Sometimes, it's about self-preservation at 'Dega

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Believe it or not, Tony Stewart has a mind that's as analytical as any driver currently competing in the Sprint Cup Series.

How ironic this week that Stewart took some time on a media conference call previewing the Amp Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway to offer some insight into what -- for drivers, crewmen, fans and media -- is perhaps one of the most brutally sudden, constant verge-of-terror races on the schedule.

• Entry List
• Tickets
• Preview Show
• Fantasy Showdown

"Well, obviously it's one that, because of the fact that it is a restrictor-plate race, it's no secret that it's a very mentally taxing race," Stewart said. "It's not physically challenging, it's mentally challenging."

He's definitely been there, and done that. Stewart's run 23 races at Talladega, and he's finished in the top 10 more than half the time. He even won one, at this event in 2008.

"The hard part is staying focused for 500 miles when you know you that you can't make a mistake in any direction," Stewart said. "But you don't know how it's always going to play out. That's the hard part."

Talladega's probably the one place on the circuit where qualifying means absolutely nothing -- because how your car works in concert with everyone else's is key.

"You can't predict when there's going to be a wreck," Stewart said.

That's for sure. Jimmie Johnson, old four-time himself, triggered a massive pileup early in a Talladega race one year and, believe it or not -- Johnson has the highest percentage of Talladega DNFs of any driver in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. In 41 percent of his 17 career starts -- or seven times -- Johnson hasn't finished.

And to put a final postscript on how unpredictable Talladega can be, Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, the sport's other four-time champion, has the most DNFs of anyone in this Chase -- eight -- although he's made a 2010 Chase-high 35 career starts here.

What's the most pleasant surprise for Richard Childress Racing fans in general and for Kevin Harvick fans specifically? Harvick, who's lodged in a comfortable third place in the standings, 62 points behind Johnson, has finished every one of his 19 career Talladega starts.

"You can't predict when guys are going to get in a line on the top of the race track -- you know, do the Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. line -- he's the one that kind of started that whole thing," Stewart said. "You just don't know when that's going to happen." (Continued)