The big one today at Talladega ?

[The General]

Enjoy the race today, but try and time it for viewing about the last 15 laps. Not very exciting when it's side by side caution for 95% of the race. Tony Stewart said once that NASCAR should make this a 50 lap race because the rest of it is just running circles trying to be safe.

[pvcpipe]

and if you see someone streaking....don't worry it's just Oscar.

[The General]

With some help, which won't happen, Brian Vickers is good here and has had chances before but his team mates left him hanging to dry. Strong driver for this race, but you cannot win w/out help. Hendricks and Roush are the teams with most help, although Gibbs has plenty out there, too.

If Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans decide to throw beer cans at Jeff Gordon again, they'd better be careful, they might just hit their favorite driver.

The Hendrick Motorsports teammates, two of the greatest restrictor plate racers in the sport, have a plan for Sunday's Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Both men have agreed to set aside their competitive differences, for a portion of the race at least, and work on their team building skills.
"Me and Jeff are thinking about going up front, running hard ... go up there and try to learn how to work together," Earnhardt said. "I think it will work good, we got to make it work."

Teammates or not, Junior Nation may find this pairing a bit unsettling.

Talladega Superspeedway is sacred ground for the Earnhardt family and the fans don't take kindly to interlopers. The city of Talladega has become a Mecca of sorts, a holy city. Thousands of Earnhardt fans make the pilgrimage to 'Dega twice a year to worship their beloved driver. Needless to say, the place has special meaning for Earnhardt.

Special not only because he has five wins and his late father 10, but because it feels like home and the fans, evident by the loud roar that rolls from the stands whenever he takes the lead in the race, adore him.

"Well, to me it's special. I don't think everyone gets that sensation going into the race," Earnhardt said. "But to me it's a pretty important place just because my family's done so well there. And the way the fans treat us there make it exciting, make it a place you look forward to. I think that's probably the biggest key, the fans and how they've treated us at that track."

His fans are loyal -- to the point of dangerous.

Last year when Gordon bettered the late Dale Earnhardt's all-time victory list with 77 wins at the revered track, fans were enraged and began chucking beer cans onto the track pelting Gordon's No. 24 (watch video).

But a year later, Gordon and Earnhardt are in a position to align, combining their knowledge and ability to master the draft.

"We just said we'd go up there and work together and enjoy working together instead of being so competitive," Earnhardt said after posting a 15th-place qualifying lap Saturday. The No. 88 driver was forced to qualify a backup car after an early crash in practice Friday caused by a blown right rear tire (watch video). "We should be fine. I'm pretty happy with the way the guys rebounded and I feel like really prepared going into the race even after the day we had yesterday."

Of course at the end of the day, nearing the final laps of the race, Earnhardt said both drivers will go for the win, determining the dominant plate racer for the time being.

"Well we both think we are the best so that's where the conflict comes in. Who is supposed to be out front and who is supposed to be helping who," Earnhardt said. "We do a pretty good job at it ... we are getting better working together for 75 percent of the race. [Gordon] knows what he's doing, he can be a great help to you. You get what you give and maybe sometimes I'm not as giving as I should be."

NASCAR.COM - Gordon, Earnhardt have unified plan for Sunday - Oct 4, 2008

[The General]

Carl Edwards admits to being 'stressed' for 'Dega race

Second in the standings, would be thrilled to finish 10th.



TALLADEGA, Ala. -- There are some drivers who love restrictor plate racing at Talladega: Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for starters.

Although Carl Edwards seemingly doesn't share their affinity for the so-called wild card traits and potentially devastating results the superspeedway can produce; not a driver that is deep in the hunt for his first Sprint Cup championship anyway.

In fact, he'd be willing to pay a $1 million just to leave the race Sunday with a 10th-place finish.

"I might pay more," Edwards said, referring to the value of a good finish at a track where the proverbial drafting game can have a driver running up front and then stuck in the middle of the back within just a few laps. "It's the biggest wild card race and honestly I've been stressed about it a little this week. Yesterday I was talking to my dad a little bit and he reminded me to just have a good time and whatever happens, happens. I'm going to try to enjoy it no matter what."

One might say enjoying Talladega would be difficult for a driver whose average finish in five seasons is 24. Both spring Talladega races, Edwards finished 40th and 42nd and he's led just nine laps. Sunday could offer hope though as Edwards, who is 10 points behind Chase leader Jimmie Johnson, qualified 12th for Sunday's Amp Energy 500.

"Your past performances here don't really mean much. A guy can win this thing that has never even finished in the top 20," Edwards said. "You know the biggest thing is avoiding a wreck."

Staying out of trouble will be the key for all Chase drivers -- even the draft masters and restrictor plate kings like Junior and Gordon.

"It doesn't matter how good you're car is, doesn't matter how good a plate racer you are. And with the [new car] it just matters who makes the right move at the last minute. It's about the most level playing field when it comes to Talladega," Earnhardt said.

Not even qualifying matters much, he added.

"You go to 20th to first in three laps so I don't think it matters. You just qualify and try to get a good pit selection ... good pit selection not track position," Earnhardt said.

You can plan a strategy but it's often unraveled at the hands of other drivers, cautions, and pit stops. Edwards said he will try to stay up front for as long as possible. As he sees it, the results on Sunday will be determined by luck.

"My car is pretty fast so I'm going to race," Edwards said. "You never know what's going to happen. We can go out and win this thing and that would be great, but just as easily we could have some sort of trouble and not do well. There are more chances involved in this race than probably any other on the schedule."

NASCAR.COM - Edwards admits to being 'stressed' for 'Dega race - Oct 4, 2008

[The General]

THE AMP ENERGY 500 IS UNDERWAY ...

[The General]

Jeff Gordon will not be repeating.

I like Earnhardt's chances and his buddy, Stewart will be there to aid him, although at crunch time, both will be trying to win.

Jimmie Johnson in trouble also. Edwards acts scared, never much a factor here anyhow. Vickers is tough as expected.

Kyle Busch should be there also.

[The General]

We have a BIG ONE!

[The General]

Earnhardt has the lead now with MANY good cars out of contention so..................That looks good for Jr Nation, but it is still real early.

[The General]

My guy Juan Montoya is up there also so that is kewl as hell.

[The General]

Looks like the 48 car is having a serious problem and knaus is begging for a top 10 at best.

[The General]

How about that 48 team with Jimmie Johnson (Best ever maybe) up in front again.

JJ, Stewart and Earnhardt werkin together will get a good finish for one of them.

[The General]

Seems there are many tire issues so far today. That makes it shaky for each contender.