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UAW-Ford 500 - Race Notes

Talladega Superspeedway

Track data:
Race: #29 of 36 (10-2-05)
Event: UAW Ford 500
Location: Talladega, AL
Track Size: 2.66 Mile
Number of Laps: 188
Length of Event: 500.08 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 4,300 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 4,000 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 33 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: Tri-Oval 18 degrees/Back 2 degrees

Qualifying/Race data:
Last year’s event pole winner: Joe Nemechek 190.749 mph 10-1-04 50.202 seconds
Last year’s event winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 156.929 mph 10-3-04 3 hrs, 11 min, 12 sec
Restrictor Plate qualifying record: Bill Elliott 199.388 mph 5-4-90 48.128 seconds
Restrictor Plate race record: Mark Martin 188.354 mph** 5-10-97 2hrs, 39min, 18sec
Track qualifying record: Bill Elliott 212.809 mph* 4-30-87 44.998 seconds
Track race record: Mark Martin 188.354 mph** 5-10-97 2hrs, 39min, 18sec
* Before Restrictor Plates
** All-time NASCAR average speed record

Historical data
Previous winners at Talladega:
Dale Earnhardt (10) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5) Darrell Waltrip (4) Buddy Baker (4) Bobby Allison (4) Jeff Gordon (4) Davey Allison (3) David Pearson (3) Cale Yarborough (3) Donnie Allison (2) Pete Hamilton (2) Richard Petty (2) Bill Elliott (2) Ernie Irvan (2) Sterling Marlin (2) Mark Martin (2) Terry Labonte (2) Dave Marcis (1) Dick Brooks (1) James Hylton (1) Richard Brickhouse (1) Lenny Pond (1) Neil Bonnett (1) Ron Bouchard (1) Bobby Hillin Jr. (1) Phil Parsons (1) Ken Schrader (1) Harry Gant (1) Jimmy Spencer (1) Bobby Labonte (1) Dale Jarrett (1) Bobby Hamilton (1) Michael Waltrip (1)
Races won from the pole: 12 of 72 events (17%)
Races won from in top 10: 53 of 72 events (74%)
Races won from outside top 10: 19 of 72 events (26%)

Track Milestones

  • Bobby Isaac won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole at Talladega in 1969.
  • Richard Brickhouse, driving a Dodge, won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup (Grand National) race at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969.
  • Qualifying has been canceled due to weather once at Talladega: October 2002.
  • The 1996 DieHard 500 was shortened to 129 laps due to darkness.
  • The 2005 Aaron’s 499 was extended to 194 laps by a green-white-checkered finish.
  • There have been three caution free races at Talladega: April 1997, April 2001 and October 2002.
  • The Winston/DieHard sponsorship at Talladega was flip-flopped beginning in 1998, in conjunction with the Winston Million bonus with Winston taking over the fall race.

    Qualifying Update
    Jeremy Mayfield has scored three Bud Poles at Talladega. All three came with different team owners: Cale Yarborough (July 1996), Roger Penske (April 2000) and Ray Evernham (April 2003). His Bud Pole with Yarborough was the first of two straight Bud Poles for the former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion as a carowner. John Andretti won the Bud Pole for Yarborough the following April.

    Track Update
    Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 42nd and 14th in his first two races at Talladega (2000). In the nine races since, he finished eighth or better eight times, including five victories and two second-place finishes. His other finish was 15th in May 2005. His four consecutive victories (October 2001 through April 2003) is the most ever by a driver at Talladega. Buddy Baker (three - May 1975 through May 1976) is the only other driver to win more than two consecutive races there.

    Manufacturer Update
    A Chevrolet has won the last 13 races at Talladega. Ford has not posted a Talladega victory since Dale Jarrett won the Winston 500 (October 1998). Dodge last won there with Dave Marcis in the Talladega 500 (August 1976).

    The Money
    Purse $4,975,638
    NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $60,000
    MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $20,000

    Tire/Fuel Data
    Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side — D-6798; Right-side -- D-6832
    Other Tracks With This Same Tire Combination: Phoenix; Richmond
    Estimated Pit Window: Every 90-100 laps, based on fuel mileage

    Would You Believe?
    Dale Earnhardt still leads all drivers with 10 victories, 23 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes in 44 career races at Talladega. His victory total is twice that of Dale Earnhardt Jr., his nearest competitor. Earnhardt Jr., has posted five victories, seven top-five finishes and eight top-10s in 11 Talladega appearances and has led in all but his first race there. Of the 140 drivers that have made six or more starts at Talladega, they are the only two that have posted top five finishes in at least half of their races.

