This weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for Sunday's AMP Energy 500. To help you make your fantasy racing picks, RacingOne brings you our weekly detailed look at some of the field for the 188-lap event.
Who's HOT at Talladega • Jeff Gordon leads all drivers in wins (6) and laps led (805). • Dale Earnhardt Jr. has five wins and 11 top 10s in 19 starts. • Tony Stewart has one win and six runner-up finishes. • Jimmie Johnson has a win and four top-10 finishes in his last seven starts. • Kurt Busch has finished eighth or better in eight of the last 10 races. • Denny Hamlin has the best driver rating among drivers with two or more starts. • Kyle Busch has one win and has led the 75 laps with COT.
Keep an Eye on at Talladega
• Casey Mears has the best average finish (10.8) among drivers that have competed in every COT race at Talladega.
• Brad Keselowski will be back with the same team that he captured his first career Cup win with at Talladega in the spring.
• Ryan Newman has captured three top 10s with the COT at Talladega.
• Kevin Harvick currently holds the longest streak without a DNF at Talladega (17).
• David Ragan (will have new Ford FR9 engine) has posted an average finish of 6.3 in his last three starts at Talladega.
• Martin Truex Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya will be back in cars that won restrictor-plate poles this season.
• Marcos Ambrose and Elliott Sadler (will debut a Ford) have respective average finishes of 9.0 and 11.3 on restrictor-plate tracks in 2009.
• Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth will also debut Ford's FR9 engine.
Track Performers Matt Kenseth (Daytona), Brad Keselowski (Talladega) and Tony Stewart (Daytona) are the three winners this season on restrictor-plate tracks. Kurt Busch, who finished sixth at Talladega in April, leads all drivers with an average finish of 7.0 in 2009. Kenseth (8.7), Marcos Ambrose (9.0), David Ragan (10.3) and Stewart (10.7) round out the top five in average finish. Kyle Busch, who won the 2008 spring race at Talladega, has led the most laps this season with 131. Jeff Gordon leads all drivers on the all-time restrictor-plate win list with 12.
* - The best average finish is based off a driver who has competed in every race during that time span.
For a complete look at more facts and stats for Talladega Superspeedway Click Here to view RacingOne's AMP Energy 500 pre-race facts and stats eBook.
Talladega Loop Data Stat Leaders (2005-2009)
*Fastest Early in a Run
*Fastest Late in a Run
Avg. Running Position
1. Brad Keselowski
1. Scott Speed
1. Joey Logano - 12.9
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Brad Keselowski
2. Tony Stewart - 13.3
3. Paul Menard
3. Marcos Ambrose
3. Denny Hamlin - 13.6
4. Joey Logano
4. Joey Logano
3. Juan Pablo Montoya - 13.6
5. Jamie McMurray
5. Jeff Burton
5. Kurt Busch - 14.7
Laps in Top 15
*Quality Passes
*Driver Rating
1. Kurt Busch - 1100
1. Matt Kenseth - 2235
1. Brad Keselowski - 98.9
2. Matt Kenseth - 1071
2. Jeff Burton - 2229
1. Denny Hamlin - 94.8
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 1051
3. Kurt Busch - 2226
3. Tony Stewart - 92.4
4. Tony Stewart - 1034
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr - 1898
4. David Ragan - 92.3
5. Elliott Sadler - 989
5. Jimmie Johnson - 1895
5. D Earnhardt Jr/ B Vickers - 90.1
*Fastest Early In a Run: Ranks each driver during the first 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop. *Fastest Late In a Run: Ranks each driver during last 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop. *Quality Passes: Passing a car running in the Top 15 while under a green flag. *Driver Rating: Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
For a complete look at all the loop data statistics for Talladega Superspeedway Click Here to view RacingOne's AMP Energy 500 pre-race eBook.
Season Loop Data Leaders
*Fastest Early in a Run
*Fastest Late in a Run
Avg. Running Position
1. Jimmie Johnson
1. Jimmie Johnson
1. Jimmie Johnson - 7.4
2. Mark Martin
2. Denny Hamlin
2. Kurt Busch - 10.7
3. Jeff Gordon
3. Mark Martin
2. Jeff Gordon - 10.7
4. Kurt Busch
4. Carl Edwards
4. Tony Stewart - 11.1
5. Kyle Busch
5. Kurt Busch
5. Mark Martin - 11.6
Laps in Top 15
*Quality Passes
*Driver Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson - 8201
1. Kurt Busch - 1651
1. Jimmie Johnson - 114.9
2. Mark Martin - 7680
2. J.P. Montoya - 1573
2. Jeff Gordon - 102.3
3. Jeff Gordon - 7482
3. Jimmie Johnson - 1566
3. Denny Hamlin - 101.9
4. Kurt Busch - 7301
4. Matt Kenseth - 1384
4. Tony Stewart - 101.4
5. Denny Hamlin - 7053
5. Denny Hamlin - 1374
5. Mark Martin - 100.6
*Fastest Early In a Run: Ranks each driver during the first 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop. *Fastest Late In a Run: Ranks each driver during last 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop. *Quality Passes: Passing a car running in the Top 15 while under a green flag. *Driver Rating: Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
RacingOne Staff Picks Jeff Wackerlin: Tony Stewart Pete Pistone: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Rachael West: Kyle Busch
Top 30 Driver Notes - Ordered by Current Standings
(All stats/notes are in regards to Talladega Superspeedway unless noted)
1. Jimmie Johnson: Winner of the 2006 spring race; Finished second in both races in 2007; Has posted an average finish of 13.5 in the four races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 482) that finished 31st in the rain-shortened Daytona 500.
