 | | Goodyear will be bringing a whole new set of tires back to Talladega in October. Credit: Autostock |
By Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM
May 1, 2006
06:16 PM EDT (22:16 GMT)
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- There's a first time for everything, even tires.  |  | NEW SURFACE FOR 'DEGA | For the first time since 1979, Talladega Superspeedway will be resurfaced when new pavement is laid prior to the October race.
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The 2,400 tires supplied by Goodyear for Sunday's Aaron's 499 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX) are similar to those used for the season-opening Daytona 500, but the combination of left- and right-side tires is unique to Talladega Superspeedway. It will also probably be the only time it'll be used, since the track will be repaved between now and the UAW-Ford 500 in October. "This is a very similar setup to what we've run at Talladega in the past," Goodyear lead engineer Mark Keto said. "We will likely have to come back with something new for the fall race here, because the track is scheduled to be resurfaced after this event." Alabama Gang sighting Spotted in the garage area Friday: four-time Talladega winner Bobby Allison, being interviewed by a television crew. Allison's horrifying 1987 crash at Talladega which tore out a huge section of the catch fence in front of the main grandstand led to NASCAR's implementation of the restrictor plates the next season. Davey Allison won that race, but Dad would get his revenge at Daytona in 1988, beating his son by two car-lengths to become the oldest Daytona 500 winner at age 50. Gordon aims for three-peat With a victory Sunday, Jeff Gordon has a chance to match David Pearson's record of three consecutive wins in the spring 500-miler. Pearson beat Bobby Issac by 4.9 seconds in 1972, had a lap lead over Donnie Allison in 1973 and edged Benny Parsons by .017 seconds in 1974. |  | | Ken Schrader has three races lined up for this weekend at Talladega. Credit: Autostock |
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If you race it, he will come It's a typical race weekend for Ken Schrader. He'll go dirt-track racing at the Talladega Short Track, just a couple of campgrounds over from Talladega's Turn 3, on Friday night, then strap into Brewco Motorsports' No. 66 Ford for the Busch Series Aaron's 312 before Sunday's main event. No longer needing to be carded Kyle Busch turns 21 on Tuesday. Any big plans? "As soon as testing [at Lowe's Motor Speedway] is over, the guys and I are going to hang out and have a good time," Busch said. "I'm not sure where yet. I don't know if they're going to come over to my house or if we're going to crash [crew chief Alan Gustafson's] house." | 
