Where's Juan? Talladega

Juan Montoya made his first official start for the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates stock-car operation at Talladega Superspeedway one year ago in the ARCA race. Montoya qualified on the outside pole before experiencing drafting for the first time in a heavy stock car. Montoya raced several laps three-wide, was involved in an incident on the track and dropped back as far as 31st before driving the No. 4 Dodge Charger across the finish line in third place.

In his first start in a Nextel Cup car at the 2.66-mile track in April, Montoya was running in the top 10 on Lap 149 when a steering failure forced him to bring the Texaco/Havoline Dodge to pit road. The team repaired the car, but fell six laps down to the leader to finish the Talladega 499 in the 31st position.

Montoya slipped one spot in the Nextel Cup standings after his 28th-place run at Kansas Speedway. He now sits 20th in the driver standings with just seven races left in the 2007 season. Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team have earned three outside-poles, one win, three-top five and five top-10 finishes this season.

Montoya leads the rookie standings by 14 points over David Ragan. The late Davey Allison, while piloting a Texaco/Havoline car, holds the record for most laps led by a rookie in the fall race at Talladega. Allison led seven times for 77 laps on his way to a second place-finish in 1987.

Crew chief Donnie Wingo and the Texaco/Havoline team are bringing chassis 750 to Talladega for the first superspeedway race in a Dodge Avenger. Montoya and the team tested this chassis at the NASCAR-sanctioned test September 10. Montoya and the No. 42 crew were fourth-quickest in single-car runs in the morning session in their Dodge Avenger; third-quickes in single-car runs in the afternoon and fifth on the speed charts in the drafting session. Teammate Reed Sorenson took over for Montoya for the second day of the test.

Autograph session

Montoya will be signing autographs for fans from 4 to 5 p.m. local time on Saturday at the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame. The signing will be held at the Davey Allison Memorial Park in downtown Talladega. The park is located between Spring Street and Court Street.

Ladies' Night returns

After a successful debut in 2006, Ladies' Night is returning this October to the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Concord, N.C., race shop Oct. 10 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET), with more fun festivities. In addition to free admission and a complimentary behind-the-scenes tour of the CGRFS race shop, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be on the house for all attendees. Guests will also be treated to a fall fashion show that will include apparel designed by the CGRFS Drive4Design contest winner Heath Harmon, as well as a sneak peek at the new fall fashions.

Special guest speakers will stop by to visit and talk about their racing careers and lives. Raffle prizes will also be given away with all proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Reservations are required, so don't delay. Call 1-800-888-6388 to reserve your spot for CGRFS Ladies' Night 2007. To learn more go to www.chipganassiracing.com and click on "Charlotte Race Week 2007."