(photo courtesy Joe Gibbs Racing)

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) formally introduced the new 2013 Toyota Camry that will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) beginning next season at TRD’s Salisbury, N.C. facility.

The introduction of the new 2013 Camry for NASCAR . . . → Read More: Toyota Reveals The 2013 NASCAR Camry]]>

(photo courtesy Joe Gibbs Racing)

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) formally introduced the new 2013 Toyota Camry that will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) beginning next season at TRD’s Salisbury, N.C. facility.

The introduction of the new 2013 Camry for NASCAR competition marked the culmination of an aggressive redesign to provide the 2013 Camry with an updated and more-unique identity. TRD worked together with Calty Design, part of Toyota’s global network design team, to create an on-track Camry that incorporates design elements which give America’s best-selling car its distinct character.

“We’re thrilled to finally unveil our new 2013 Camry and we think NASCAR fans will really appreciate that our new on-track Camry looks like the one in their driveways,” said Ed Laukes, TMS vice president of marketing communications and motorsports. “Our 2013 Camry looks more like the production vehicle than ever before, and we hope this helps revitalize the long- standing relationship between fans and manufacturers in NASCAR. Never before have we had a Camry competing in NASCAR that looked so similar to its production counterpart.”

A new front grill-area that matches the production model, distinct character lines down the side of the vehicle and an updated rear bumper make the redesigned 2013 Camry stock car more relevant than ever before to its showroom sibling.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

As we enter the last weekend in May, the traditional start of summer, we will be feasting upon the greatest racing day of the year!

The morning  starts out with “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing”, the Indianapolis 500, from the hallowed grounds known as . . . → Read More: Memorial Weekend: The Greatest Racing Day Of The Year!]]>

(WOMR file photo)

As we enter the last weekend in May, the traditional start of summer, we will be feasting upon the greatest racing day of the year!

The Greatest Spectacle In Racing

The morning  starts out with “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing”, the Indianapolis 500, from the hallowed grounds known as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  This year there appears to be about 10 -12 drivers that have a legitimate shot at drinking the milk in Victory Lane.

Check out the starting line up for Sunday’s 97th running of the Indy 500.

You will notice that Team Penske has put all three of their drivers in the first two starting rows, as well as three of the four Andretti Autosport drivers!  On the pole is Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe.  The next two drivers to fill out the front row comes from the Andretti Autosport stables, that being the new Godaddy.com driver from Toronto, James Hinchcliffe.  On the outside of row one is another driver for Andretti Autosport, Ryan Hunter-Reay.

On the inside second row, again from Andretti Autosport, is the owner’s son, and Mario’s grandson, Marco Andretti.  Lining up in the middle of the row is Team Penske’s Will Power, the winingest IndyCar driver in 2012.  On the outside of row two is anther Team Penske driver, and three-time Indy 500 winner, Helio Castoneves!

The biggest surprise of Indy qualifying, and a big dark horse for the race, was where one of the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing drivers starts for the race.  The rookie, Josef Newgarden, put his car on the inside of row three.  The next two spots on the row three belong to KV Racing, the owners being Kevin Kalkovin and former IndyCar racer, Jimmy Vasser.  Those two KV Racing drivers are, the IndyCar veterans Tony Kanaan, and E.J. Viso.

Out of the starting 33 drivers, there are only 6 American drivers in the field!  The  American with the best shot of drinking the milk in Victory Lane this year most likely is Marco Andretti.  Having said that, there is the “Andretti Stigma”!  Both his father, Michael, and his grandfather, Mario, have been known to blister the rest of the field in many of their races at Indy, however, only Mario was able to drive into Victory Lane back in 1969.  That year Mario was driving for the legendary, “Mr. 500″, Andy Granatelli.

The one driver that I am keeping an eye on is rookie Bryan Clauson, driving the other Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Indy car.  I have watched Bryan wheel midgets and sprint cars at Knoxville, Oscaloosa, and Belleville, off and on for the last five years, and he is a very talented race car driver.  He even had “a cup of coffee” in the Nationwide Series a couple of years ago with Chip Ganassi.  Even though Clauson is in Indy 500 this year, it is still with a small under-funded team, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, with really no chance of wining the Indy 500.  Nevertheless, he has his foot in the door, and this year could be his audition for a better team in the future!

