Brad Keselowski Wins Amid Talladega Mayhem

Talladega Superspeedway bent up a lot of metal today and sent some fans to the hospital. Restrictor plate racing fans had a thrilling finish to love while plate racing haters saw way too many crashes.

For better or worse today's 2009 Aaron's 499 was everything that we have come to expect from Talladega.

Qualifying

Juan Pablo Montoya picked up the first pole of his NASCAR Sprint Cup career. Greg Biffle started along side on the outside of the the front row. Martin Truex Jr. and Sam Hornish made up row number two while Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five.

Drop Of The Green

Montoya held on from the pole to lead the first lap ahead of Truex, Bowyer and Mark Martin which represent the inside line of the first four rows of the starting order. Those four drivers stayed in single file on the bottom to rule the first few laps.

It wouldn't be long before Talladega would do what Talladega is most famous for.

Storylines

This Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway was bookended with two multicar wrecks.

Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon were four wide in the middle of turn three on lap seven when they got together and unleashed "The Big One."

This multicar crash included Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and many more. In all, fourteen cars received some form of damage in this wreck.

With nine laps to go we saw another "Big One." This one included Jimmie Johnson, Robby Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and others for a total of nine cars. In this wreck Robby Gordon pounded the inside wall. I was happy to see him walk away.

Despite some hard hits thankfully everyone in both crashes was ok.

I understand NASCAR's need for the restrictor plate but I wish there was a better way for NASCAR to control speeds which wouldn't force drivers to swim in large drafting packs which breed these massive pile-ups. There has to be a better way.

Jimmie Johnson voiced an opinion that must be shared by most of his fellow drivers "It sucks racing here."

Chasing The Checkers

After the second "Big One" the field took the final green flag with just four laps to go. Ryan Newman had the lead ahead of Earnhardt, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton and Joey Logano. Carl Edwards was ninth.

Edwards and Brad Keselowski hooked up on the outside. The two of them passed the rest of the leaders and took the lead just as they took the white flag. It looked like Edwards was going to win it as they approached the checkered flag nose to tail with a healthy lead.

Keselowski took a shot on the bottom and turned Edwards around. Edwards spun, got hit and flipped up into the fence.

This was an amazing finish. Keselowski didn't do anything wrong. This is just another example of typical restrictor plate racing.

Thank God the fence held on the front stretch. That was similar to Bobby Allison's 1987 crash which caused NASCAR to invent the restrictor plate. Maybe this race will cause NASCAR to re-evaluate that plate solution.

Although the fence prevented a catastrophe there were still eight fans injured in the stands from flying debris. Hopefully everyone will be OK.

Top Ten

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Ryan Newman
4. Marcos Ambrose
5. Scott Speed
6. Kurt Busch
7. Greg Biffle
8. Brian Vickers
9. Joey Logano
10. Jeff Burton

The Points

After being involved in the first "Big One" Jeff Gordon fell from the top of the point lead. Kurt Busch took over the top spot by just five points over Gordon.

The top twelve are now:

1. Kurt Busch
2. Jeff Gordon -5
3. Jimmie Johnson -64
4. Tony Stewart -67
5. Denny Hamlin -109
6. Kyle Busch -175
7. Carl Edwards -180
8. Clint Bowyer -201
9. Jeff Burton -207
10. Greg Biffle -218
11. David Reutimann -222
12. Matt Kenseth -236