    The 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup

  • As a result of his finish in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway, Jimmie Johnson took the point lead in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by just seven points over second-place Rusty Wallace. Johnson, along with nine other drivers, will race over the remaining eight races of the season to determine the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who is expected to win in excess of $5 million:
  • Eight drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions at Dover.
  • Kurt Busch (35th at New Hampshire and 23rd at Dover) started the 2004 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then followed with top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase. This season, after the first two Chase races, Busch is 170 points behind point leader Jimmie Johnson.
  • Seven of the 10 drivers who made it into the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup are doing so for the second straight year. Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, and Carl Edwards are new to the Chase in 2005.
  • Eight of the 10 drivers competing in the 2005 Chase for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup have scored at least one victory in the first 28 races of the 2005 season. Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace are winless this season. Five of the 10 drivers have scored multiple victories led by Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle each with five.
  • Only two of the “Ford Five” of Jack Roush Racing finished in the top 10 at Dover: Mark Martin (fourth) and Carl Edwards (ninth).
  • Ryan Newman (first at New Hampshire and fifth at Dover) is the only driver to score top-five finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
  • Ryan Newman, Rusty Wallace, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin have all scored top-10 finishes in both of the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
  • Elliott Sadler (sixth) climbed from 14th to 11th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.
  • A total of $1 Million will be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Banquet in New York in December.

    Talladega Has Been a Challenge for Most of The Chase Drivers

  • Jimmie Johnson has scored only two top-10 finishes in seven races at Talladega.
  • Rusty Wallace has scored only one top-five finish in 44 races at Talladega.
  • Ryan Newman has scored only two top-10 finishes in seven races at Talladega.
  • Mark Martin has scored only one finish better than 15th in his last seven races at Talladega.
  • Tony Stewart has finished second at Talladega four times, but has never won there.
  • Greg Biffle has never scored a top-10 finish at Talladega.
  • Jeremy Mayfield has scored only two top-10 finishes in 22 races at Talladega, both were top-five finishes
  • Carl Edwards has not been able to crack the top-30 in his two races at Talladega.
  • Matt Kenseth has scored only three top-10 finishes in 11 races at Talladega, but has scored top-15 finishes in his last two races there.
  • Kurt Busch has scored three top-10 finishes in his last four races at Talladega and is the only Chase driver with a good Talladega record.

    Predictor?
    With the somewhat dismal record that has been displayed by most of the Chase drivers in previous races at Talladega, a non-Chase driver might be the one to watch there.

    Talladega Milestones

  • Ricky Rudd.is expected to make his 781st consecutive start at Talladega Superspeedway, the all-time record for consecutive races by a driver.
  • Ricky Rudd is expected to start his 58th career race at Talladega Superspeedway, second only to Dave Marcis (61), for the all-time record for starts in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Talladega.

    Defending NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion at Talladega Superspeedway
    Kurt Busch has competed in nine races at Talladega Superspeedway scoring four top-five and six top-10 finishes. His best Talladega finish (third) has occurred twice, most recently in April 2002.

    Point Leader at Talladega Superspeedway
    Jimmie Johnson has competed in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring just two top-10 finishes. Johnson finished 15th or worse in his other five races there.

    Where to Start at Talladega Remains a Question
    Only two of the last six races at Talladega Superspeedway have been won from a top-10 starting position. However, both were in the last two races. Nine of the last 15 races at Talladega were won from a starting position outside the top 10.

    Active Talladega Dominators (More than one start)

  • Bud Poles - Bill Elliott (eight), Nemechek, Mayfield and Marlin (three each)
  • Victories - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (five)
  • Top Fives - Terry Labonte (14), Jeff Gordon (11)
  • Top 10s - Terry Labonte (23), Bill Elliott (22), Mark Martin (21)
  • Average Start - Scott Riggs - 4.3 in three races
  • Average Finish - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 8.0 in 11 races
  • Laps Led - Jeff Gordon - 640 in 25 races

    “The Rocket” at Talladega
    Ryan Newman has only one top-five start in seven races at Talladega, a fifth-place start there this past May.

    Sweeps at Talladega
    There have been only six sweeps at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002) was the most recent driver to win both races there in a single season.

