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By: Pat DeCola
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Phew. Let's all breathe a collective sigh of relief after what was perhaps the wildest Sprint Cup Series race we've seen in several years. A lot went down, so let's get to what we're going to take away from Sunday's GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Phew. Let's all breathe a collective sigh of relief after what was perhaps the wildest Sprint Cup Series race we've seen in several years. A lot went down, so let's get to what we're going to take away from Sunday's GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
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Safe but shaken
Danica Patrick and AJ Allmendinger needed some assistance from the at-track care team after wrecks. Patrick had X-rays of her chest (negative) and Allmendinger was shaken up and on his knees after exiting his ride. Hard hits are nothing new at Talladega, but it's a testament to the increased safety measures NASCAR has taken to ensure they don’t result in worse scenarios.
Danica Patrick and AJ Allmendinger needed some assistance from the at-track care team after wrecks. Patrick had X-rays of her chest (negative) and Allmendinger was shaken up and on his knees after exiting his ride. Hard hits are nothing new at Talladega, but it's a testament to the increased safety measures NASCAR has taken to ensure they don’t result in worse scenarios.
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The Big One(s)
Holy moly, were there some wrecks at Talladega. Spins, flips and cars on fire highlighted several 'Big Ones,' resulting in the chaos being the focal point after the race despite one of the most heavily contested events this season. It'll be interesting to see how drivers approach the next restrictor-plate race in July at Daytona.
Holy moly, were there some wrecks at Talladega. Spins, flips and cars on fire highlighted several 'Big Ones,' resulting in the chaos being the focal point after the race despite one of the most heavily contested events this season. It'll be interesting to see how drivers approach the next restrictor-plate race in July at Daytona.
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Young guns up front
Somewhat lost in all the kerfuffle was the fact that two of NASCAR's brightest young stars finished third and fourth, respectively, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. Both hovering in or around the top 10 in points, they are on pace for their first career Chase berths, which may push some familiar names out of contention.
Somewhat lost in all the kerfuffle was the fact that two of NASCAR's brightest young stars finished third and fourth, respectively, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. Both hovering in or around the top 10 in points, they are on pace for their first career Chase berths, which may push some familiar names out of contention.
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Kenseth curse?
Matt Kenseth again had a fast car, but again didn't get a clean finish. After a late-race brush-up that saw the 22 of Joey Logano, which led to the two exchanging words post-race, Kenseth finished 23rd. He's currently 15th in the standings.
Matt Kenseth again had a fast car, but again didn't get a clean finish. After a late-race brush-up that saw the 22 of Joey Logano, which led to the two exchanging words post-race, Kenseth finished 23rd. He's currently 15th in the standings.
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Bayne is back
While the rain held off, the Bayne cometh. Leading the race for 22 laps, Trevor Bayne showed us that his fifth-place finish at Bristol -- albeit on a track on the complete opposite end of the spectrum -- was no fluke. If Bayne can consistently hang around the top 10, the front of the field just got a little more crowded.
While the rain held off, the Bayne cometh. Leading the race for 22 laps, Trevor Bayne showed us that his fifth-place finish at Bristol -- albeit on a track on the complete opposite end of the spectrum -- was no fluke. If Bayne can consistently hang around the top 10, the front of the field just got a little more crowded.
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Havoc for Hendrick
Has Hendrick Motorsports lost some of its restrictor-plate prowess? After failing to land a single driver in the top 10 in the season-opening Daytona 500, the powerhouse organization saw just rookie Chase Elliott finish there at 'Dega, with its three veterans placing 22nd, 39th and 40th (Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr., respectively.)
Has Hendrick Motorsports lost some of its restrictor-plate prowess? After failing to land a single driver in the top 10 in the season-opening Daytona 500, the powerhouse organization saw just rookie Chase Elliott finish there at 'Dega, with its three veterans placing 22nd, 39th and 40th (Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr., respectively.)