| This weekend it is off to the great state of Alabama | | | | Rookie contender Scott Speed was able to move up |
| for the second super speedway race of the 2009 | | | | one spot in the standings thanks to the No. 8 car |
| season and the first of two events at Talladega. | | | | ceasing operations. With three previous starts at the |
| Known for its high speeds, tight packs and big | | | | 2.66-mile track (one in the Truck Series and two in |
| wrecks, Talladega is a fan favorite and always full of | | | | the ARCA RE/MAX Series), Speed will attempt to |
| action. | | | | make his first Cup Series start this weekend. |
| While the fans love the organized chaos of pack | | | | Currently 102 points outside the top-35, Speed will |
| racing, for many of those on the bubble, one slip up | | | | have to do so by making the show on time. |
| could mean the difference between being locked in | | | | "It's hard to take anything anyone says about |
| the show at Richmond or falling outside the top-35. | | | | Talladega and apply it," rookie Scott Speed explained. |
| Thanks to a 21st-place finish last week at the | | | | "It's something you have to experience," Speed said. |
| Phoenix International Raceway, Joey Logano and the | | | | "It's not something you can talk about. There are |
| No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team jumped two spots in | | | | certain key things about the draft - how the air goes |
| the owner standings to 33rd. With a thirty-three | | | | over the car and if you put your car in this place or |
| point cushion over 35th, the rookie is able to focus | | | | that place - but other than that there's so much that |
| solely on the race and not have to worry about | | | | you learn just by experiencing and doing it." |
| making the show. | | | | With forty-five cars on the entry list for this |
| With Logano's solid finish, John Andretti and Robby | | | | weekend's Aaron's 499, qualifying will be tight. Ten |
| Gordon both fell one spot in the standings. Andretti is | | | | drivers will be competing for eight spots, with two |
| currently 34th in the owner points, just twelve points | | | | teams making the trip back to the shop early. |
| ahead of Gordon. | | | | Those go-or-go-home cars include: Eric McClure (4), |
| Running his own operation, Gordon continues to show | | | | Brad Keselowski (09), Max Papis (13), Scott Riggs |
| his tenacity and determination week-in and week-out. | | | | (36), Jeremy Mayfield (41), Michael McDowell (66), |
| A 39th-place finish out in the desert is not what the | | | | David Gilliland (71), Regan Smith (78), Scott Speed |
| owner/driver was looking for in last Saturday night's | | | | (82) and Joe Nemechek (87). |
| race. Heading into Talladega, the driver of the No. 7 | | | | Be sure to check back to this weekend to see who |
| Toyota is locked into the show, but TRG | | | | makes the show and who heads home following |
| Motorsports' David Gilliland is knocking on the door | | | | Saturday morning's qualifying session. |
| and he wants in. | | | | |