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Front Row Motorsports duo finish sixth and seventh at Talladega

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TALLADEGA, Ala. — For the drivers at Front Row Motorsports, it all went exactly to plan.

David Ragan and David Gilliland, teammates at the organization that shocked NASCAR’s traditional powers by winning the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway, were in position Sunday to record an even more stunning repeat on the big Alabama track. Their intention all along was to hang around until the final laps, and then make a run at it — which they did, until a late accident ended the race with Jamie McMurray out front.

"It was a crazy last lap," said Ragan, who won the May race here with Gilliland right behind him. "We set out what we wanted to do …. We had a chance to win the race, took the white flag in seventh or eighth and kind of had a good plan. But the caution came out. So, we got a top-10 finish and that’s a good thing for our Front Row Motorsports team."

Aiming to prove their 1-2 finish here five months ago was no fluke, Ragan and Gilliland did just that Sunday by finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. In the spring, the Front Row teammates jumped to the front of a middle lane that charged to the lead before anyone else could move in to block. Sunday, they were thwarted by two factors that made it difficult for Talladega to produce another of its famous underdog winners.

First, the cars all fell into a line along the top, frustrating those who had hoped to jump to the bottom and mount a charge to McMurray and eventual runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. And hopes of forming that low lane were further thwarted when Casey Mears and Austin Dillon crashed on the final lap, bringing the event to an end under caution because McMurray had already taken the while flag.

"We were in position, we had a plan where we could make a move together, but then the caution came out on the last lap," Gilliland said. "Thankfully, we weren’t a part of it and we were able to get a top-10 finish and a clean car to take home. I’m just really proud of my team. They’ve been working so hard, and days like this show that it pays off. I think we definitely could’ve had a chance (to) win. We were definitely in the mix for the last 50, 60 laps of the race. We weren’t hanging back anymore."

Indeed, Ragan and Gilliland remained near the rear of the pack for much of the race before moving to the front over the final 20 laps. Kyle Busch, who led nine laps and was at the point with 18 remaining before falling back, was ready to use the Front Row teammates as drafting partners in a late bid to go for the win.

"I think I had (Ragan) and (Gilliland) behind me, and (Martin Truex Jr.), and I think they were going to go with me," Busch said. "I (gave) Ragan a hand signal. Whether or not he understood it remains to be seen, but I told him ‘Turn 3, we’ll go.’ He pulled back in line like he understood, so that was good. I think he was going to help me, and of course his teammate was going to help him."

They never got the opportunity, not even at a track where restrictor plates close the gap between the sport’s top teams and everybody else. Talladega has produced a number of surprise winners ranging from Richard Brickhouse to Ron Bouchard to Brad Keselowski in his Phoenix Racing days to Ragan this spring, but Sunday was a tough one for underdogs trying to add their name to that list. The race saw only three caution periods, and there was no Big One to winnow the field.

Even so, a number of potential sleepers seemed in the mix as the race neared its end. But Dillon and Mears were involved in the last-lap crash, Danica Patrick sped on pit road, and Trevor Bayne fell back in the draft. The biggest surprise Sunday? It might have been Michael McDowell, who finished 15th for Phil Parsons Racing. It was McDowell’s best finish since the Daytona 500, where he placed ninth for Mike Curb’s team.

The Front Row duo, though, clearly had the best chance to pull a shocker at the end. But unlike the last race on this sprawling 2.66-mile layout, the right conditions just didn’t come together. As it was, the team still enjoyed a nice windfall of $339,946 in purse winnings, with the 30th-place finish of third driver Josh Wise added in.

After the last race here, though, they were after a little bit more.

"It just wasn’t meant to be this time," Gilliland said. "Next time."

MORE:

READ: McMurray rules
with late Talladega surge

WATCH: Final Laps:
McMurray wins; Dillon spins

READ: Points lead
changes hands

WATCH: Busch misses
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Twenty young racing prospects show off their skills on track at Drive for Diversity combine

HAMPTON, Va. – Twenty of North America’s top young racing prospects got to show their abilities on track during the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine at Langley Speedway on Tuesday.

Ten laps in the morning, another 15 circuits in the afternoon in front of a team of NASCAR series officials and talent scouts from Rev Racing, provided the opportunity  of a lifetime: a chance to be selected to participate in the full 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.

But for some, the magnitude of the opportunity registered before they took to the track. It resonated Monday night, when NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle Larson, a graduate of the D4D program, stopped by after the group dinner in Hampton, Va.