My pick for the 2012 Indy 500 is three-time Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves!

The Night Cap

Not long after the conclusion of the Indy 500, the focus moves Southeast to the center of the NASCAR world, Charlotte, NC.  The longest race of the NASCAR season, the Coca Cola 600, will take the green flag at the Charlotte Motor Speedway late in the afternoon, and race late into the night.

Qualifying for the Coca Cola 600 will get under way this Thursday at 7 pm EST.  However, if the All-Star race was any indication as to who will be strong for the race, the following drivers and teams may be “letting the big dog eat” Sunday night!

The driver that is now a whole lot richer after his All-Star victory is  “Mr. Five-Time”, Jimmie Johnson.  Looking equally as strong Saturday night was his team-mate Dale Earnhardt, Jr., wining the fourth segment and finishing 5th overall.  “Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski finished second to Johnson in the “money segment”, as well as wining segment three.  Matt Kenseth finished third overall, but won the second segment.  As a note, ol Kylie Busch seemed to have a very strong horse, and therefore, do not count out “The Shrub” Sunday, either.

As a member of JUNIOR NATION, and seeing that the Hendrick Motorsports Diet Mtn. Dew #88 Chevy was a strong horse in all five segments, I am thinking that Dale Jr, has a very good chance to break out of his extremely long winless drought!   Go #88!

However, if I was a betting man, I would put the farm in the back seat of the #48 Lowe’s Chevy!  In the final segment, the money race, Johnson was just too fast for the competition to deal with Saturday night.  I think that “Mr. Five-Time” is back!

I would like to leave you with just one thought

This weekend let us not forget what this holiday is really all about.  It is a time that we should all be grateful to, and remember all of, our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and grandparents who fought for our freedom so that we could enjoy this weekend of the greatest racing of the year!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Check out this Kieth Urban video and listen to the lyrics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJLcClIH72o

(WOMR file photo)

It would appear that Hendrick Motorsports, in particular Jimmie Johnson, is thawing out, and emerging from the winter freeze.  Two races in a row have found the HMS Lowe’s #48 Chevy driving into Victory Lane, Darlington and last night the All-Star race at Charlotte.

In beating Brad Keselowski to . . . → Read More: Johnson Is A Million Dollars Richer!]]>

(WOMR file photo)

It would appear that Hendrick Motorsports, in particular Jimmie Johnson, is thawing out, and emerging from the winter freeze.  Two races in a row have found the HMS Lowe’s #48 Chevy driving into Victory Lane, Darlington and last night the All-Star race at Charlotte.

In beating Brad Keselowski to the finish of the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway by .841 seconds, Johnson won the exhibition event for the third time — tying Dale Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for most victories in the event.

The All-Star Race win and accompanying seven-figure first prize ended a spectacular eight days for Johnson, who delivered victory #200 to owner Rick Hendrick May 12 at Darlington and on Thursday night cheered his crew to its first victory in the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge in Charlotte, N.C.

All told, Johnson won $1,071,340 for his third win in 11 All-Star starts.

“It means a ton to me,” Johnson said of tying Earnhardt and Gordon. “Those are two of the greatest drivers that have ever been in a stock car. I want to set my goals high, and I want to be considered one of the best to sit in a stock car, and the only way you can do that is by winning big races and piling up those stats.”

The All-Star Race victory was the seventh as a car owner for Hendrick, who sat on the window ledge and took a ride on Johnson’s winning Chevrolet after the race.

“That was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in racing,” quipped Hendrick, who caught his foot in the dash while straddling the window.

All-Star race format review

Reviewing the All-Star race I thought that it was, somewhat dull, not the normally exciting race as in years gone by.  I truly hope that Bruton Smith and associates will tweak the format to create a little more excitement, like some of the past All-Star races.  Most notably is the very first night All-Star race back in 1992.  The last 1/2 of a lap with the duels between Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Kyle Petty dueling in turn four, and the actual finish with Kyle Petty and Davey Allison dueling at the finish line for the win was an actual “on the edge of your seat” finish!  That kind of hard racing is what this race has been noted for.  Unfortunately that level of intensity never matriculated last night!

