Lap-by-Lap: Talladega (cont'd)

Lap 74 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1 -- Debris in Turn 1. Tony Stewart is the benefit of the free pass and will be back on the lead lap.

Lap 69 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon is back in front after passing Denny Hamlin.

Lap 65 -- Kyle Busch has gone from 40th to fourth in about 50 laps.

Lap 64 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin jumped in front of Jeff Gordon at the line and passed him for the lead.

Lap 57 -- Tony Stewart goes a lap down as the field finally catches him.

Lap 51 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon passes Jeff Burton and is back out front.

Lap 48 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Burton passes Jeff Gordon to lead for the first time today. Bobby Labonte finally on pit road to cycle through the green-flag stops.

Lap 46 -- Tony Stewart too fast entering pit road and will have to make a drive-through penalty.

Lap 46 -- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth on pit road. Johnson makes a track bar adjustment. Everyone takes two tires.

Lap 45 -- Bobby Labonte missed pit road.

Lap 45 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon takes the lead when Tony Stewart hits pit road. Stewart says the car is tight, they take two tires and make a minor adjustment.

Lap 44 -- Sterling Marlin, Regan Smith, Tony Raines all pit. Marlin takes two tires and is very happy with his car.

Lap 43 -- Scott Riggs, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Petty all in for green flag pit stops. All three take just two tires.

Lap 42 -- Green flag stops begin with Elliott Sadler and Jeremy Mayfield on pit road. Dale Jarrett is behind the wall with engine problems.

Lap 38 -- Tony Stewart edges Jeff Green at the line for the lead.

Lap 36 -- Robby Gordon is in the garage with engine problems.

Lap 35 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Green leads a lap for the first time today.

Lap 33 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson back out in front.

Lap 32 -- LEAD CHANGE: Sterling Marlin edges Jimmie Johnson at the line to lead the lap.

Lap 30 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson retakes the lead after passing Sterling Marlin in Turn 4.

Lap 29 -- Carl Edwards takes his car behind the wall and to the garage with a possible blown motor.

Lap 26 -- LEAD CHANGE: Sterling Marlin is back in front with Tony Stewart second.

Lap 24 -- Paul Menard is off the pace with a possible blown motor.

Lap 22 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson is back in the lead with a push from Jeff Gordon on the outside.

Lap 21 -- LEAD CHANGE: Sterling Marlin with a push from Tony Stewart retakes the lead on the inside.

Lap 20 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson has taken the lead from Sterling Marlin to lead for the first time today.

Lap 19 -- Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon slide to the outside and move out front.

Lap 18 -- Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle are on the outside challenging Sterling Marlin for the lead.

Lap 15 -- LEAD CHANGE: Sterling Marlin has taken the lead for the second time after passing Jeff Gordon.

Lap 10 -- Tony Stewart has charged through the field after starting 33rd and is currently second behind Gordon.

Lap 15 -- LEAD CHANGE: Sterling Marlin has taken the lead for the second time after passing Jeff Gordon.

Lap 10 -- Tony Stewart has charged through the field after starting 33rd and is currently second behind Gordon.

Lap 8 -- The outside line is the quickest as Jeff Gordon continues to lead with Roush teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth right behind.

Lap 6 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon goes to the outside and retakes the lead.

Lap 8 -- The outside line is the quickest as Jeff Gordon continues to lead with Roush teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth right behind.

Lap 6 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon goes to the outside and retakes the lead.

Lap 5 -- Kenny Wallace tries to make a charge on the outside but doesn't get any help and falls back.

Lap 2 -- LEAD CHANGE: Sterling Marlin edges past Jeff Gordon to lead the second lap.

Lap 1 -- Jeff Gordon leads the first lap, the eighth time he has led a race this season.

2:22 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Jeff Gordon brings the field to speed as the Aaron's 499 is under way.

2:13 p.m. -- Cars are rolling on the track.

2:08 p.m. -- Jeff Foxworthy delivers the command: "Gentlemen, start your engines."

2:01 p.m. -- Joe Nichols sings the national anthem.

2 p.m. -- Moment of silence for Virginia Tech victims, Benny Parsons and Bobby Hamilton. Mike Alexander of Alabama Raceway Ministries delivers the invocation.

1:15 p.m. -- We are under an hour away from the green flag dropping at Talladega Superspeedway. The weather is beautiful at 67 degrees under partly cloudy skies.