    Domination at Talladega Superspeedway
    A Chevrolet has won the last 13 races at Talladega Superspeedway. The last Ford victory at Talladega came in the 1998 Winston 500. The last Dodge victory at Talladega came in the 1976 Talladega 500 by Dave Marcus.

    “Last-Timers” at Talladega Superspeedway

  • Rusty Wallace has scored just 12 top-10 finishes in his 44 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Mark Martin has scored two victories and 21 top-10 finishes in his 39 races at Talladega Superspeedway.

    And the Beat Goes On
    Kevin Harvick has been running at the finish in all nine of his races at Talladega Superspeedway.

    Owner Domination at Talladega
    Richard Childress has nine victories at Talladega Superspeedway, the most of all owners. All were scored by Dale Earnhardt.

    Starting and Finishing Up Front at Talladega Superspeedway

  • Scott Riggs has a 4.3 starting average and a 24.0 finishing average in three races at Talladega Superspeedway. His starting average is the best among active drivers.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a 13.7 starting average and an 8.0 finishing average in 11 races at Talladega Superspeedway. His finishing average is the best among active drivers.

    Would You Believe?
    There have been seven different Bud Pole winners in the eight races at Talladega Superspeedway since the second race in 2001. Qualifying was rained out in the second race in 2002.

    Winning Tougher than Ever in 2005
    After 28 races in 2005, there are still four drivers who won in 2004 that have not won in 2005: Mark Martin, Elliott Sadler, Rusty Wallace and Joe Nemechek. There are two drivers ranked in the top 10 that have not won a race in 2005 (Wallace and Martin). There are five drivers not in the top 10 that have scored at least one victory in 2005.

    Notebook

  • The field at Talladega will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.
  • Two qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as required.
  • There have been 72 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Talladega; two a year except for 1969, the inaugural year, which had only one race.
  • Three hundred and ninety-four different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Talladega since 1969. One hundred and thirty three have completed in just one race there.
  • Thirty different drivers have won Bud Poles at Talladega. Eighteen drivers have won more than one Bud Pole there.
  • Thirty-three different drivers have won races at Talladega. Seventeen drivers have won more than once there.
  • Six drivers scored their only NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory at Talladega: Ron Bouchard, Richard Brickhouse, Dick Brooks, Bobby Hillin Jr., Phil Parsons and Lennie Pond.
  • Joe Nemechek is the defending Bud Pole winner for the UAW Ford 500.
  • Bill Elliott leads all drivers with eight Bud Poles at Talladega.
  • Sterling Marlin, Jeremy Mayfield and Joe Nemechek (three each) lead all other active drivers in Bud Poles at Talladega.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr., is the defending champion of the UAW Ford 500.
  • Dale Earnhardt leads all drivers with 10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Talladega, including victories in both races there in 1990 and 1999. His Talladega victory in the fall of 2000 was his final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. (five) leads all active drivers in Talladega victories. Jeff Gordon has four while Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte and Mark Martin all have two.
  • In the 10 races between 1983 and 1987 there were only two Bud Pole winners at Talladega. Cale Yarborough swept 1983 and 1984, while Bill Elliott posted six straight Bud Poles between 1985 and 1987.
  • Stacy Compton won both Bud Poles at Talladega in 2001 – the most recent driver to sweep both poles there.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished first or second in seven consecutive races at Talladega between October 2001 and October 2004. He led 428 of the 1,316 laps in those seven races (33 percent).
  • Bobby Labonte is the last driver to win from the Bud Pole at Talladega (May 1998).
  • Nine of the last 13 races at Talladega have been won from a starting position of 11th or worse.
  • Eight of the last 13 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Talladega have been won by an Earnhardt: Dale Earnhardt Jr., (five) and Dale Earnhardt (three).
  • Bobby Hamilton won the caution-free 2001 Talladega 500 with an average speed of 184.008 mph. His average speed for 188 laps was just 0.853 mph slower than the Bud Pole speed for that race set by Stacy Compton.
  • Mark Martin’s pace in the 1997 Winston 500 set an all-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup record for the fastest race ever run. He won the caution-free race with an average speed of 188.354 mph and covered the 500-mile distance in two hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.
  • In the 35 years of twice-a-year NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Talladega, a sweep has occurred six times: Pete Hamilton (1970), Buddy Baker (1975), Darrell Waltrip (1982), Dale Earnhardt (1990 and 1999) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002).
  • Forty-one of the 72 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Talladega have been won from the first four starting positions (57 percent).
  • The furthest back a winner has started at Talladega was when Jeff Gordon won the DieHard 500 (April 2000) from the 36th-place starting position.