“That’s the first time I really got to sit down and really hang out with him,” said Sam Wright, an 18-year-old D4D hopeful from Vancouver, Wash., who had previously met Larson in passing. “It was really cool to see him.  He’s easy to talk to and I’ve enjoyed watching him come up through the years. He’s just got an incredible amount of talent —  extremely level-headed and definitely someone to look up to.”

Larson (the first D4D driver to capture a touring series title in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and currently racing full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (running fulltime in the Camping World Truck Series) have become standard bearers for the 10-year-old Drive for Diversity program, which drew a record 90 applicants (64 percent female) this year. 

The program is designed to identify and train talented young female and minority drivers who have demonstrated promise at the grassroots level. The combine takes into account a combination of driving skills, physical fitness and off-track intangibles.

“I think it was incredibly important that Kyle came by last night and hung out with the drivers,” says Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. “It highlights the possible and really does speak to the quality of the development. Certainly, that’s true of Darrell Wallace, too. 

“We’re seeing, very consistently, that drivers from this program are competing for the (K&N) East championship and competing for Rookie of the Year, and those who have been elevated have an opportunity to advance up the national ladder. Four years ago, Sergio Pena and Darrell Wallace Jr. won half of the events in the K&N East Series. So, the combine continues to attract the very best young talent in the sport. That’s what was envisioned when NASCAR launched this initiative and it’s delivering on the promise NASCAR made 10 years ago." 

The combine can be the all-important first rung of the ladder. But even for those not moving on, just getting the chance to be evaluated with their peers can pay dividends.

“Most important,” Jadotte says, “is that all of the young people who attend and participate in the combine are going to walk away from here better-prepared to succeed in the sport – not only with the benefit of seat time, but from competing in the off-track evaluation and having a better understanding of what it takes to be a professional athlete – to be a professional driver in this sport.”

For some, it’s a matter of persistence.

Dylan Smith, 21, of Randolph, Vt., is participating in his fifth combine. In some ways, it’s already paid off when he was hired by Rev Racing and had the chance to work closely with Larson.

“I was more or less his interior guy in the K&N Series when he won his championship, moving his seats, making sure his belts and pedals were right,” said Smith, who was Rookie of the Year in Late Models at Thunder Bowl (Vt.) Speedway in 2009. “So, we have a pretty good relationship.” 

That led to Smith landing a job with Stewart-Haas Racing, working in the shop, performing post-race teardowns of cars for Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and Ryan Newman.

Still, it’s the dream of getting back behind the wheel, full-time, that drives Smith. 

“It’s been gut-wrenching for my family and me to think we put everything together that we need and know it just didn’t work out,” Smith said. “Hopefully, this will be the year I break in as a driver. The last couple of years we’ve been at the top of the speeds, on average. I feel like I’ve done everything I’m supposed to have done, but there are a lot of aspects that go into being selected.” 

One is simply the matter of the competition. It’s that tough and getting tougher every year, according to Max Siegel, owner and CEO of Rev Racing.

“The depth of the talent pool continues to get better every single year,” Siegel says. “The drivers who are here are all very accomplished – winning races from various areas of the country. And, I think we get better at the evaluation criteria in selecting participants every year. 

“You definitely have to have the ability to get it done on the track. But frankly, we’re looking for the maximum potential to grow into a national series race car driver. It’s not just about age or speed on the track but really having our group of people upstairs (in the press box) assess whether someone is going to have the ability to grow beyond their ability that we see in them now.” 

Each driver brought his or her own credentials to Langley, a recently resurfaced and primarily flat .4-mile track. 

Jay Beasley, 21, recorded his eighth win of the season last weekend and wrapped up the Super Late Model championship at his home track, the high-banked Bull Ring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He welcomed the attention from the NASCAR and Rev Racing scouts.

“I really like being in that position – kind of having the pressure on me,” says Beasley, who began racing motorcycles at age 7 and also got his feet wet in the K&N Series this year. “I dig it. I really like being tested and compared to everyone on the same playing field. 

“I’ve learned a lot this year. I’m choosing to go through this particular door because it gets my name out there and I won’t have to (pay to) support the racing. The cars, the technology – that’s a ready-made opportunity in Late Models.” 

Ruben Garcia Jr., 17, from Mexico City, is being accompanied in Hampton by his grandfather and his father, Ruben Garcia, who made nine Sprint Cup starts and won two K&N races. The younger Garcia is making his own mark, currently sitting 19 points out of the lead with two races to go in the NASCAR Mexico Series.  Some say he’s following the progression of Daniel Suarez, a D4D graduate making his mark in the K&N East Series. 