Coke 600 prediction

Having critiqued the All-Star race, I will turn to my attention towards my prediction for the Coke 600.  It is my opinion that you  must beware of two HMS cars.  The most likely to return to Victory Lane, Sunday night, will be the winner of the All-Star race last night, “Mr.Five-Time”, Jimmie Johnson.  However, another HMS car was equally fast throughout the five segment format last night.  It was the 2012 ol dark horse, and favorite son of JUNIOR NATION, Dale Earnhardt,Jr.

It will be quite interesting to see the strategies that will unfold in the longest race of the NASCAR season next Sunday night at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

The winning number for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 was “SIX”!  Six is the number of the Eddie Sharpe Racing CollegeComplete.com #6 Chevy Silverado driven by Justin Lofton.

With Brad Keselowski dogging him to the checkered flag, the Westmorland, CA native, Lofton, snagged his very first NCWTS victory.  . . . → Read More: Justin Lofton Had The Winning Lottery Number]]>

(WOMR file photo)

The winning number for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 was “SIX”!  Six is the number of the Eddie Sharpe Racing CollegeComplete.com #6 Chevy Silverado driven by Justin Lofton.

With Brad Keselowski dogging him to the checkered flag, the Westmorland, CA native, Lofton, snagged his very first NCWTS victory.  Finishing behind “Bad Brad” K for third place was “The Onion”, Todd Bodine.  Finishing out the top five was, Jason Lefler in fourth and Ron Hornaday in fifth.

This is the second of ten races on a mile and a half race track for the Camping World Series for the 2012 season.  Lofton is the six different winner in the six races held so far this season.  Likewise, Lofton is the fourth first time winner in the six races this season!

The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 also had a couple of firsts.  The win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first career win for both Lofton, as well as for Eddie Sharpe Racing in the Camping World Series.

Check out the unofficial results from the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

When the starts come out at Charlotte, the gloves come off!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

Stop me if you have heard this one before.  Kurt Busch has exploded on the radio with a verbally abusive tirade, encroached on other race teams, enraged other crewmemebers, and acted like a spoiled little . . . → Read More: Kurt Is At It Again!]]>

(WOMR file photo)

It is not even fall and the leaves are falling off of “the Busch”!

Stop me if you have heard this one before.  Kurt Busch has exploded on the radio with a verbally abusive tirade, encroached on other race teams, enraged other crewmemebers, and acted like a spoiled little boy.  No this is not a rerun from the entire 2011 season, this is “the new Kurt Busch”, circa 2012!

After the race at Darlington Saturday night here is what went down:

NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.

It would appear that Kurt Busch loves to donate to the NASCAR penalty funds.   For the last several years NASCAR has been able to dip into Kurt’s checkbook for all of his misconducts, misdeeds, and misgivings each and every year, a lesson not yet learned.  Maybe Kurt feels like he makes too much money, and wants to give back some of his salary to the sanctioning body, what do you think?

Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the #51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of the broadcast media).  Obviously Mr. Strickler did not learn anything from Kurt Busch’s 2011 dealing with ESPN’s reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch at Homestead!

Tony Gibson, crew chief for the #39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has been placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 and Sections 12-4G and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members).

Andrew Rueger, a crew member for the #39 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; failure to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official). Both of these violations occurred post-race.

I will only refer to an article that I wrote following the news that Kurt had landed a ride with James Finch and Phoenix Racing back in December of 2011 in an article titled, Busch Lands With Phoenix Racing.

In that article I stated that this could be the beginning of Kurt’s long slide down the slippery slope to obscurity.  I still have not changed my mind.  There are many sayings the come to mind, regarding Kurt’s behavior.  And at this point Kurt and Kyle are two peas in a pod.

Nevertheless, the sayings that come to mind are; a zebra can’t change its stripes, and the apple does not fall far from the tree!

Kurt is destined to always find himself squarely in the middle of controversy.  Mostly because he is the one who stirs it up by his abusive radio rants, childish personality, and his overly aggressive behavior!  the last time I checked the spelling of the word team, there are no “i’s” in that word!

Another quote that comes to mind came out of the mouth of Bill France, Jr. when he would “counsel” drivers.  He would often say that, “NASCAR was bigger than me and bigger than you.  NASCAR was here before me and it will definitely be here long after you are gone”!

So Kurt take some friendly advice.  Loose the bad attitude, the sense of entitlement, and the abusive mouth.  If you do those things you might have a shot a getting a job with a first class organization in NASCAR, this is probably your last second chance!

