Some drivers refer to this race as the “lottery” of the Chase. Others will call it the “wild card.” Many people just say it’s the unpredictable factor.
Whatever name it goes by, on Sunday it was time for the riskiest and most feared race in the Chase. It was the Amp Energy 500, and the track was the 2.66-mile monster at Talladega, Alabama. The cars were equipped with carburetor restrictor plates, reducing the horsepower of the cars and causing big packs. Drafting would be the most important part of the race, but drivers also had a new element to be worried about.
In the driver’s meeting, NASCAR President Mike Helton warned drivers that bump-drafting would be closely monitored, and that if it was seen in the corners they would be penalized. Couple that with a smaller restrictor plate on the cars and the “out of bounds” line at the bottom of the track, and it was a setup for one crazy afternoon of racing.
With qualifying rained out on Saturday, Jimmie Johnson started on the pole with his closest challengers right behind. Right away it was Mark Martin getting the quick jump as he led the first lap. Soon, with the help of the draft, Kurt Busch made his move to the front one lap later.
The field was slowed on the fourth lap as Paul Menard and Joe Nemachek got together. Shortly after, the two cars went to the garage. On the restart, Busch held the position, but soon found himself in a battle with David Reutimann. The two would continue to battle for eight laps until Jeff Gordon made his presence felt as he moved to the lead on lap 16.
It would soon be a battle for who would get the best position as the lead would be swapped between Gordon, Reutimann, Casey Mears and Jeff Burton until the race’s second caution came out on lap 49. Kurt Busch had some contact on the track, which slowed him down with a cut tire, and soon sent him spinning across the infield grass.
Pit stops were the name of the game as it was Elliott Sadler taking the lead on the restart. But, as is the nature of restrictor plate racing, the lead would begin to be shuffled early and often. Sadler soon began a battle with Kenseth and they swapped the lead for five laps.
But then, the crowd came to it’s feet as for the first time in a long time, it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. coming to the front and taking the lead. The Earnhardt family is embraced at this track as the late Dale Earnhardt won at this track ten times, while his son has won five. The crowd continued to cheer as he stayed up front for a majority of the afternoon.
Denny Hamlin would soon get in the mix as he would take the lead on lap 61, but then Kevin Harvick came in to the mix and would take the lead one lap later. He would hold the lead for over 20 laps as the field began to get single-file and see how their cars would handle in traffic.
Soon it would be time for green-flag pit stops as many leaders came to pit road in groups for fuel and tires. Unlike other tracks on the circuit, the teams must come in with many others so that they have drafting partners coming out of pit road.
The race’s third caution came out on lap 105 as debris was spotted in the third turn. Not many teams came to pit road as they had just completed service, but a new face was out front as it was Denny Hamlin ahead of Robby Gordon and Joey Logano.
When the restart came on lap 108, drivers began testing the waters of who they could push and get a push from to get to the front. Over the next 30 laps, the lead would swap 12 different times, and the drivers were getting a little bit anxious and taking a few more risks.
Just then, the race complexion changed dramatically as Hamlin, who was up front and running well, suddenly went up in smoke exiting the fourth turn. In the garage, Hamlin said it appeared to be a connecting rod that let go, which would be his second blown engine in the Chase. Hamlin would be credited with finishing 38th.
On the restart, it was the spring winner, Brad Keselowski in front of the field followed by the two Gordons, Jeff and Robby. It would not take long for the lead to change as Jeff made his move to lead the field on lap 143, but as the laps wound down, many drivers were coming and going to the front. Drivers like Gordon, Harvick, Sadler, Juan Montoya, Jamie McMurray began swapping the lead.
With just over ten laps remaining, NASCAR got on the radio and warned all drivers about the bump-drafting rule in the corners. As the field began to get more risky and more dicey, the warning had to be obeyed.
Just then, with five laps to go, things began to unravel. Coming into turn three, Tony Stewart was pushing his teammate, Ryan Newman. Unfortunately, he pushed a little too hard, and Newman went sliding down the track. It soon got worse as his car spun backwards, and with all the momentum, the rear of the car went up in the air, landing on the hood of Harvick.
He then slid up the track, still on his roof, and then went back to the grass, spun like a top, and came to a stop again on it’s roof. Crews began communicating with Newman, and he was saying he was alright, but he couldn’t get out because the roof was caved in. Rescue crews had to upright the car and cut away the roof just so Newman could get out. After the roof was peeled away, Newman climbed out, brushed off the grass and walked to the ambulance.
After the incident, Newman went on to blast NASCAR and it’s rules for restrictor plate racing.
It\’s just a product of this racing and what NASCAR\’s put us in, in this box with these types of cars, with the yellow line, with no bump-drafting, no passing,\” Newman said.
\”Drivers used to be able to respect each other and race around each other. Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, all those guys have always done that. I guess they don\’t think much of us anymore.\”
He would then go on to say that the race itself was boring, and that possibly the fans who were in attendance felt the same way.
\”It was a boring race for the fans,\” Newman said. \”That\’s not something anybody wants to see, at least I hope not. If they do, go home because you don\’t belong here.\”
After the clean up, it would be a green-white-checkered conclusion to the race as it was McMurray out front. Under these rules, there would be just one attempt to finish the race under green. If the caution flag comes out at any time, the race would be over.
The green flag came out and quickly McMurray got a bit of a jump with Kasey Kahne in tow. Behind him, some drivers began to run out of fuel while others who were up front had to hit pit road for some fuel to make it to the end. As McMurray continued to stay out front, the field began collecting and starting to make a move to get that lead and win.
But, it would be a case of deja vu as coming out of the fourth turn, Kurt Busch got tagged by Keselowski, sending him across the track and into Martin. Martin, just like Newman a few laps earlier, went on his roof and into the outside wall. Behind him, many cars who were stuck in the back began collecting and getting caught up in the aftermath. Guys like Gordon, Stewart and others ended the race with damaged race cars and lack-luster finishes.
As a result of the wreck, the caution came out and it was Jamie McMurray surviving the carnage and chaos to win the Amp Energy 500. It would be McMurray’s second victory for Roush Racing, and possibly his last. At the end of the season, McMurray’s team will disband as NASCAR will implement a four-car limit on full-time teams next season. The win will be a great boost as he searches for a ride.
The race itself lived up to what is expected at Talladega. The drivers stay calm early and race each other clean, and then when it gets close to the end, they go full bore and run hard to the front. Usually it means a big wreck, and some upset drivers afterwards while one driver is glad to take the win.
On a personal note, because of this reason, I do not like Talladega. Every time they come to this track, a big wreck and upset drivers is possible. I am so scared for the drivers when they come here that I say a prayer before the green flag.
It is not the type of racing that drivers are used to, or one that they enjoy, but it is part of NASCAR and has been for over 20 years. At this point, I do not know what they can do to make it safer for everyone involved. It’s Talladega, and the only thing that can be expected at this track is unexpected.
Next Sunday, the plates come off the cars as the series stays in the south. Up next will be the Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway. The track is wide, fast and competitive. For sure this will be an exciting evening.
Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. on ABC with NASCAR Countdown.
RESULTS: 1-McMurray 2-Kahne 3-Logano 4-Biffle 5-Burton 6-Johnson 7-Waltrip 8-Keselowsi 9-Sadler 10-Labonte
NOTABLE FINISHES: 11-Earnhardt Jr. 13-Vickers 14-Edwards 15-Kyle Busch 19-Montoya 20-J. Gordon 28-Martin 30-Kurt Busch 35-Stewart 36-Newman 38-Hamlin
CAUTIONS: Six cautions for 25 laps. Lap 4-6 (No. 98 and 87 wreck), 49-54 (No. 2 spin-FS), 105-107 (debris-T3), 137-141 (Hamlin engine-T4), 183-188 (No. 39, 14, 29 and others in big wreck-T3), 190-191 (No. 5, 14, 2, 09, 24 and others in big wreck-FS)
LEADERS: 58 lead changes among 27 drivers. Johnson POLE, Martin 1, Kurt Busch 2-8, Reutimann 9, Kurt Busch 10, Reutimann 11-15, J. Gordon 16, Reutimann 17, J. Gordon 18-22, Mears 22-42, Sadler 43-45, Burton 46-47, Stewart 48, Waltrip 49-51, Johnson 52, Sadler 53-55, Kenseth 56-57, Sadler 58, Earnhardt Jr. 59-60, Hamlin 61, Harvick 62-86, Earnhardt Jr. 87, Hamlin 88-90, Martin 91-93, Earnhardt Jr. 94, Martin 95-97, Ambrose 98, Hamlin 99-105, Andretti 106, Hamlin 107-108, R. Gordon 109, Burton 110, J. Gordon 111-113, Logano 114-115, Earnhardt Jr. 116-117, Hamlin 118-119, Newman 120, Kyle Busch 121, Newman 122-123, Kyle Busch 124, Burton 125, Harvick 126-135, Keselowski 136-139, Andretti 139, J. Gordon 141, Keselowski 142, J. Gordon 143, Harvick 144-146, Sadler 147, Montoya 148-149, Burton 150-151, Ambrose 152-153, McMurray 154-165, Earnhardt Jr. 166-168, McMurray 169-171, Ragan 172-173, McMurray 174, Stremme 175-177, McMurray 178-191
CHASE STANDINGS: 1-Johnson, 6248 points 2-Martin, -184 3-Gordon, -192 4-Montoya, -239 5-Stewart, -279 6-Kurt Busch, -312 7-Biffle, -340 8-Newman, -402 9-Kahne, -414 10-Edwards, -437 11-Hamlin, -448 12-Vickers, -551