“As a Mexican, getting sponsors for a career in the U.S. is a bit difficult,” says the younger Garcia. “Working in this program and having this big chance would make it easier to start in a NASCAR series.” 

The same holds true for the Decker family from Eagle River, Wisconsin.  Paige, 20, a junior at UWisconsin-Stout, her sister, Claire, a freshman at UWisconsin-Oshkosh, and cousin Natalie, 16, a high school sophomore in Eagle River, got their start racing snowmobiles.  

“Everyone knows that funding is a huge aspect of it,” said Paige, the first female winner in the Tundra Late Model Series at Golden Sands (Wis.) Speedway this year. “That’s what the three of us are lacking right now. We’re trying to run on just the family and that’s putting a struggle on us. We know this is an avenue that can take us to the top because (Rev) has the resources.  We’re hoping  we can impress them – – get them (thinking) ‘maybe these girls can do something.’ 

“But just to be able to say, ‘I attended the Drive for Diversity (Combine)’ is huge. I’ve already had a lot of people texting me, saying ‘that’s so cool.’ I just know that we came here, did our best and got our name out there.” 

Others participating in the combine include: 

Devon Amos, 22, Rio Rancho, N.M., Annabeth Barnes, 18, Mooresville, N.C., Nicole Behar, 15, Otis Orchards, Wash., Ryan Bernal, 19, Hollister, Calif., Collin Cabre, 19, Thonotosassa, Fla., Meagan Creech, 20, Ashland, Va., Blake Kisner, 18, Chanute, Kan., Katlynn Leer, 14, St. Moulton, Iowa, Jack Madrid, 18, San Clemente, Calif., Hannah Newhouse, 16, Twin Falls, Idaho, Sergio Pena, 20, Catharpin, Va., Kenny Stewart II, 16, Carson, Calif., Cody Thompson, 20, Fremont, Calif.

On Wednesday, eight more young drivers, including 7-year-old Jaiden Reyna of Newport News, Va., will compete for the opportunity to drive for Rev Racing during the 2014 Summer Shootout Series in INEX Legends and Bandoleros cars.

MORE:

READ: McMurray rules
with late Talladega surge

WATCH: Final Laps:
McMurray wins; Dillon spins

READ: Points lead
changes hands

WATCH: Busch misses
pit stall
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Ebert fills in on No. 43; Parrott will participate in Road to Recovery program

Richard Petty Motorsports announced Tuesday it has parted ways with veteran crew chief Todd Parrott. The move comes five days after Parrott was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for violating its substance abuse policy.

Greg Ebert will serve as interim crew chief on driver Aric Almirola‘s No. 43 RPM Ford for the remainder of the season. He had been car chief on the No. 43 for the past two years.

"We are confident in Greg’s leadership abilities and we will give him the resources he needs to be successful," said RPM’s Vice President of Operations and Competition Sammy Johns. "He is very familiar with our race program and gives us a more seamless transition.  More importantly, he gives Aric the best opportunity to finish the season strong."

Johns filled in as crew chief for Parrott last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, where Almirola started on the pole and finished 22nd. Almirola is 18th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.

Almirola said during the weekend that Parrott’s suspension was "definitely something that caught us all off-guard and something that we have had to just work on a day-to-day basis.”

A 19-year veteran in the Cup garage, Parrott led NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett to a 1996 Daytona 500 victory and the 1999 Cup championship.

Parrott will participate in the NASCAR Road to Recovery program.

"We have sat down and talked about it and tried to come up with the best solution for what is best for us,” Almirola said Saturday at Talladega. "I will reiterate and I said it on Twitter yesterday or Thursday, but Todd Parrott is a good person and a good crew chief and a good friend of mine. I think he has a lot of support and a lot of people rallying behind him to get through this difficult time. That being said, we have a job to do and have to go out and race and do what is best for us. We have to figure out a plan."

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READ: McMurray rules
with late Talladega surge

WATCH: Final Laps:
McMurray wins; Dillon spins

READ: Points lead
changes hands

WATCH: Busch misses
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Jimmie Johnson overtakes Matt Kenseth in the standings and Power Rankings; do you agree? Make your picks on the Fan Rankings tab!

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Joe Gibbs Racing driver trails Johnson by four points for top spot in Chase

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Championship contender Matt Kenseth was OK after crashing during a test at Texas Motor Speedway on Tuesday due to an apparent tire problem.

