NASCAR Cup Series

The two-time XFINITY champion has seven career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) starts at Talladega with an average finishing position of 11.7.

While Martin Truex Jr. has been a consistent performer on the various tracks so far in 2017, he knows all too well the next race – the GEICO 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway -- can be a humbling experience.

STRATEGY HEADING INTO DAYTONA: "Don't wreck," Buscher joked. "My superspeedway record on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series side hasn't been super great, but we've found a lot of success in the NASCAR XFINITY Series."

Go time: “It’s just a crap shoot,” Allmendinger said. “It is what it is. Stage racing is going to change it a little bit because usually I just ride around there for about 160 laps and decide when to go. With stage racing, you’re going to want to get up there and get some points.”

UNIFIRST: This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway marks the first of two races this season that Kasey Kahne will pilot the white-and-green No. 5 UniFirst Chevrolet SS. Kahne will also drive the UniFirst Chevy at the upcoming July Daytona race on July 1. The workwear and textile company became a Hendrick Motorsports partner in 2016 and signed an eight-year agreement that runs through 2023. For more information, visit www.unifirst.com.

Talladega Preview: The Series travels to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for Sunday’s 500-mile event on the Alabama tri-oval. In 22 race starts at the Superspeedway, Hamlin has recorded one win, as well as five top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He captured his first and only win at the 2.66-mile track in spring 2014 which marked his first points-paying restrictor plate victory. Hamlin’s last visit to Talladega ended with just 28 laps to go in the race when he was collected in a multi-car wreck, relegating him to a 31st-place finish.

The second restrictor plate race of 2017 is set for Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway and Ford teams hope to continue its recent run of success, which includes Kurt Busch’s win in the season-opening Daytona 500. Here’s a look at Ford’s dominance in recent years at Daytona and Talladega, along with some other historical highlights.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson stayed out during the final caution while Joey Logano pitted for four tires. The gamble did not pay off for Larson, and Logano made quick work on his way to the win. Larson faded to 14th.

We all know what it is like. We get all excited about some event, then it does not go as planned. That Christmas morning you waited for so long, only to wake up with the flu. The day at the ballpark longed dreamed of, only to see the storm clouds roll in. That long anticipated first date, only to discover you just blew the rear of your pants out. For me, that was Richmond.

After starting the race in the rear of the field because of a transmission change to the Team Penske No. 22 car on Saturday, Joey Logano found his way to the front and won Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway.