NASCAR Cup Series

“As crazy and wild and unpredictable as qualifying can be, we feel fortunate to be in the race,” he said. “We had to make it on our lap speed. We were in a good position in the first session, but we didn’t get as good a position in the second.” “But the important thing is we’ll race on Sunday.”

Saturday was the first time that the group form of qualifying for Sprint Cup races has been used at Talladega Superspeedway, replacing the old single-car style. This resulted in aerodynamically friendly pack qualifying that produced speeds well into the upper 190s, with two drivers – Kyle Busch and Joey Logano – topping the 200-mph mark.

David Gilliland and David Ragan’s final-lap heave at Talladega Superspeedway last season defined their demeanor and willingness to help further their team’s recognition and competitiveness.

Catching the run at the right time through the apron in the third round of qualifying, 26-year-old Brian Scott would come across the line with a lap of 48.293 seconds to score his first career Coors Light Pole Award in his fifth Sprint Cup Series start. Scott’s previous best qualifying attempt was a 12th in the season opening Daytona 500.

CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion – “It worked out OK. The final roll of the dice didn’t end up the way we wanted, but it was still fun. I had a good time. We didn’t have a very good plan and it still ended up OK for us, so I feel good about 10th.”

Hendrick Motorsports officially announced today that they have signed a deal for Nationwide Insurance to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Sprint Cup Series ride beginning in 2015. Nationwide Insurance will be a primary partner for 12 Sprint Cup races in 2015 and 13 events in both 2016 and 2017.

Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway promises to be a knockout. The forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s, ideal weather to watch all the fast-paced action on the 2.66-mile trioval.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/VALSPAR RESERVE CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed the new drafting format at Talladega, making the Chase on points, his intermediate program, how is mother influenced his racing career, and more.

MATT KENSETH No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What is your outlook this weekend at Talladega? “Talladega is always unpredictable. We’ve ran really well here the last couple years. Last spring we led a bunch of laps and I think it’s the thing that ended kind of at night and had a green-white-checkered at the end and got beat so that was disappointing. And, then last fall was kind of a strange ending and just couldn’t really make anything happen."