    Restrictor-Plate History

  • Since 1988 the primary method of limiting the speeds of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup cars on the Daytona and Talladega superspeedways has been the reduction of the airflow through the carburetor by the use of restrictor-plates.
  • There have been 71 restrictor-plate races since 1988: 36 at Daytona International Speedway and 35 at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Five drivers have competed in all 71 restrictor-plate races: Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Rusty Wallace and Michael Waltrip.
  • Twenty-eight different drivers have won Bud Poles for restrictor-plate events; 17 have won more than one restrictor-plate pole.
  • Three drivers have accounted for 19 restrictor-plate poles: Sterling Marlin (seven) along with Ernie Irvan and Dale Earnhardt (six each).
  • Twenty-five different drivers have won restrictor-plate races led by Dale Earnhardt with 11 victories followed by Jeff Gordon (10), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (seven) and then Dale Jarrett and Sterling Marlin with five each.
  • Dale Earnhardt had a 9.377 average finish in 53 restrictor-plate races. Only Bobby Allison, who compiled a 1.5 average finish in only two restrictor-plate races, posted a better average finish.
  • Dale Earnhardt (Talladega 1990 and ’99) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Talladega 2002) are the only drivers to sweep both restrictor-plate races at a track in a single season.

    Qualifying Update
    Ricky Rudd won the Bud Pole at Talladega in April 2004, with a lap of 191.180 mph. That was the fastest restrictor-plate Bud Pole since Joe Nemechek posted a lap of 198.331 mph at Talladega in October 1999. Each of the five restrictor-plate races since have had slower Bud Pole speeds.

    Manufacturer Update
    Chevrolet has won 17 of the last 19 restrictor-plate races. Dodge and Ford each have one restrictor-plate victory since 2000: Ward Burton – Dodge (2002 Daytona 500) and Greg Biffle - Ford (2003 Pepsi 400).

    Restrictor-Plate Update
    Tony Stewart won the 2005 Pepsi 400, scoring just the second restrictor-plate victory for car owner Joe Gibbs. Bobby Labonte won the 1998 Winston 500 at Talladega, Gibbs’ other restrictor-plate victory. Stewart averaged 131.016 mph after the race was slowed by caution nine times for 41 laps – the second-slowest restrictorplate race in history. Jeff Gordon averaged just 129.396 mph in winning the 2004 Aaron’s 499 which was slowed by caution 11 times for 55 laps.

    Restrictor-Plate Would You Believe?
    Three of the top-four all-time restrictor-plate lap leaders are active drivers. Dale Earnhardt led 2,135 laps in restrictor-plate races, more than any other driver. He competed in just 53 restrictor-plate events. Jeff Gordon is second all-time and leads all active drivers with 1,109 laps led in restrictor-plate races. He accumulated those 1,109 laps over 51 restrictor-plate races. Sterling Marlin is third all-time with 1,004 restrictor-plate laps led in 70 restrictor-plate events. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has led 770 laps in just 23 restrictor-plate races, sits fourth on the all-time restrictor-plate laps led list.

    Notebook Items

  • Both of Jimmy Spencer’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories occurred in restrictor-plate races.
  • Fifty restrictor-plate races have been won from a top-10 starting position but only six have been won from the Bud Pole.
  • Tony Stewart is the most recent driver to win a restrictor-plate race from the Bud Pole (2005 Pepsi 400).
  • The average starting position of the race winner in the 71 restrictor-plate races is 8.33.
  • Only seven of the 71 restrictor-plate races since 1988, have been won from the Bud Pole while 19 winners came from a staring position outside the top 10.
  • Three of the seven restrictor-plate races that were won from the Bud Pole were at Talladega.

    Mr. Restrictor-Plate
    Dale Earnhardt was undoubtedly the master of restrictor-plate racing. He still leads all other drivers in five of the seven restrictor-plate performance categories and is second in the other two.

  • Poles – 6 (tied with Ernie Irvan; second to Sterling Marlin - 7)
  • Wins - 11
  • Top 5s - 32
  • Top 10s - 40
  • Avg. Start - 8.6 (second only to Davey Allison – 5.7 among drivers with 20 or more restrictor-plate starts)
  • Avg. Finish - 9.3**
  • Laps Led - 2,135 ** Drivers with 3 or more starts

    Back-to-Back
    A driver has won consecutive restrictor-plate races 13 times. Only once has a driver won three in a row.