Kenseth told reporters at the 1.5-mile facility that he cut a right-front tire. The car he was testing is not the same one he’ll bring back to the facility’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup event on Nov 3.

"She’s at home safe, ready to get to the track," he said.

Kenseth lost the lead for the first time in the Chase this past Sunday at Talladega, and now trails Jimmie Johnson by four points heading to Martinsville. His Joe Gibbs Racing team is one of five organizations — including Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports outfit — participating in the Texas test, which began Monday and is slated to end Wednesday. The test was originally planned for last week, but was postponed by rain.

"Like a typical test or practice session, I think you stumble onto some things that you feel, and maybe add some speed to your car and help the balance," Kenseth said. "And then you go through a lot more things that you don’t like, and kind of discard and put off to the back. You go through a lot of stuff, You go through a lot of stuff pretty fast, I think, until you get to the data logs and can look at it and think about it. Until you do all that, you probably don’t pick out exactly what you’re going to do when you come back yet."

MORE:

READ: McMurray rules
with late Talladega surge

WATCH: Final Laps:
McMurray wins; Dillon spins

READ: Points lead
changes hands

WATCH: Busch misses
pit stall
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Eric Maycroft has been reinstated by NASCAR after completion of Road to Recovery program

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NASCAR has reinstated a former over-the-wall pit crewman for Michael Waltrip Racing who was dismissed from the team after violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.

Eric Maycroft, former front tire changer on the No. 56 car of Martin Truex Jr., was reinstated Tuesday after his successful completion of the Road to Recovery program, according to NASCAR. Maycroft had been indefinitely suspended on Aug. 16 for an undisclosed violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. MWR later released him citing a zero-tolerance policy.

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READ: McMurray rules
with late Talladega surge

WATCH: Final Laps:
McMurray wins; Dillon spins

READ: Points lead
changes hands

WATCH: Busch misses
pit stall
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Logano focused on building season-long consistency

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joey Logano headed into his first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup feeling good about his team and his chances.

Six weeks into NASCAR’s championship-determining playoff, he still feels good about his team. His chances, however, have had to be re-evaluated.

Twelfth in the points standings, Logano is one of several Chase drivers trying to put together a strong run in the season’s final four races, the title all but officially out of reach.

"The Chase has been kind of an example of what our year has been," the Penske Racing driver said Tuesday during an appearance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. "We’ve had some top-five finishes (and) we’ve had our issues. But it’s not over yet and I’m still positive; the whole team is still positive."

Logano, 23, had one of the strongest stretch runs of any competitor leading into this year’s Chase, stringing together six consecutive top-10 finishes, including a win at Michigan, before a stumble at Richmond.

An engine issue in the Chase opener at Chicago and mediocre results in three of the next five races, have kept Penske Racing’s No. 22 team – led by crew chief Todd Gordon – stuck in the back of the Chase pack.

Every team in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series has issues from time to time. Those who contend for the title have fewer and bounce back quickly when such incidents do arise.

Such consistency hasn’t gone unnoticed by Logano. 

"I know it’s really hard to make up points when you have a bad race because these guys running for the championship that are first, second, third and fourth right now, they don’t have any bad races," he said. "They’ve been really ripping it through this whole Chase, so it’s hard to make up on those guys when you have an engine failure or you have a bad race.

"It’s hard to recover, so those little mistakes and where we need to fine-tune is where we need to be better to be that championship-winning team, but we’re not far from it right now.”

If there’s any silver lining inside the team’s struggles, it’s that they haven’t occurred in the same areas. "A couple that were probably similar," he said, "but we’ve learned from that.

"We can run six races together very well, (we) can’t put 10 of them together very well. That’s where we have to take a step back at the end of the season and really diagnose each issue that has happened. Not that we haven’t already but just go a little more in-depth. We’ll have a few months really think about it all and see what each problem was and … learn from it. Figure out which department it is – driver, crew chief, all of us, building the cars, whatever. Make sure we have good notes … and have that consistency."

Until then, the focus is on the final four races, beginning with this weekend’s Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger at Martinsville, Va.

Logano has managed only a pair of top-10 finishes in nine career starts on the 0.526-mile track, both coming in 2010 while he was still at Joe Gibbs Racing. He finished 23rd there earlier this year.

"It is a challenge to keep your brakes, keep your tires underneath you," he said of racing 500 laps at Martinsville. "The place is a finesse track. You’ve got to be able to get your car straight, try to launch nice and easy because eventually you want to be able to put the gas pedal down all the way once your tires wear out enough.

