Snapshot: Talladega

On the front row | Starting lineup
1. Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota (196.129 mph)
2. Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (195.732 mph)

Failed to qualify
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford); Justin Allgaier (HScott Motorsports No. 51 Chevrolet); Joe Nemechek (RAB Racing No. 29 Toyota)

To the rear
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski will drop to the rear of the field prior to the start of today’s race. Kenseth’s Joe Gibbs Racing team changed engines in the No. 20 Toyota Saturday morning while Keselowski’s Team Penske group made an alternator change before qualifying. Kenseth qualified 13th while Keselowski was fifth fastest.

Going out in style
Two-time NASCAR premier series champion Terry Labonte will make his final Sprint Cup start today, driving the No. 32 Ford fielded by Go FAS Racing. It will be the 61st start at Talladega for Labonte, tying the mark currently held by Dave Marcis, and Labonte’s 890th career Cup start. The decklid of the car features artwork depicting his first Cup entry, as well as the two in which he won championships in ’84 and ’96.

Fastest in practice
First Practice: Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15 Toyota (200.385 mph)
Final Practice: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota (195.205 mph)

Defending GEICO 500 Champion
Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 Chevrolet

Driver rating (Best driver rating average at Talladega Superspeedway based on past nine years)
Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet (94.8*)
Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota (90.9)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports No 88 Chevrolet (90.3)
*Based on one career start

Former Talladega winners in the field
Jeff Gordon (6); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5); Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski (2); David Ragan, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin (1).

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