6. Travis Kvapil, No. 33 Chevrolet, Circle Sport Racing
The former Camping World Truck Series champion showed some speed earlier in the weekend, clocking the fastest lap in the second knockout segment of Saturday’s Coors Light Pole Qualifying. The largely trouble-free trend continued into Sunday’s main event, where Kvapil made the most green-flag passes (669) and matched his career-best finish in the Sprint Cup Series, equaling the sixth-place run he had at Talladega in the spring of 2008. Get more driver data with RaceView.
7. Kurt Busch, No. 41 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
The Outlaw spent quite a bit of time in the midst of the action Sunday at Talladega, missing out on sixth place by the narrowest of electronic margins — one one-thousandth of a second behind Travis Kvapil. But electronic scoring did reflect a positive as well: the fastest lap of the race (202.006 on Lap 42). Overall, Sunday marked some improvement from Busch and the No. 41 team — it was their first top-10 since the Chase opener in Chicagoland.
8. Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
The Aussie’s final restrictor-plate race as a Sprint Cup regular ended with the second-best Talladega finish of his career. He landed his only top-five at the 2.66-mile Alabama track in his ‘Dega debut — claiming fourth in the spring of 2009 with the JTG-Daugherty Racing team. Sunday’s result also was his first top-10 effort since finishing second at Watkins Glen in August.
9. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
Harvick didn’t have to finish well at Talladega, based on the merits of his free pass into the Eliminator Round after a victory the previous weekend at Charlotte, but did anyway despite a pair of pitfalls. Early on, he battled on despite a windshield coated with fluid, forcing him to radio his crew: "I think I’m going to have to go to the back, guys. Can’t see." He also recovered from a spin on pit road during the final exchange of stops to finish near the front of the pack. Get more driver audio with RaceView.
10. Casey Mears, No. 13 Chevrolet, Germain Racing
Restrictor-plate tracks remained the Mears Gang’s strong suit this season as the No. 13 came home with its third top-10 of the year — all at either Talladega or Daytona. Sunday also helped Mears regain the one spot he lost in the standings after a 31st-place result last weekend at Charlotte; he’s now back to 25th. Follow live standings in-race here.
11. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford, Team Penske
Since Logano had immunity from Contender Round elimination after winning two weeks ago at Kansas, his primary purpose was to give Penske teammate Brad Keselowski aerodynamic assistance on Talladega’s high banks. Logano’s objective seemed to hit a snag with a wild slide through the grass during the first caution period, but he rallied to stay in contention. Though the No. 22 team radio crackled in the late stages to say "easier said than done" regarding offering help to Keselowski, the team car prevailed anyway to secure an 11th-hour slot in the Chase’s next round. Get more driver audio with RaceView.
12. Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Kahne’s hopes of remaining alive in the Chase fizzled near the end, when his No. 5 Chevy was bogged down in a slow line of cars in the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish. Though he stormed back to the fringes of the top 10 in a frantic late push, he fell three points shy of advancing. "It was tough if you weren’t in the top few spots," Kahne said. "Once we were up there early on, we could race."
13. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
The RCR rookie had largely kept his nose clean in the first half of the 516-miler, but once trouble emerged in front of him in the 103rd lap, he was unable to whoa up his No. 3 Chevy, slamming into the back of Kyle Busch‘s No. 18. Though Busch’s day was doomed, quick patchwork from the Childress bunch revived Dillon’s car to competitive speed and a finish in the main fray.
14. Reed Sorenson, No. 36 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
If not for a favorable post-race inspection that threw out Joe Nemechek‘s qualifying time and reinstated the No. 36 to the starting lineup, Sorenson would have been a spectator for Sunday’s main event. The Georgia native made the most of the qualifying reprieve, posting his best finish since also coming home in 14th place at the Peachtree City native’s home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway, in September 2010.