  • Davey Allison 1989 Winston 500 and Pepsi 400
  • Dale Earnhardt 1990 Winston 500, Pepsi 400 and DieHard 500 (three straight)
  • Davey Allison 1992 Daytona 500 and Winston 500
  • Ernie Irvan 1992 Pepsi 400 and DieHard 500
  • Dale Earnhardt 1993 Pepsi 400 and DieHard 500
  • Jimmy Spencer 1994 Pepsi 400 and DieHard 500
  • Sterling Marlin 1996 Winston Select 500 and Pepsi 400
  • Jeff Gordon 1996 DieHard 500, 1997 Daytona 500
  • Jeff Gordon 1998 Pepsi 400 and 1999 Daytona 500
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2001 Pepsi 400 and 2001 EA Sports 500
  • Jeff Gordon 2004 Aaron’s 499 and 2004 Pepsi 400
  • Jeff Gordon 2005 Daytona 500 and 2005 Aaron’s 499

    Mr. Restrictor-Plate – Page Two
    Dale Earnhardt Jr., has assumed the restrictor-plate crown, winning seven restrictor-plate races. Earnhardt Jr., led 229 of the 736 restrictor-plate laps raced in 2001 and was the only driver to score four restrictor-plate top-10s that season. He out-scored his nearest competitor, Jeff Burton, by 135 points in points earned in restrictor-plate races (692-557). He continued his winning restrictor-plate program into 2002, posting three top 10 finishes, including two more Talladega victories, in the four restrictor-plate races that season. Earnhardt Jr., won the first Talladega race in 2003 – his record-setting fourth consecutive victory at the Alabama superspeedway - and went on to post three top-10 finishes in the four restrictor-plate races in 2003. Earnhardt Jr., led 102 of 645 laps, second only to teammate Michael Waltrip who led 103. The 2004 season-opening Daytona 500 saw Earnhardt Jr., post his sixth restrictor-plate victory and he followed that with a second-place finish at Talladega, a third Daytona in July and his seventh restrictor-plate victory at Talladega in October. He led 216 of 736 restrictorplate laps raced in 2004. In 2005 Earnhardt Jr. has finished third in the season opening Daytona 500, 15th at Talladega and third at Daytona in July, but has led only five restrictor-plate laps: two at Daytona and three at Talladega.

    Restrictor-Plate Victories
    No driver has ever won all four restrictor-plate races in a season. Dale Earnhardt won three of the four restrictor-plate races in 1990. Including Earnhardt’s three, a driver has won two restrictor-plate races in the same season 14 times: Davey Allison (1989 and ’92), Ernie Irvan (1992), Dale Earnhardt (1993 and ’99), Jimmy Spencer (1994), Sterling Marlin (1995 and ’96), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2001, 2002 and 2004), Michael Waltrip (2003), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004) and Jeff Gordon (2004 and 2005). There were four different restrictorplate winners five times: 1988, ‘91, ‘97, ‘98 and 2000. Gordon has won two of the three restrictor-plate races in 2005.

    Team Dominance
    Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) has dominated restrictor-plate racing since 2001, posting 11 victories and four 1-2 finishes in the last 19 restrictor-plate races. In addition DEI posted a second-place finish at Talladega in April 2004 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.). In 2005 both Earnhardt Jr. (both Daytonas) and Waltrip (Talladega) have each scored a third-place restrictor-plate finish.
    First Second
    2001 Daytona 500 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    2001 Pepsi 400 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Michael Waltrip
    2001 EA Sports 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    2002 Aaron’s 499 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Michael Waltrip
    2002 Pepsi 400 Michael Waltrip
    2002 EA Sports 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    2003 Daytona 500 Michael Waltrip
    2003 Aaron’s 499 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    2003 EA Sports Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    2004 Daytona 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    2004 EA Sports 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Who's Hot

  • Tony Stewart has scored 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 2005, both the most of all drivers.
  • Ryan Newman is the only driver to score top-five finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.
  • Newman, Rusty Wallace, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin have each scored top-10 finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup
  • Mark Martin has scored four straight top-15 finishes.
  • Kevin Harvick has climbed from 16th to 12th in the NASCAR NEWTEL Cup point standings in the last four races.
  • Rusty Wallace (second in points) is at his highest points position since he ranked first after Race No. 2 at Rockingham in February 2001.
  • Rusty Wallace has scored 23 top-15 finishes in 28 races in 2005, the most of all drivers.
  • Ryan Newman has posted 23 top-10 starts in 28 races this season, the most of all drivers.
  • The “Ford Five” drivers of Jack Roush Racing have won 11 of the 28 races in 2005. Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won seven while Joe Gibbs Racing has five victories. Evernham Motorsports has two and Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing and Penske Racing each have one.

