Six of the last seven NASCAR Busch Series races discounting Bristols .533-mile track have been contested at venues where the distance averages nearly 1.4 miles. But average will hardly be the catch word this weekend when series drivers compete on NASCARs largest track the 2.66-mile tri-oval at Talladega Superspeedway. There have been eight different winners in the seasons first nine races, while seven different drivers have claimed Busch Poles. But at Talladega, there is one constant: Joe Nemechek (#87 Cellular One Chevrolet).
The 1992 NASCAR Busch Series champion who owns his NEMCO Motorsports team holds nearly every series performance record at Talladega. He is the only driver with more than one victory (two), has five poles, six top fives and seven top 10s in 13 starts. And although four different drivers have posted victories since his last win in 2000, Nemechek finished second in 2003 and 10th last year. Accidents relegated him to 39th and 34th-place finishes in 2001 and 02, respectively. When we’ve stayed out of trouble, we’ve been there in the end, Nemechek said. Then you look at [our recent] finishes, you know we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ve put in a lot of hard work on our superspeedway program and I think that’s why we run well, because we pay attention to all the details. We don’t just focus on one area, we focus on everything.
Prime time for Truex at Talladega Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) is the defending race winner at Talladega, having defeated his Chance 2 Motorsports owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., one year ago. The race was Truexs first at the venue, and further enhanced his career performance on NASCARs restrictor-plate tracks. In four races at Talladega and Daytona, Truex has a win, a pole and three top-five finishes.
This race could be the turnaround event in Truexs season. Last week at Phoenix, he posted his first top-10 finish since his win at Mexico City seven races ago to move to fifth place in the point standings, 18 points out of fourth.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Edwards, Bowyer putting squeeze on Sorenson … Carl Edwards (#60 Charter Communications Ford) was able to put 70 points between his first-place ranking in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings and that of second-place Reed Sorenson (#41 Discount Tire Co. Dodge) following Edwards eighth-place finish at Phoenix. Sorenson, meanwhile, posted not only his worst finish of the season 32nd but the worst finish of his 14-race NASCAR Busch Series career. Edwards enters Talladega with a 1418 1262 lead over fellow Raybestos Rookie Sorenson, who saw his lead over third-place Clint Bowyer (#2 ACDelco Chevrolet) dwindle from 90 points before Phoenix to 33 heading into Talladega. Kenny Wallace (#22 Stacker 2 Ford) continues his resurgent season and stands in fourth place for the second consecutive week, but Martin Truex Jr. and rookie Denny Hamlin (#20 Rockewell Automation Chevrolet), who are in fifth and sixth, respectively with 1070 points, are closing quickly. In fact, the separation between Wallace (1088) and ninth-place Greg Biffle (#66 Duraflame Ford), last weeks winner, is 84 points. David Stremme (#14 U.S. NAVY Dodge) rounds out the NASCAR Busch Series Top 10 with 984 points.
Garage closing opens other activities For the second and final time this season, the NASCAR Busch Series garage will be closed on Friday following practice and qualifying on Thursday prior to Saturdays Aarons 312 at Talladega. Two weeks ago at Texas, the new impound rule resulted in the same off-day for the NASCAR Busch Series as the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series cars were not impounded following qualifying.
Kasey Kahne and Tyler Walker, who share time in the #38 Great Clips Dodge, will be among those drivers who will participate in the 20th annual Race Fever auction and barbeque Friday evening benefiting the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Brian Vickers the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series champion and Kyle Busch, who will drive the #5 Lowes Chevrolet in Saturdays race, will also be in attendance. Many teams are planning to use the day for a round of golf, including the #20 Rockwell Automation crew. Driver Denny Hamlin grudgingly played his first-ever round during the similar off-day at Texas, but enjoyed the experience so much he was the organizer of Fridays outing. Shane Hmiels #32 WINFuel Chevrolet team is heading back to Mooresville, N.C., following qualifying on Thursday and will return to the track Saturday morning. Hmiel, however, has various media appearances and activities planned on Friday, including a visit to Race Fever. After his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series qualifying run Friday, Kenny Wallace is looking forward to participating on the Talladega Short Track in his dirt car, The Herminator. He will also run on the dirt Saturday night.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Joe Nemechek led nine races and 191 laps in NASCAR Busch Series competition at Talladega. He has also collected three poles in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at the track. Defending champion Martin Truex Jr. is joined by Jason Keller (#35 McDonalds Ford) as former race winners in the field. Keller won in 2002. Clint Bowyer and Johnny Sauter (#1 Yellow Transportation Dodge) join Nemechek as former pole winners in the field. Bowyer sat on the pole at this event last year while Sauter claimed the top spot in 2002. It was the first NASCAR Busch Series pole for both drivers. Stacy Compton (#59 Kingsford/Bushs Baked Beans Ford) has two poles at Talladega (both in 2001), however, they were won in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition. Nemechek is the only driver to have won from the pole at Talladega (1998).
ETC.
The victory at Phoenix by 2002 NASCAR Busch Series champion Greg Biffle pushed Ford back into the lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings for the first time in four races. Ford has four wins and 62 points while Chevrolet has three wins and 57 points. Dodge has two victories and 52 points. Tony Stewart (#33 Mr. Clean AutoDry Pro Series Chevrolet), who won his first NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona in February, is entered at Talladega and will attempt to go two-for-two at restrictor plate tracks this season. Reed Sorenson finished second last year in an ARCA race at Talladega, his only start at the track. However, Sorensons crew chief, Brian Pattie, claims five of his 17 NASCAR Busch Series wins and eight of his 16 Busch Poles at restrictor plate tracks. Kasey Kahne (#6 Ragu Dodge) will show off his grilling skills at 8:30 a.m. Friday as part of an interactive cooking demonstration at the Hungry Drivers display area at Talladega. Elliott Sadler (#90 CitiFinancial Ford) announced he will compete in the NASCAR Busch Series race under the lights at Richmond, his home track, on May 13. Sadler is from Emporia, Va. Chuck Meyers will serve as crew chief this weekend at Talladega for the #1 Yellow Transportation Dodge team, while Joe Shear Jr. serves the first race of his four-race suspension. Martin Truex Jr., Johnny Sauter, Carl Edwards, Kenny Wallace and Stanton Barrett (#36 KC Masterpiece Chevrolet) will attempt to qualify for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Talladega.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Talladega Superspeedway has hosted 13 NASCAR Busch Series events since 1992. Joe Nemechek is the only repeat winner having been victorious in 1998 and 2000.
Nemechek became the first driver to win this event from the Busch Pole with his 1998 victory. He led the first 21 laps before giving up the top position to veteran Dick Trickle, who led the most laps in the event. Nemechek took the lead again on Lap 102 and held it to Lap 113 for the win.
Nemecheks second Talladega victory came in 2000 from deep in the starting field 35th position. There were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers, but Nemechek won the 10 bonus points for most laps led. He was followed to the checkered flag by Buckshot Jones, just .224 second behind.
Nemecheks Front Row Joe nickname truly applies at Talladega. He has won a record five poles at Talladega, including three in succession from 1996-98. His pole run of 193.517 mph in 1997 still stands as the qualifying record for this event.
FAST FACTS
What: Aarons 312 (Race #10 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.
When: 2:05 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 30.
Track Layout: 2.66-mile tri-oval.
Race Length: 312 miles/117 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,242,395.
TV: FOX, 2 p.m., ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
2004 Polesitter: Clint Bowyer.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Thur., April 28: Practice 8:30 10:30 a.m. Qualifying 4:05 p.m. Cars impounded after qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(4-28-2005)