2. Mark Martin: Finished 43rd in first track start with Hendrick Motorsports in April; A crash has taken him out of the race in two of his last four starts; Last of 22 top 10s came in this event in 2006 with Roush Racing; Won the spring race in 1995 and 1997; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 481) that Casey Mears drove to a seventh-place finish in April 2008 at Talladega.
3. Jeff Gordon: Leads all active drivers with six wins and laps led (805); Swept both races in 2007; Won first race with the COT at the track; Has posted an average finish of 31.3 in last three starts.
4. Tony Stewart: Won this event in 2008; Finished 23rd in track debut with Stewart-Haas in April; Has led the most laps in the four COT races (123); Will race the same car (chassis No. 532) that finished second at Daytona in the Duel, 23rd at Talladega and first at Daytona in July. The car suffered engine problems in the spring race at Talladega.
5. Juan Pablo Montoya: Won the pole and finished 20th in April; A runner-up finish in the 2008 spring race is only top 10 in five starts; Has a 15.5 average finish in four starts with the COT; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 902) that won the pole at Talladega in the spring and has posted an average finish of 14.3 in the three plate races in 2009.
6. Kurt Busch: Has posted an average finish of 12.3 in seven starts with Penske Racing; Sixth-place finish was 12 top 10 in 17 overall starts; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 625) in the AMP Energy 500.
7. Ryan Newman: Finished third in first track start with Stewart-Haas in April; Finish was seventh top 10 in 15 overall starts; Has posted an average finish of 14.8 in the four races with the COT.
8. Greg Biffle: Coming off first top 10 (seventh) in 13 starts; Has posted an average finish of 18.0 in the four races with the COT; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 673) in the AMP Energy 500.
9. Denny Hamlin: Best driver rating among drivers that have competed in more than one race; Has led 164 laps in seven starts; Led 28 laps in April and finished 22nd; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 233) that led 28 laps en route to a 22nd-place finish at Talladega in April.
10. Carl Edwards: Has suffered crashes in last two events; Best finish, of fifth, came in this event in 2005; Has posted an average finish of 26.8 in the four races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 650) that finished fourth at Daytona in July.
11. Kasey Kahne: Only top 10 (second) came in this event in 2006; Has posted an average finish of 27.8 in the four races with the COT; Finished 36th in April.
12. Brian Vickers: Won this event in 2006 with Hendrick Motorsports; Has posted an average finish of 21.8 in four starts with Team Red Bull; Has started in the top 10 in four of his last five starts.
13. Kyle Busch: Won the 2008 spring race; Has led 75 laps in the four races with the COT; Led 42 laps and finished 25th in April; This weekend will mark last race with crew chief Steve Addington; Will debut a new chassis (No. 201) in the AMP Energy 500.
14. Matt Kenseth: Has posted an average finish of 24.8 in last five starts; Last of six top 10s came in this event in 2006; Has the second-best average finish (8.7 on plate tracks in 2009).
15. Clint Bowyer: Only top 10s came in both races in 2008; Fifth-place finish in this event last year is best to date; Started fifth and finished 39th in April; Will race the same car (chassis No. 260) that finished fourth in the Daytona 500.
16. David Reutimann: Has yet to post a top-15 finish in five starts; Best finish came in the 2008 spring race in 20th.
17. Marcos Ambrose: Finished fourth in track debut in April; Has the third-best average finish (9.0) on plate tracks in 2009.
18. Jeff Burton: Has finished in the top 10 in last two starts; 10th-place finish in April was fourth top 10 in 10 starts with Richard Childress Racing; Todd Berrier will take over crew chief duties this weekend; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 217) that finished 10th at Talladega in the spring after coming back from three laps down.
19. Casey Mears: Has the best average finish (10.8) among drivers that have raced in all four races with the COT; Finished 16th in the spring after leading two laps; Best finish (sixth) came in this event in 2007 with Hendrick Motorsports; Doug Randolph will take over crew chief duties this weekend; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 242) that finished 34th at Daytona in July.
20. Joey Logano: Started 22nd and finished ninth in track debut in April; Has a 23.7 average finish on restrictor-plate tracks in 2009.
21. Kevin Harvick: Has posted an average finish of 25.5 in last four starts; Last of seven top 10s came in the 2007 spring race in sixth; Will race the same car (chassis No. 237) that posted a 22.0 average finish in the three plate races this season.
22. Jamie McMurray: Has posted an average finish of 32.0 in last four starts; Best finish is fifth, which he has accomplished three times; Will debut a new chassis (No. 665) in the AMP Energy 500.
23. Martin Truex Jr.: Has posted a DNF in seven of his nine starts; Last top 10 (10th) came in the 2007 spring race; Will race the same car (chassis No. 074) that won the pole at Daytona and qualified third at Talladega in April.
24. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Five-time winner; Finished second in April for eighth top five; Has posted an average finish of 13.3 in three starts with Hendrick Motorsports; Will pilot the same car (chassis No. 475) that raced at Talladega in the spring.
25. AJ Allmendinger: Posted a 32.5 average finish in two starts; Finished 35th in first track start with Richard Petty Motorsports in April.
26. Elliott Sadler: Has scored three top 10s in three starts; Sixth-best average finish (11.3) on plate tracks this season; Will debut a Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports.
27. Sam Hornish Jr.: Has recorded an average finish of 34.5 in two starts; Started fourth and finished 34th in April after a crash took him out of contention; Has a 24.4 average finish on plate tracks in 2009.
28. David Ragan: Has posted an average finish of 6.3 in his last three starts; He finished in the top five in both races in 2008; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 649) that finished 13th at Daytona in July.
29. Reed Sorenson: Finished 11th in track debut with Richard Petty Motorsports in April; Lone top 10 (10th) came in this event in 2007 with Ganassi racing.
30. David Stremme: Finished 31st in track debut with Penske Racing in April; Only top 10 (eighth) in six overall starts came in the 2007 spring race.
