NASCAR Cup Series

Brian Vickers took the Coors Light Pole Award for Sunday’s Geico 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway in what could be described as one of the weirdest qualifying sessions ever seen for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing - Starting Position: 1st - Were you surprised to end up with the pole in this format? "It's crazy. I thought that coming to three (laps) to go that we had literally no shot. We were way back -- like a half a straightaway behind the whole field and they all checked up and gave me a chance and gave me a run. I really get no credit for it."

Jimmie Johnson and AJ Allmendinger led Team Chevy’s efforts Saturday in qualifying for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Johnson, in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS will start second in the final round of the ‘Contender’ segment of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 2ND - WAS THERE ANY STRATEGY BEING PLAYED OUT THERE DURING THAT RUN? “There were a lot of strategies being put into use. Having to really come through and work out for you is just the toughest thing, because 20 some guys and a lady have an idea of what is going to work and timing that right and finding what works for you is impossible."

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion (Qualified 40th) – “I think everyone is confused. We worked with Kyle and got a good run and drafted off the right guys and were fast enough to make it but we just didn’t get across the line in time.”

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media today at Talladega Superspeedway. He discussed his standing in the Chase, needing a win Sunday to advance, how to control the race, Talladega preparation and other topics.

JUSTIN ALEXANDER, CREW CHIEF, NO. 27 MOEN/MENARDS CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed moving from his current race engineering role to the crew chief position for Paul Menard and the No. 27 Chevrolet SS team.

Terry Labonte, driver of the No. 32 C&J Energy Services Ford Fusion, will be making his 890th and final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend in the Geico 500. The two-time series champion has 22 career victories, including two with Ford Racing in 1989 (Pocono and Talladega) while driving for Junior Johnson. He spoke to the media earlier today about his career and hopes for his final start.

Last weekend among the craziness that occurred, Kevin Harvick was able to pick up the victory, therefore clinching a spot for himself into the next round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Now heading into this weekend at Talladega, Harvick is kicking back and relaxing as he doesn't have to worry about it and can "just go race."

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx One Rate Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - How will you approach Sunday's race? "I think we'll have to kind of play it by ear and really kind of look and see what the guys around us in points are planning on doing. We need to get a good, solid finish out of this to move on."