"You can’t stop and you can’t go. So that’s what we’ve got to look forward to this weekend."

MORE:

READ: McMurray rules
with late Talladega surge

WATCH: Final Laps:
McMurray wins; Dillon spins

READ: Points lead
changes hands

WATCH: Busch misses
pit stall
Posted on by Staff Report

Johnson has won two straight races at Martinsville

Fresh off taking back the points lead in the Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson heads to Martinsville Speedway, a track at which he has a favorable history. Johnson has eight wins there with his most recent victory coming this spring. In fact, Johnson leads all active drivers with eight wins at the track and is one of five active drivers to record multiple wins at Martinsville.

 

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Martinsville looms as drivers give chase; Johnson now in top spot

RELATED: Full Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage

1. Jimmie Johnson (No. 48)

Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet

Where he stands: Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings with 2,254 points.
Last week: Johnson may not have made the biggest jump up the standings after Talladega, but he made the most important leap — into first place. The five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion finished 13th on Sunday, seven places above Matt Kenseth, and also earned two bonus points. He led a race-high 47 laps (and took the lead 10 different times), often working with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the front of the pack. Johnson now leads Matt Kenseth by four points heading into Martinsville, one of the 48 team’s best tracks.
What he said: "You know, I feel that the races forward now are up to where the competitors go earn it. You don’t have this luck issue that can take place at plate tracks. So I am happy to have the points lead, and we went through a lot of work to get there. We just go racing from here and that is the thing I am most excited for."
Outlook: In 23 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Johnson has eight wins, 16 top-fives, 20 top-10s and three poles. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Johnson ranks first out of 55 drivers with an average place of 5.9. He won the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

2. Matt Kenseth (No. 20)

Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 

Where he stands: Kenseth is second in the standings with 2,250 points.
Last week: For the first time since the 10-race Chase began, Kenseth exited a track without the series points lead. He was undone by a loose condition at Talladega that got so bad, the driver frantically radioed to his crew that he was going to crash if the car wasn’t fixed. The ill-handling condition forced Kenseth to drive in the back of the pack until the final pit stop, when his car was serviced, but he couldn’t climb back up the pack. When the bottom row of cars never materialized on the final laps, he couldn’t pass the drivers in front of him.
What he said: "Typically, handling is a non-issue here and we just got so loose I couldn’t even hang on to it. I pretty much had to run in the back for two runs, which was disappointing. We finally got it fixed that last run, but we only had 20 laps to get back up there. I really needed to be up there like we were early and feel like I was controlling the race more — the lanes and the runs and all that and I could never get back to there."
Outlook: In 27 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Kenseth has three top-fives and eight top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Kenseth ranks 16th out of 55 drivers with an average place of 16.9. He finished 14th in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

3. Kyle Busch (No. 18)

Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 

Where he stands: Busch is third in the standings with 2,228 points.
Last week: Busch said he went into Talladega hoping to avoid the "Big One", which never actually materialized until a last-lap crash triggered by Austin Dillon and Casey Mears. Not only did Busch keep his car clean, he notched his second consecutive top-five finish at the fall Talladega race with a fifth-place run. ‘Dega had been hit-or-miss for the No. 18 team. In the past six trips to the 2.66-mile track prior to Sunday, Busch had two top-fives and four finishes of 25th or worse. Finishing fifth allowed Busch to climb to third in the standings. The strong showing came despite Busch falling way behind early after his pit-road gaffe — video of that incident is below.
What he said: "It was interesting that everybody stuck up on the outside that long and certainly that was the fastest way around. There wasn’t anyone making up any time on the bottom. I figured that a lot of people would try to and be able to make up some time, but a couple tried and never made anything happen."
Outlook: In 17 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Busch has eight top-fives and nine top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Busch ranks seventh out of 55 drivers with an average place of 13.5. He finished fifth in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

4. Kevin Harvick (No. 29)

Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet 

Where he stands: Harvick is fourth in the standings with 2,228 points.
Last week: Harvick had a strong Chevrolet, something that was a bit of question heading into the race. With qualifying rained out, the first practice session’s speeds were used to set the lineup. Harvick didn’t give too much away during that on-track time, finishing 33rd in that session. So he came off the grid 33rd Sunday, and was down to 40th place through 30 laps. In fact, the Richard Childress Racing driver barely got out of the 30s through 120 (of 188 laps). Then, he made his move, vaulting through the field to get up to seventh place before losing it all on the final pit stop and finishing 12th.
What he said: "We got ourselves in position to be where we needed to be at the end of the race. Coming to the last pit stop and then lost everything that we gained on the last pit stop again. We had a strategy that we stuck to and then we were just last off of pit road."
Outlook: In 24 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Harvick has one win, three top-fives and 10 top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Harvick ranks ninth out of 55 drivers with an average place of 14.0. He finished 13th in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

5. Jeff Gordon (No. 24)

Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet 

Where he stands: Gordon is fifth in the standings with 2,220 points.
Last week: Gordon leaves Talladega fifth in the standings, down from fourth last week, but he actually gained two points on the leader. The 42-year-old led three laps Sunday and finished 14th for a 31-point day. He has a chance to gain even more ground at Martinsville, one of his best tracks. Then again, the paper-clip shaped track is also a favorite of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, who has the points lead.
What he said: "It was a good day. I thought that the car was fantastic. I thought the team did an awesome job of executing our plan and we were in perfect position. And it just didn’t work out. I got kind of shoved on the back straightaway and was trying not to wreck and that got me out of a really good position and then we were kind of a sitting duck at that point and just went to the back and wanted to see what we could do with them on that final lap. And of course you know, a wreck is going to happen."
Outlook: In 41 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Gordon has seven wins, 26 top-fives, 33 top-10s and seven poles. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Gordon ranks second out of 55 drivers with an average place of 6.2. He finished third in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88)

Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet

Where he stands: Earnhardt Jr. is sixth in the standings with 2,202 points.
Last week: Earnhardt Jr. may have been the favorite to win as the laps ticked down. Sure, he wasn’t leading — it was Jamie McMurray running out front — but running in second position at ‘Dega is often a better spot than running first. Then the last-lap wreck happened early, with Casey Mears and Austin Dillon getting together. That tangle came before Junior had a chance to try and pass McMurray, relegating the driver to a second-place finish and leaving Junior Nation to wonder "What if." Earnhardt is featured in the post-race reactions video below.
What he said: "It’s all kind of a blur as to how we ended up in second, but I had no reason to make a move before the last lap being in second place. I was in perfect position to be patient and wait as long as I wanted to. So that’s why we didn’t go any sooner than that. I just can’t anticipate a caution coming out every single time we run at Talladega race on the last lap, so I just assumed it would go to checkered and was planning my move on the back straightaway."
Outlook: In 27 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. has 10 top-fives and 14 top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Earnhardt Jr. ranks fourth out of 55 drivers with an average place of 11.0. He finished 24th in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

7. Greg Biffle (No. 16)

Roush Fenway Racing, Ford 

Where he stands: Biffle is seventh in the standings with 2,201 points.
Last week: Biffle’s history on restrictor-plate racing is an interesting case study. The No. 16 Ford has been among the best on the circuit at Daytona, a 2.5-mile superspeedway. At 2.66-mile Talladega, however, he’s worse than average throughout his career. Sunday, the Biff led five laps and finished 11th. He dropped one spot in the standings, but he’s only one point behind sixth-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. More importantly, at least for the driver, he kept his car clean. | Click here to read a roundup on the six members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family
What he said: "We made it through, that is half the battle at this place. It was typical Talladega, we were up and then in the back and up and then in the back. At the end of the day, we missed the wreck and that is all I really care about."
Outlook: In 21 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Biffle has four top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Biffle ranks 21st out of 55 drivers with an average place of 21.2. He finished ninth in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

8. Clint Bowyer (No. 15)

Michael Waltrip Racing, Toyota 

Where he stands: Bowyer is eighth in the standings with 2,197 points.
Last week: Bowyer’s goal at Talladega was apparent as soon as the green flag fell — stay out of trouble. Starting 20th, the No. 15 Toyota dropped to the back of the field. When the early-race mega-wreck didn’t happen, Bowyer puttered his way through the field, eventually getting to the front and leading two laps. As the final laps ticked off, Bowyer again fell back to try and avoid the "Big One." He eventually attempted to make his way back up, but was stuck in the single line. He went from 14th to 10th, though, on the last-lap wreck.
What he said: "Weird ending to the race. I could get up through them pretty easy all day until they went single file on us. My fault for waiting too long."
Outlook: In 15 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Bowyer has three top-fives and nine top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Bowyer ranks sixth out of 55 drivers with an average place of 13.0. He finished second in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