What are your views?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy of tommytarlton.com)

Last Saturday night I took both of my sons, Jason and Jeremy, as well as my grandson, Cole, to the Tulare Thunderbowl in Tulare, CA, the place where this old redneck was born, to watch The King of the West Series sprint car races.  As you all know, . . . → Read More: King Of The West Sprint Car Racing At Tulare]]>

(photo courtesy of tommytarlton.com)

Last Saturday night I took both of my sons, Jason and Jeremy, as well as my grandson, Cole, to the Tulare Thunderbowl in Tulare, CA, the place where this old redneck was born, to watch The King of the West Series sprint car races.  As you all know, I will do what ever I can, any place, any where, any time, to “work on my redneck”!  Therefore, being in Fresno for the week lended itself to a great night at the race track.

The venue for night was three divisions of racing.  There was the 410 cubic inch wingless sprint cars, the 410 cubic inch winged sprint cars, and the IMCA modifieds slinging dirt and hauling the mail!

Many of the marquee names in the NorCal winged, and non-winged, sprint car community was on hand.  Among the premier drivers of this region that raced were the three Keadings, “King Of the West” Brent Keading, and sons Tim and Bud, who are equally as fast as the old man.  Additionally competing at this event was Jonathan Allard, Oregon favorite Roger Crockett, local favorite Tommy Tarlton, and Kyle Larson.

Notwithstanding the “royalty” that was in attendance, the class of the field, in both wingless and the winged sprint cars, was a skinny little 19-year-old kid from Elk Grove, CA  named Kyle Larson.  He really put on a racing clinic for both the fans as well as his fellow race car drivers!

Larson was able to go to Victory Lane in both the winged and wingless sprint car features Friday night!  Not only has he put all the West Coast drivers on notice that he is a factor to be reckoned with, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has put Kyle under contract as their developmental driver!  He will drive in the K&N East Series in selected races this year, as well as the full season in the K&N East Series next year for EGR.

For the young skinny kid with a heavy right foot, it was quite a driving performance.  In both sprint car divisions Larson gave the fans, and his fellow drivers, a lesson in dirt track racing!

For all the local fans of Tommy Tarlton, he, too, had a very good evening of racing.  He was very fast in his heat, and finished third in the A Main behind Kyle Larson, and Jonathon Allard.

Even though a night of racing is a night of racing at many of the country’s dirt tracks, there was one really cool feature that the promoter did that I found was very unusual, and quite interesting.  The neatest part of the whole evening was the way that Tulare Thunderbowl ran the dash.  Instead of lining up the four fastest qualifiers and the four heat winners in order, they allowed each driver to pick an envelope.  That envelope had a number, 1-8, inside of it.  Then they allowed each driver to either keep his envelope or trade it with another driver for his envelope!  It is a way for a driver to get into a fellow competitor’s head before the race!!  Then they ran the dash, and the way they finished the dash is the way that those 8 racers lined up in the first eight spots for the A main!

A really cool touch!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

It took 16 races, spanning seven months, before Jimmie Johnson and Rick Hendrick were able to win another Sprint Cup race, and climb the summit for the organization’s 200th win.  Who would ever thought that Hendrick Motorsports would not notch a victory in the 2012 season until the eleventh . . . → Read More: Johnson Wins The Bojangles Southern 500 At Darlington]]>

(WOMR file photo)

It took 16 races, spanning seven months, before Jimmie Johnson and Rick Hendrick were able to win another Sprint Cup race, and climb the summit for the organization’s 200th win.  Who would ever thought that Hendrick Motorsports would not notch a victory in the 2012 season until the eleventh race of the year?  Who would ever have thought that either Jimmie Johnson, or Jeff Gordon would be winless in the first ten races of the season?  The answer to both of those questions are that nobody would have bet the farm that HMS, Jimmie Johnson, or Jeff Gordon would be winless in their first ten tries this season!

Nevertheless, Saturday night Jimmie Johnson won the Bojangles Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway, stopping the 16 race winless streak that both Johnson and HMS had to endure, spanning over the tail end of the 20112 season and through the first 10 races of 2012.

