedway in 2009 and added his second win in 2012. Keselowski also has NASCAR a Nationwide win and three NSCS top-five finishes.
  • While he hasn’t won a NSCS race at TSS, Joey Logano has one NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) victory, five NNS top-five finishes and two NSCS top-five finishes. In May, he led the Aaron’s 499 four times for 25 laps.
  • Kevin Harvick has one NSCS win, six top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes.
  • Johnson has two wins, six top-five finishes, 10 top-10 finishes, one pole and an average finish of 17.2 in 25 starts.
  • Jeff Gordon, active win leader at TSS, has a total of six victories at Talladega including a sweep in 2007. He has earned 15 top-five finishes.
  • Kyle Busch has one NSCS victory at Talladega Superspeedway, in April 2008. He has four top-five NSCS finishes, as well as triumphs in two fred’s 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races, and has gone to Gatorade Victory Lane once in the NASCAR NNS.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. currently holds the track record for most consecutive wins, going to Gatorade Victory Lane four straight races from 2001-2003. Talladega Superspeedway is his best Chase Track, with five total wins, 10 top-five finishes, 14 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.0 in 29 starts.
  • Matt Kenseth has one win at Talladega, in October 2012. He has four top-five finishes and 9 top-10 finishes.
  • Ryan Newman has four top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes and an average finish of 21.5 in 25 starts.
  • Carl Edwards hasn’t won at Talladega but has been close on several occasions. He has two top-five finishes, five top-10 finishes and an average finish of 21.0 in 20 starts.
  • Denny Hamlin won May’s Aaron’s 499 and also has three top-five finishes.
  • Kasey Kahne has a pair of runner-up finishes (2006, 2009), along with four top-10 results.

TSS PR

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