9. Kurt Busch (No. 78)

Furniture Row Racing, Chevrolet 

Where he stands: Busch is ninth in the standings with 2,193 points.
Last week: Not only was Busch’s car fast, it was … well, colorful. Sporting a Wonder Bread paint scheme, the No. 78 Chevrolet shed its familiar all-black look for a scheme made famous in the movie "Talladega Nights." The car ran up front for most of the afternoon, and was in the top five during its final green-lap pit stop on Lap 162. He merged back onto the track and got back up to 10th place, before getting shuffled to the back in the draft and finishing 18th.
What he said: "Restrictor-plate racing is all about being in the right place at the right time. We were in the right place for the majority of the race, but when it counts at the end we weren’t there. I tried to make something happen, but couldn’t get there."
Outlook: In 26 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Busch has one win, two top-fives, four top-10s and one pole. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Busch ranks 19th out of 55 drivers with an average place of 18.8. He finished 37th in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

10. Carl Edwards (No. 99)

Roush Fenway Racing, Ford 

Where he stands: Edwards is 10th in the standings with 2,186 points.
Last week: Perhaps no one was as frustrated at the tumultuous Talladega nature as Edwards. His No. 99 Ford was fast off the grid, where he started fifth, and took the lead on Lap 171. But getting shuffled to the back is part of the territory at the 2.66-mile monster, and that’s what happened to Edwards. He finished 17th and remains in 10th place.
What he said: "I think that wreck at the end, there was a lot of stuff that was going to happen in the last half a lap but we didn’t see it because of that wreck. We should have been a little better. We were leading with 10 or 15 to go and I thought we were in a really good spot and it just did not work out."
Outlook: In 18 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Edwards has one top-five and five top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Edwards ranks 14th out of 55 drivers with an average place of 16.1. He finished 15th in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

11. Ryan Newman (No. 39)

Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet 

Where he stands: Newman is 11th in the standings with 2,182 points.
Last week: For the fourth time in six Chase races, Newman finished in the top-10. In fact, his ninth-place effort at ‘Dega made him one of just four Chase drivers to finish in the top 10. Newman is 11th in the standings despite those numbers because his worst postseason finish was 35th at Kansas, and he’s still recovering from that showing. | Click here to read a roundup on the six members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family
What he said: "I rode around in the back all day basically just trying to keep my nose clean. I was waiting for something to happen the whole race, but it never really did except for that wreck on the last lap. That wasn’t very much fun out there, though."
Outlook: In 23 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Newman has one win, seven top-fives, 11 top-10s and three poles. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Newman ranks 10th out of 55 drivers with an average place of 14.8. He finished 31st in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

12. Joey Logano (No. 22)

Penske Racing, Ford 

Where he stands: Logano is 12th in the standings with 2,179 points.
Last week: Logano’s spotter was working the radio furiously over the final laps, trying to find partners to jump down and form a bottom line. That never materialized, and the result was a 16th-place finish for Logano’s second consecutive finish outside the top 15. | Click here to read a roundup on the six members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family
What he said: "That was a lot more conservative race than I think anyone ever thought. We all were racing pretty hard too. There were a few times when it looked like there was going to be a big crash and there never was. In the end though nobody wanted to go."
Outlook: In nine career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Logano has one top-five and two top-10s. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Logano ranks 18th out of 55 drivers with an average place of 17.8. He finished 23rd in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

13. Kasey Kahne (No. 5)

Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet

Where he stands: Kahne is 13th in the standings with 2,153 points.
Last week: One week after his best postseason showing, Kahne had another head-scratcher. His runner-up finish at Charlotte did not portend Talladega success. In fact, Kahne’s 36th-place finish was the worst showing among the 13 Chase drivers. And it wasn’t even his worst showing of the postseason, which is why Kahne remains 13th in the standings.
What he said: Kahne was unavailable for comment.
Outlook: In 19 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, Kahne has three top-fives, four top-10s and one pole. In the past eight years at Martinsville, Kahne ranks 20th out of 55 drivers with an average place of 20.1. He finished fourth in the first 2013 race at Martinsville.

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Newman finishes ninth, Biffle 11th at 2.66-mile track

Coming out unscathed from Talladega Superspeedway is a battle all in itself. With the Camping World RV Sales 500 being the sixth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race this season, drivers’ outcomes and triumphs are becoming more crucial to their championship chances.

Ryan Newman led the Coca-Cola Racing Family with a ninth-place finish at Talladega and, fortunately for him, moved up one position in the standings.

Fellow Chase contender Greg Biffle wasn’t as lucky. After starting sixth, Biffle couldn’t gain the momentum he needed and eventually finished 11th, dropping one position in the Chase standings.

