2007 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

2007 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:

Since the invention of the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup format Talladega Superspeedway has loomed as the wildcard event of the ten race schedule. The 2007 UAW-Ford 500 is a bigger wildcard than ever since this race

How will the less aerodynamic Cars of Tomorrow handle in a big pack? This Sunday the Chase for the Cup races off into the unknown.

Tickets:

Speedway ticket office 1-877-Go2-DEGA

Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)

The Track:

Talladega Superspeedway is the longest track on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit measuring 2.66 miles. A steep 33 degrees of banking in the corners and 18 degrees in the front tri-oval make handling a secondary consideration. Talladega is big, fast, and all about horsepower and drafting.

Race Distance:

188 laps = 500 miles

The Big Picture:

Last week's Kansas event brought disaster for many Chase drivers. When the smoke cleared three drivers remained at the top of the point standings. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer are all within nine points of the lead but fourth place Tony Stewart is now more than 100 points behind.

The top twelve:

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Jeff Gordon -6
3. Clint Bowyer -9
4. Tony Stewart -117
5. Kevin Harvick -126
6. Kyle Busch -136
7. Carl Edwards -142
8. Martin Truex Jr. -158
9. Kurt Busch -177
10. Jeff Burton -186
11. Matt Kenseth -219
12. Denny Hamlin -248

Storylines:

In 2005, Tony Stewart said "(Talladega) just carries more variables that are out of your control than any other race. That's kind of why we view Talladega as a wild-card race. You can't really predict anything." Never has that been more true than this weekend.

This will be the 13th Car of Tomorrow race but the first on a track larger than 1.33 miles. No one knows for sure how the car will react in a 43 car draft. Will there be more passing or less? This race is a wild-card race like never before.

Media Coverage:

TV: ABC Sunday, October 7th, 1:00PM Eastern.

Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite

Actual Race: 2:10PM Eastern

Posted Awards:

$5,384,639

Last Year:

In 2006 the UAW-Ford 500 saw Brian Vickers claim his first ever NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory. Unfortunately for him he won as a result of his own mistake.

As the field entered the final lap Dale Earnhardt Jr. was leading over Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers. On the backstretch Johnson got a run and pulled down to pass Earnhardt for the win.

Vickers pulled down to go with him but misjudged it and clipped Johnson. Both Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Junior wrecked. Then the yellow flag flew and froze the field while Brian Vickers was still leading.

Predictions:

Everyone likes to claim that restrictor plate racing is a crapshoot. It is interesting to note, however, that the same top-caliber teams always seem to rise to the top. This means that even in a wildcard race the best teams still find a way to win.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won four of the last five Talladega races. Clearly that team has an excellent restrictor plate program. In addition, they have solid drivers and crew chiefs that communicate extremely well. This will be important this weekend as teams will have to adapt quickly to how the Car of Tomorrow reacts to restrictor plate racing.

My primary and backup picks this week have to be Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. These two drivers sit atop the NEXTEL Cup point standings and need to play it safe this weekend. The safest place to be at Talladega is out front.

I predict that these Hendrick teammates will go to the front and stay there all day long. Whichever team wins the race off of pit road the final time will go on to win the race. Once again NASCAR's premier NEXTEL Cup organization will rise to the Talladega challenge.