NASCAR Cup Series

“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.

Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 and leads team owners for the most all-time victories at the storied Alabama-based race track with 12 wins, including three of the last six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.

After three consecutive top- 10 finishes, Aric Almirola and the No. 43 team are one of the most successful teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series right now. This weekend, they are hoping to extend their streak with the colors and branding of Gwaltney on the high-banks of Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The race will mark Gwaltney's first of two races this season.

Marcos Ambrose heads to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway looking to turn his season around. Despite bad luck in the first nine races, he still sits 23rd in points, just 76 points outside of a Chase spot. With 17 races left, and two wild card spots, the No. 9 Stanley Ford team should still be considered a serious threat.

Needless to say, Michael McDowell is anxious for a return to restrictor-plate racing. His ninth-place performance in the Daytona 500 has him champing at the bit for Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. Joining McDowell at the 2.66-mile high-banked tri-oval will be Curb Records featuring the Bobby Bones Show, which will serve as primary sponsor on his No. 98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford Fusion.

Harvick scored his 20th NSCS career win Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway after starting 17th. The win marked the No. 29 team’s third overall victory in 2013, but first points-paying race victory of the season.

Race fans will be treated to a very special pre-race event, as country music group Gloriana will play a free concert for fans in Victory Plaza the morning of the June 2 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The award-winning trio will also perform the National Anthem for the day’s race.

Talladega Superspeedway is proud to announce that the University of Alabama’s quarterback AJ McCarron, who helped guide the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS National Championship titles, will serve as the “Honorary Pace Car Driver” for the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, May 5.