NASCAR Cup Series

Richmond is in the rearview after providing, for me at least, a surprisingly entertaining contest. Next on the calender is Talladega, where one would think only rain might prevent the good times from continuing to roll this weekend. As we head to the big track there are a few big stories vying for our attention.

UPS NASCAR driver, Carl Edwards, introduced fellow UPS ambassador and PGA Tour golfer, Lee Westwood, to the world of NASCAR prior to Westwood’s participation in the Wells Fargo Championship Tournament at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It’s Time to Celebrate: This year marks Clorox`s 100th anniversary and the No. 42 team will help them celebrate by running a special paint scheme this weekend. Montoya’s bullseye will be replaced with streamers and bright colors to commemorate the occasion.

It’s “PEAK WEEK” for Michael Waltrip Racing and Clint Bowyer. MWR and Bowyer welcome PEAK Motor Oil as the primary sponsor of the No. 15 Toyota Camry for this weekend’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Congratulations to Kevin Harvick, Gil Martin, the No. 29 crew, and everyone at Richard Childress Racing on the win Saturday in Richmond. It was great to see them get their first victory of 2013!

Talladega Superspeedway is one of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) venues where Brad Keselowski has multiple wins. He picked up his first career series win at the mammoth oval in the 2009 edition of this race.

No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver Michael Waltrip returns to the driver’s seat at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday in the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The two-time Daytona 500 champion’s No. 55 will carry a special paint scheme honoring the 2012 University of Alabama’s BCS National Championship football team. Waltrip will sport an Alabama firesuit and a specially painted helmet similar to the school’s football helmet. Waltrip, winner of the Talladega fall race in 2003, nearly won the October race before a last lap wreck.

“I’m really looking forward to Talladega. We’ve been working really hard on our restrictor-plate program. We did a tire test for Goodyear at Daytona and so we think we learned a little bit of speed secrets. You never know what will happen at Talladega. It’s a lot wider race track and we are probably going to be three or four wide. For sure it will be an exciting finish.”

Sunday's Aaron's 499 will be the second race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season with restrictor plates. But for Scott Speed and Leavine Family Racing, their effort will be anything but restricted.

The driver of the No. 17 Best Buy Ford will make his first NASCAR Sprint Cup series start at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.