NASCAR Cup Series

TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT: JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET – 2nd IN STANDINGS: “Well, as you can probably see from our finishes this year, we haven’t had a lot of luck at the restrictor-plate tracks. It definitely is the one track in the Chase I’ve kind of been a little concerned about. There are a lot of great tracks for the 48 coming up in the Chase, but this one is definitely one where anything can happen. There are so many things that are out of your control. There is a lot of room on this track to move around though, obviously, and try things. I think the odds are in our favor to be able to finish one of these restrictor-plate races this year. At least I hope so.”

NASCAR driver Sam Hornish Jr., who was in town today to promote the upcoming Hollywood Casino 400 and Kansas Lottery 300, had a plan in mind when he challenged four lucky fans to conquer “The Beast”.

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET, was this week’s guest on the NASCAR Weekly Teleconference. Below is the complete transcript:

Biffle on racing at Talladega Superspeedway: “I’m definitely looking forward to Talladega because our restrictor-plate program has been on fire for the last two and a half years. It’s unbelievable how good our engines have been. I know it’s going to be a wild race and there is a lot on the line."

Kenseth on racing at Talladega Superspeedway: “For the first time in my career I’m really looking forward to going to Talladega. Our restrictor plate stuff has been extremely strong this year and I think we’ve led a lot of laps at all three plate races."

Talladega Superspeedway can make or break a driver in a matter of a millisecond. It has been feast or famine for 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion driver Bobby Labonte, who has one win from the pole (4/26/98), six top-five, 13 top-10 finishes and has led 154 laps at the 2.66 tri-oval.

YET ANOTHER TOP-10 RUN: Despite falling a lap down early and running out of fuel as the white flag flew, Joey Logano was still able to cross the finish line 10th at Dover International Speedway last weekend, collecting his third straight top-10 finish and fourth in the last six races. That puts Logano as the only non-Chase driver to collect top-10 finishes in the first three races of the Chase and one of only four drivers with top-10s in the first three Chase races.

EGR at Talladega: EGR has made 49 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) starts at Talladega. In those starts, EGR drivers have earned six top-5 finishes, 13 top-10 finishes and 17 top-15 finishes. EGR has completed 8,399 laps out of a possible 9,294 laps, or 90.3 percent, and has led 254 laps. Juan Pablo Montoya has EGR’s highest start at Talladega Superspeedway (first, 2010). Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya share EGR’s highest finish. (Second, 2008, 2010)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Brad Keselowski crashed hard into the wall during a virtual running of the Bank of America 500 on the world’s largest HDTV on Tuesday afternoon, giving Josh Bralley of Huntersville, N.C. the cushion he needed to take the checkered flag.

Denny Hamlin has to be considered a favorite to win the TUMS Fast Relief 500 when the Chase for the Sprint Cup rolls into Martinsville Speedway on October 28.