A roundup on the Coca-Cola Racing Family in order of how they finished at Talladega:

Ryan Newman (No. 39)

Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet 

Recap: Ryan Newman went into Talladega winless at the historic track, and that’s exactly how he came out. The Chase contender finished on the outskirts of the top 10, which was enough to move up in the standings. Newman gained one position to 11th, and is now 72 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
Quotable: "I rode around at the back all day basically just trying to keep my nose clean. I was waiting for something to happen the whole race, but it never really did except for that wreck on the last lap that unfortunately took out my teammate Austin Dillon. I’m happy that we came out of here with a ninth-place finish and a clean WIX Filters Chevrolet. That wasn’t very much fun out there, though."
His standing: Newman is 11th in the standings with 2,182 points.
Outlook: Now 11th in the standings, Newman goes to Martinsville with one previous win at that track. The driver will need a top-five finish at the Virginia track if he’s to move up in the standings for the second consecutive week.

Greg Biffle (No. 16)

Roush Fenway Racing, Ford 

Recap: Biffle started sixth for the Camping World RV Sales 500, but unfortunately for the Roush Fenway Racing team, an 11th-place finish would have to do. Biffle dropped one position in the standings to seventh after Talladega, putting him 53 points behind Johnson.
Quotable: “We made it through, that is half the battle at this place. It was typical Talladega, we were up and then in the back and up and then in the back. At the end of the day, we missed the wreck and that is all I really care about.”
His standing: Biffle is seventh in the standings with 2,201 points. 
Outlook: Biffle missed a chance at Talladega to make some positive movement in the standings.

Joey Logano (No. 22)

Penske Racing, Ford

Recap: The Chase rookie dropped one position in the standings to 12th place after finishing 16th at ‘Dega. He also led for seven laps.
Quotable: “That was a lot more conservative race than I think anyone ever thought. We all were racing pretty hard too. There were a few times when it looked like there was going to be a big crash and there never was. In the end though nobody wanted to go. … You try to do anything you can to move up and there were a few guys back there that wanted to go but the bottom lane doesn’t work because of these big shark fins on the side that doesn’t let any air on the spoiler so it hurts the bottom lane so much. You aren’t able to slow down the guy on the top because the fin blocks the air on the spoiler and you can’t slow them down. That is why the bottom lane doesn’t work and it is never going to work until they change that."
His standing: Logano is 12th in the standings with 2,179 points.
Outlook: At Talladega, Logano finished 16th in the field and missed his chance to be more aggressive in a race that could have been a boost to his position.

Danica Patrick (No. 10)

Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet 

Recap: Patrick held her own at Talladega Superspeedway. An expert in drafting, Patrick let this skill take her up as high as fourth in the race. A pit-road speeding penalty ruined her day, though, and she finished 33rd.
Quotable: "We just didn’t communicate well on that final pit stop. We were on the high side and couldn’t get down to where we needed to be to pit. We were trying to pit with the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) and the 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.). I know it’s a challenge for the spotters — you’re trying to work with other spotters on when to pit and obviously keep track of the on-track stuff. It’s a lot, and it’s happening fast. You have a split-second to make a decision, and we should have made another lap."
Her standing: Patrick is 28th in the standings with 565 points. 
Outlook: Patrick’s one previous experience at Martinsville had her finishing 12th, which is one of her career-best finishes at the Cup level. The benefit of her near top-10 is that she could use that as a bar she has set and a goal to work toward, especially if she wants a shot at the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors against beau, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Denny Hamlin (No. 11)

Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota 

Recap: Starting 15th, Hamlin had as good as a chance as any other driver to come out on top. And although Hamlin ran up front at times, his engine expired after 142 (of 188) laps, relegating him to a 38th-place finish.
Quotable: "It looks like we broke a retainer on the number six cylinder, so it’s just tough. This is kind of the growing pains that you go through when you’re testing different stuff. Hopefully, these are the kind of things we can learn so we don’t have these issues in the Daytona 500."
His standing: Hamlin is 24th in the standings with 614 points.
Outlook: Hamlin has four wins at Martinsville, nine top-five finishes and 12 top-10s. Perhaps a return to his home state will produce another memorable moment.

Tony Stewart (No. 14)

Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet 

Recap: Stewart missed his 11th consecutive race this past weekend and watched Nationwide Series regular Austin Dillon pilot his No. 14 Chevrolet to a 26th-place finish after flipping his car on the last lap. Stewart is still nursing his broken leg and won’t return in 2013.
His standing: Stewart is 26th in the standings with 594 points.