Local Look: Talladega

Event: Aaron's 499

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Local papers covering: The Birmingham News, Mobile Register

Waltrip far from panic mode

The deal: Neal Sims of The Birmingham News says if it wasn't for the race car under him, Michael Waltrip might be having flashbacks to more wretched times in his NASCAR career, those 15 years and 462 races without a victory.

Why we care: This season has been disastrous for the driver who won at Talladega Superspeedway last fall. Waltrip, though he ranks 31st in the Nextel Cup standings, has the spirit of a driver who knows his race cars come from the same place as those of the points leader.

	Michael Waltrip

"I am not out of this battle," Waltrip says, despite circumstances that find him 490 points back of teammate and leader Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"We're not panicking," Waltrip said. "We can still make things work. We like the fact that we're heading to Talladega."

For more on Michael Waltrip, click here.

Young Guns take aim at Talladega

The deal: Mark Inabinett of the Mobile Register says four series championships later, "Wonderboy" doesn't quite fit Jeff Gordon anymore. It's made way for NASCAR's newest nickname -- the Young Guns. Part advertising campaign, part racing reality, the Young Guns dominate the Nextel Cup standings as the series comes to Talladega Superspeedway for the Aaron's 499 on Sunday.

	Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Why we care: Heading into Talladega, Young Guns Earnhardt Jr., Busch, Kenseth and Johnson hold the first four places, respectively, in the point standings and have won six of the eight races. Harvick ranks 10th, with Newman nine points behind in 11th.

But that sextet is only part of the youth movement: In a season where NASCAR's top sponsor switched from cigarettes to cell phones, only one of the current top 10 drivers is older than 33 and only two have had more than five full seasons in Cup racing.

For more on the Young Guns, click here.

Sadler on wins ... and needles heading to 'Dega

The deal: Neal Sims of The Birmingham News says take heed, medical workers at Talladega Superspeedway's infield care center. If Elliott Sadler shows up this weekend, put away the needles.

That was the scary part of Sadler's last visit there. After his wild, airborne ride down the backstretch and through Turn , nothing disturbed Sadler more than the sight of that nurse with a needle.

	Elliott Sadler

"All of a sudden, they want to put a needle in me," Sadler told the paper. "Elliott doesn't like IV needles. Everybody has a different fear of something."

Why we care: Sadler returns to this NASCAR weekend at Talladega with that wreck, of course, in his memory. He also arrives for the Aaron's 499 as the flag-bearer for Robert Yates Racing in the Nextel Cup series.

While veteran teammate and former champ Dale Jarrett struggles to regain his form at 17th in the rankings, Sadler is in the rarefied air of the top five, a spot he has only winked at before.

For more news on Sadler, click here.

'Chase" could put emphasis on Talladega

The deal: Jim Dunn for The Birmingham News says thanks to some postseason points system changes, both Talladega races could see increases in TV ratings and fan attendance, as well as no small amount of crew chief nerves.

Why we care: When the brain trust at NASCAR reworked the Nextel Cup points system to put more emphasis on the final 10 races, a stretch that includes the EA Sports 500 in October, it actually drew a circle of importance around both Talladega races. Cup points and racing experience earned during the spring race will play a big part in the fall race.

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