“I want to thank all of the drivers,” team owner Rick Hendrick said, “all of the crew chiefs, and you (Jeff Hammond) and Darrell (Waltrip) and Geoff Bodine and everybody else. I can’t believe we won 200 of these things. I can’t believe it took this long after 199. I want to remember all those folks we lost. And everybody that helped this thing happen. Brad Paisley is in his bus on the way here and we’ll have a big party.”

It was Johnson’s 56th career victory.

“What a day,” Johnson, who led a race-best 133 laps, said after embracing Hendrick in Victory Lane. “There was a lot of drama. This race is so special, so great.

“Oh without a doubt. You have got to love that man (Rick Hendrick), he just said 200 is great but let’s goget 250. So that tells you where his head is, I love it. Oh man, what a day. Very fast race car. I want to thank Chad (Knaus, crew chief) and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports for an awesome race car. The Kobalt Tools Chevy was bad fast. We had a little pit thing that went awry earlier in the race, but we still worked our way back up there. Had a great race car and won the race.”

We are nearing the halfway point in “the regular season” of racing.  There are several key players that have to “let the dogs out”, if they have any hopes in making the Chase.  They only way for some of those marquee drivers to get into the Chase is to secure  a few wins before the Sun sets on Richmond in September!  The said marquee drivers include, but are not limited to, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, and Carl Edwards!

It is time to let the big dog eat!

The NASCAR crowd has two weeks to enjoy all the festivities that surround Memorial Day and the Coke 600.  There is the, The Pit Crew Challenge, the Camping World Truck Series race Friday night, followed by the gala of the fan favorite Sprint cup  All-Star race Saturday night.

This Saturday night is when “the Stars come out, and the gloves come off “, and to the winner goes all the spoils a $1,000,000 pay-day at Charlotte Motor Speedway!  It is also the day when not many of the race cars will be able to be driven up on the haulers, because of that $1,000,00 payday, some of the race cars will be in various stages of wrecked, crumpled, and mangled sheet metal!

Check out the unofficial results from the Bojangles Southern 500.

After eleven races here is the official Sprint Cup standings.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

Sometime ago in the previous century, Charles Davis, Jr. made a trip to Yuma to race at the former Yuma Speedway.  He can’t remember just exactly what year it was, however, he will not forget his Saturday night visit to this race track!

In the night’s showcase event, the . . . → Read More: Wingless Sprinters Sling Some Mud At Cocopah Speedway]]>

(WOMR file photo)

Sometime ago in the previous century, Charles Davis, Jr. made a trip to Yuma to race at the former Yuma Speedway.  He can’t remember just exactly what year it was, however, he will not forget his Saturday night visit to this race track!

In the night’s showcase event, the sprint car feature, a first-lap crash forced a complete restart, and Yuma’s Mike Martin took advantage of the opportunity to blast off from his starting position outside the second row, past Davis, Roa and pole sitter Dalten Gabbard and into the lead.

Martin then held the advantage for seven laps before Davis was able to reel him back in and get around him.

“The track was getting pretty thin and I knew I had to make my move before it got too much thinner,” said Davis, “because he wasn’t giving me any room to pass.”

The Buckeye, AZ veteran sprint car racer led laps 8 through lap 24.  On lap 24, as the white flag flew,  Brody Roa drove his sprinter deep into turn #1, slid up in front of Davis to take the lead, and mashing “the loud pedal” to the floor, thought that he had pulled the move of the race on Davis.

Not so fast my friend!

Davis must have been thinking, as the duo dove into turn #3.  One good moves deserves another, and Davis was able to return that “San Jose Slide Job” to Roa!  Davis’ “bonsai” move in the last turn of the race proved successful for Davis, and allowed him to grab the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV Canyon Region A Main victory Saturday at Cocopah Speedway.

“I don’t know where Roa was running but he did a hell of job,” said Davis. “I was really surprised when he got that shot coming off of (Turn 2). I said, “Wow! I didn’t expect that.”

“This is a good, high-speed deal,” said a sweat-soaked Davis afterward from victory lane. “l love this race track! I love it!”

Brody Roa’s version of the last lap

“I either had to get it done (in Turns 1 and 2) or just sit back there,” said Roa afterward.

“I tried to block him down the back straight but I couldn’t get underneath him,” added Roa, who is not a regular in the ASCS Canyon Series.