15. Cole Whitt, No. 26 Toyota, BK Racing
It was a day of firsts for the 23-year-old Californian, who kept clear of the Talladega turmoil to record his best finish in 46 career starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. That wasn’t the only Sunday milestone — Whitt also headed the 133rd lap during the race’s third yellow flag, marking his first lap led in NASCAR’s top division.
16. Michael Waltrip, No. 66 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
The veteran owner/driver wasn’t able to convert a Talladega two-step into a challenge for victory, but Sunday’s run was the best finish out of the four races on his part-time 2014 schedule. Waltrip will return to his other jobs — calling races as a Camping World Truck Series analyst for FOX Sports 1 and unleashing fancy footwork on a different TV audience on "Dancing With The Stars."
17. Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
The charmed run of finishing sixth or better in five straight races ended Sunday for the talented Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate. A spinout on the apron while getting his No. 42 Chevy back up to speed after a Lap 175 pit stop hindered Larson’s chances of continuing the streak, but he remained 17th in the Sprint Cup standings — the highest-ranking driver outside the Chase-eligible field.
18. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
Fate smiled on Hamlin in his most recent trip to Talladega with a regular-season win that paved his way into the Chase. Sunday, the smile wasn’t so much of a smirk after a finish in the bottom half of the 32-car pack on the lead lap. Hamlin, though, did just enough, leading one lap and finishing with a 10-point cushion over Kasey Kahne, the first driver bounced from Eliminator Round advancement. The potential for better things looms for the No. 11 driver next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where he’s won four times in his Sprint Cup career.
19. Danica Patrick, No. 10 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
Helped by a push from Martin Truex Jr., Patrick mounted a charge to the front on Lap 167, snatching the lead from Jimmie Johnson and bringing the Talladega faithful to their feet in the grandstands. Patrick showed the way for seven laps until a shuffle of pit stops and late-race restarts left her rooting and gouging for all the spots she could grab. Though the result wasn’t what she wanted, she seemed thankful to be bringing the No. 10 car home in one piece, telling her crew on the cool-down lap: "Oh my gosh, I can’t believe we didn’t crash." Get more driver audio with RaceView.
20. Brian Vickers, No. 55 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
Sunday’s race got off to a promising start for the No. 55 group, even on race-day eve with Coors Light Pole Qualifying. Vickers claimed his first pole since 2009, but he didn’t lead after the drop of the green. Worse, he was snared in the race’s biggest wreck — the 10-car pileup in the 103rd lap that made his lead-lap finish all the more improbable.
21. Carl Edwards, No. 99 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
Edwards, Roush Fenway’s last hope in the championship hunt, entered Sunday’s Contender Round finale fifth in points and needing to avoid all the elimination-race mayhem. Though he came perilously close to the race’s last multicar wreck, he steered clear to advance in the Chase by a scant nine points. "I just don’t know how you plan this race out," Edwards said of Talladega’s unpredictable nature. "We tried to outsmart everybody, and it almost caught us, so it’s really down to pure chance. I’m just glad it worked out for us."
22. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford, Team Penske
The 20-year-old driver made waves in just his second Sprint Cup start, roaring to the point on Lap 2 and setting the pace twice for a total of 15 laps — the first laps led in his career in NASCAR’s top series. Blaney kept the No. 12, a part-time entry for Team Penske, out of trouble all day, improving on the 27th-place finish from his Cup debut back in May at Kansas Speedway.
23. AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing
The ‘Dinger let loose with some grumbling over the restrictor-plate style of racing at Talladega, vocal salvos that only got louder after his involvement in the largest wreck of the race — the 10-car stack-up on the backstretch during Lap 103. The result matched his worst finish in the six Chase races, equaling the 23rd place at Dover International Speedway, where his playoff hopes were snuffed in the opening Challenger Round finale. Get more driver audio with RaceView.
24. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
The six-time Sprint Cup champion did everything possible to keep his Chase hopes alive — except win. Johnson asserted himself early and often, leading nine times for a race-high 84 laps. Despite being a fixture at the front, his split-second tactical decisions and lack of drafting help in the late stages left him out of the hunt for the checkers. His finishes of 40th, 17th and 24th in the three Contender Round events placed him 11th out of 12 drivers, dashing hopes for a record-tying seventh Sprint Cup crown.
25. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
The Biff’s title chances ended three races ago in the Challenger Round finale at Dover, but he hasn’t stopped trying to make strides. Sunday, he led the 46th lap but helped to trigger the final Talladega caution when he made contact with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the end of the backstretch, snarling Junior and three other drivers in the mishap.
26. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
The four-time champ entered Sunday’s Talladega race with a fairly safe spot after claiming a 14th-place and a runner-up finish in his first two Contender Round finishes, but by starting last for only the second time in his 757-race career, the perch became far more precarious. In the end, Gordon kept his drive for a fifth title intact by just three points over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne. "Today was not our shining moment," Gordon said. "But our performance the last two races are what really got us in, and I’m very proud of that."
27. Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing
Truex posted an achievement that reflected just how difficult 2014 has been — his first lap led all season. With plenty of time spent among the front-runners Sunday, hopes were riding high for a competitive finish, but he was boxed in shortly after the final restart, taking damage to the left-rear quarter panel of his No. 78 in the jumble. "I don’t know what to say except this is Talladega and you can go from hero to zero very quickly at this place," Truex said. "We had a good car and deserved much better."
28. Josh Wise, No. 98 Chevrolet, Phil Parsons Racing
The No. 98 team welcomed back the popular Dogecoin paint scheme back for another restrictor-place event and the reunion was met with modest success. Wise crossed under the checkered flag at the tail end of the large lead pack, registering only his third lead-lap finish of the year to go with his results at Talladega and Darlington in the spring.
29. David Gilliland, No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
Gilliland, the runner-up to his teammate at Talladega in spring 2013, had no such luck this go-around as he was swept up into the final crash of the day on the first try at a green-white-checkered finish. He managed to limp around to a lead-lap result and his best finish in the last four races.
30. David Ragan, No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports
Front Row’s other David didn’t have the Goliath-slaying ability this time around at Talladega, either. Though he cropped up into the lead on Lap 174, Ragan came across the line barely in touch with the lead pack. Unfortunately for him, the finish fit in with his average result for the four restrictor-plate races this season — 30.25.
31. Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Though Dale Jr. led the second-most laps (31) Sunday afternoon to stoke the high hopes of his nation, he was unable to dig out of the deficit of subpar finishes in the opening two Contender Round races. By the time the race’s final crash pulled him in, Earnhardt’s fate was as good as sealed even though he managed to finish on the lead lap. "I know we’re all disappointed," Earnhardt said over his team radio after the checkered flag, "but that’s how it works." Get more driver audio with RaceView.
32. Trevor Bayne, No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
Bayne’s hopes for a top-10 or better in the late stages appeared promising as he ran second with nine laps remaining. But with a top-10 effort in sight, Bayne’s No. 21 was bumped out of the groove to the apron on the final restart, squelching his momentum and leaving him to languish as the final lead-lap finisher. "I hate what happened on the last restart but we’ll move forward," Bayne said. The next race on the Wood Brothers’ part-time schedule is next month at Texas Motor Speedway.
33. Terry Labonte, No. 32 Ford, Go FAS Racing
The Iceman’s final start of his 890-race career that yielded two championships ended with a thud, one lap down at Talladega but with plenty of memories. Labonte started ninth — his best qualifying effort of the four attempts he’s made this season — but dropped to the rear of the field in pace laps because of unapproved adjustments by the Frank Stoddard-owned team. He was unable to avoid the 10-car shunt on Lap 103, but continued on to the finish with repairs.
34. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
Smoke was among the hardest hit in the 10-car dust-up on the backstretch, but he persevered despite what he initially thought was a tire rub after repairs. From there, Stewart simply tried to log laps at reduced speed, a move that helped him gain a handful of spots after a late five-car crash knocked out other drivers and sent the race into overtime. Get more driver audio with RaceView.
35. Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
The earliest dose of bad luck visited the No. 1 team and defending race winner McMurray. Before the race was even 25 laps old, drivers behind Jamie Mac complained that his Chevy was leaking oil, shrouding their windshields in a haze of fluids. McMurray rallied to lead three laps (47-49) then caught the worst of the race’s first caution period just 10 laps later, with contact knocking off the No. 1’s rear bumper and forcing wholesale repair work.
36. Paul Menard, No. 27 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
The stoic Wisconsinite kept his fluorescent car near the head of the class most of the day, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time when the final yellow flag flew. Damage from the five-car confrontation on Lap 187 forced him out as one of the race’s six early exits. Menard’s two DNFs in each of the last two weekends have caused him to lose a spot in the Sprint Cup standings each week; he’s now 22nd behind Brian Vickers. Watch video of the green-white-checkered wreck here.
37. Michael Annett, No. 7 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate recorded a career-best Sprint Cup starting position — 10th — but couldn’t match the prowess at the end. His heavy damage in the final multicar wreck relegated Annett to his second DNF in the last four races.
38. Mike Wallace, No. 49 Toyota, Jay Robinson Racing
Wallace’s fourth Sprint Cup start of the season — and 194th of his career — brought a new car number than the Jay Robinson-owned team’s usual No. 66. The results, however, didn’t significantly change as Wallace wound up eight laps off the leader’s pace by the end of a 194-lap Talladega day.
39. Aric Almirola, No. 43 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
Restrictor-plate tracks for the famed No. 43 car have been a mixed lot of results. Almirola’s most recent run at Daytona yielded the first victory of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, but the other two — a crash-related 39th in the Daytona 500 and 13th in Talladega’s spring race — left a sour taste. Almirola’s contact with JJ Yeley on the backstretch ignited Sunday’s largest wreck; though he returned to the track after his car underwent extensive repairs, the 30-year-old Floridian was 28 laps down at the finish.
40. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
The championship contender with the biggest free-fall to the "out" stack in the Contender Round finale was Busch, who slid seven places — eight, if you count Keselowski’s climb past him based on his Sunday win, not points — in the Chase standings. Busch’s No. 18 appeared to have slowed enough to sidestep major contact until Austin Dillon‘s No. 3 piled into the maelstrom. "We’re done," were among the first words Busch said over the team radio before driving back to the garage. The extraordinary repair job by the JGR crew ultimately went for naught as Busch wound up 49 laps down and eliminated from this year’s title pursuit. Read more about Busch’s day here.
41. Michael McDowell, No. 95 Ford, Leavine Family Racing
The best start of McDowell’s 163-race Sprint Cup career didn’t make nearly as much hay in the finish column. His part-time No. 95 entry was crumpled in the first crash of the day, but soldiered on. After a scrape with the Turn 4 wall 71 laps later, McDowell’s race was over early.
42. JJ Yeley, No. 83 Toyota, BK Racing
Yeley’s third straight start for the BK team unfortunately produced his first DNF in the No. 83 ride, after he was caught up in the second multicar tangle of the day on Lap 103. Contact from behind by Aric Almirola‘s No. 43 sealed his early exit after Yeley’s car spun and walloped the outside wall on the backstretch. It marked Yeley’s fourth finish of 40th or worse in 14 starts this year.
43. Alex Bowman, No. 23 Toyota, BK Racing
The worst finish thus far in Bowman’s rookie season in NASCAR’s top division came to a smoky end with late involvement in the 10-car wreck at Lap 103. It also brought a screeching halt to what had been a modestly positive streak — Bowman had been running at the finish in 16 consecutive races before his Talladega misfortune.
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