Tommy Deffern shines

On the night’s under-card, the Street Stock Division, Brawley’s Tommy Deffern undoubtedly past more cars than probably the whole field combined on his road to victory!  While battling Yuma’s Bobby Horton for the lead near the midpoint of the race, Deffern was caught up in a wreck with some lapped traffic.  Unfortunately, Deffern was sent to the rear of the field for the restart.  Deffern steadily sliced his way through the field, like a warm knife through butter, to find Horton and Alopho Noriega fighting for the lead.

Deffern maneuvered his way around both Horton and Noriega for the win in the Street Stock Division!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(WOMR file photo)

“Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski got a push from Kyle Busch on the green-white-checkered restart to win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

Keselowski’s win was his second at Talladega, remember the Edwards in the catchfence race a couple of years ago, the sixth of his young career, and the first . . . → Read More: “Bad Brad” Out Wheels ‘Em In The Aaron’s 499]]>

(WOMR file photo)

“Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski got a push from Kyle Busch on the green-white-checkered restart to win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

Keselowski’s win was his second at Talladega, remember the Edwards in the catchfence race a couple of years ago, the sixth of his young career, and the first victory at Talladega for Dodge in 36 years.    The last win for Dodge at Talladega came when Dave Marcis won the race in 1976!

Keselowski’s victory ended a wild final quarter of the race, which extended six laps past a scheduled 188 because of a flurry of late cautions.

As the field began a round of green-flag pit stops with 45 laps left, a massive chain-reaction wreck in Turn 3 eliminated a handful of contending cars, including pole-sitter Jeff Gordon.

Contact between Aric Almirola and Dave Blaney triggered the crash, which also collected Martin Truex, Carl Edwards and Juan Montoya, among others.

“It was like a wreck at a stoplight,” Edwards said. “Everybody started checking up and hitting each other.”

With the herd thinned considerably, Paul Menard led the field to a restart on lap 151. Hamlin, who had gotten back on the lead lap via “the Lucky Dog” when NASCAR called the caution on lap 143, surged to the front, where he swapped the top spot with Brad Keselowski.

Kenseth restarted at the back of the field under a penalty for pitting too soon under the lap 143 caution, but he quickly worked his way forward, wresting the lead from Denny Hamlin on lap 167, with Keselowski and AJ Allmendinger lined up behind him.

Five laps later, Hamlin found an opening between Kenseth and Keselowski and took second, but a lap 175 wreck that started when Casey Mears cut a tire, scrambled the field for a restart with nine laps left in regulation.

As the field crossed the finish line on lap 181, contact from sent Kurt Busch spinning into the inside wall at the entry to Turn 1. Kenseth led the field to a restart on lap 185.

This green flag restarts only lasted a mere few hundred feet.  As soon as the leaders crossed the start line, Hamlin ducked to the inside and Allmendinger tried to block Hamlin in the middle lane.  The result was a hooligan.  Hamlin’s nose was already up to Allmendinger’s left rear tire, the contact between those two, Hamlin and “The Dinger”, also took out  Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, and Michael Waltrip, as well!

When the clutter was cleared up, and the green flag flew for the final time, it was a green-white-checkered, a two lap sprint race.  On the restart, Matt Kenseth got a great start with the help of his team-mate, Greg Biffle.  In fact, it was too great of a start and gaping lead.  Because of the great start that Kenseth had gotten, it actually allowed Kyle Busch to latch onto the bumper of “Blazingly Bad” Brad Keselowski. With that “Bad Brak” and Kyle were off like they were shot out of a cannon, marching into the lead.  By the time the white flag waved, Keselowski and Busch were running one and two, respectively.

Over the last five races at Talladega, the leader coming out of turn four was not the winner of the race.  However, “Bad Brad” was not to be overhauled coming out turn four Sunday!  Ol Kylie did not have anything for the driver of the Penske Racing Coors Lite #2 Dodge, Keselowski!

Check out the unofficial results of the Aaron’s 499 at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Here is the Sprint Cup standings after the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DohRa9lsx0Q

(WOMR file photo)

This wasn’t just any Nationwide race, this was Talladega!  Talladega is the place where it is high-speed, high-banks, and high-danger.  It is also the place where strange bedfellows make for a good story.  Another way of putting it is that you have the opportunity “to dance with the devil”!