    Top 10 in 2005 Points at This Track
    First
    Jimmie Johnson finished first in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and climbed from sixth to first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Johnson has led the point standings after 17 of the 28 races this season. He has scored three victories in 2005 (Las Vegas, Charlotte and Dover). Johnson is one of four drivers that have scored top-10 finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has scored 17 top-10 finishes in 2005, two less than Tony Stewart. Johnson ranked fourth in the point standings after 28 races one year ago. He has ranked among the top-10 drivers since Las Vegas in March 2004, 61 straight races. Johnson has competed in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring two top-10 finishes there. Johnson finished 37th in this race one year ago and 20th there in May. Johnson has a 22.0 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway and ranks seventh among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Johnson has competed in 15 career restrictor-plate races, scoring eight top-10 finishes. He has a 14.4 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Second
    Rusty Wallace finished third in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and climbed from fourth to second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails first-place Jimmie Johnson by just seven points. Wallace is at his highest points ranking since he ranked first after Race No. 2 at Rockingham in February 2001. He has scored 23 top-15 finishes in 28 races this season, the most among all drivers. He is making his first appearance in the Chase. Wallace is one of four drivers that have scored top-10 finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has competed in 44 races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring 12 top-10 finishes. Wallace has led only 120 laps at Talladega Superspeedway, He finished 26th in this race one year ago and 22nd there in May. Wallace has a 20.454 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway and ranks sixth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Wallace has competed in 71 career restrictor-plate races, scoring 24 top-10 finishes. He has an 18.802 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Third
    Ryan Newman finished fifth in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and remained third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trails first-place Jimmie Johnson by just 12 points. Newman is the only driver that has scored top-five finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Newman ranked eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 28 races one year ago. He has scored 12 top-10 finishes in 28 races this season. Newman has competed in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway scoring just two top-10 finishes. He finished 16th in this race one year ago and 39th there in May. Newman's 22.714 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway ranks eighth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Newman has competed in 15 career restrictor-plate races, scoring three top-10 finishes. He has a 22.333 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Fourth
    Mark Martin finished fourth in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and climbed from seventh to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Martin ranked fifth in the point standings after 28 races one year ago. Martin is one of four drivers that have scored top-10 finishes in the first two races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has posted 14 top-10 finishes in 2005. Martin has competed in 39 races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring two victories and 21 top-10 finishes. His last Talladega victory came there in May 1997. Martin has led 313 laps at Talladega Superspeedway. Martin finished 15th in this race one year ago and 33rd there in May. Martin has only one finish better than 15th in his last seven races at Talladega. Martin has a 14.5 average finish at Talladega which ranks third among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Martin has competed in 71 career restrictor-plate races, scoring two victories (both at Talladega) and 34 top-10 finishes. He has a 15.253 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Fifth
    Tony Stewart finished 18th in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and dropped from first to fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He ended a seven-week streak that he sat atop of the point standings. Stewart also ended a 13-race streak of top-10 finishes that included his five victories. He has scored 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes this season, both the most of all drivers. He trails first-place Jimmie Johnson by 23 points after the second of 10 races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Stewart ranked ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 28 races one year ago. He has competed in 13 races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring eight top-10 finishes. Four of those top-10s were second-place finishes. Stewart finished sixth in this race one year ago and second there this past May. Stewart has a 12.692 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway and ranks second among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Stewart has led just 61 laps at Talladega Superspeedway. He has competed in 27 career restrictor-plate races scoring, one victory (Daytona in July) and 15 top-10 finishes. He has a 15.148 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Sixth
    Greg Biffle finished 13th in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and dropped from second to sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Biffle ended a 26-race streak of ranking among the top-five in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, since race No. 2 at California. Biffle is making his first appearance in the Chase. Like Stewart, he also trails first-place Jimmie Johnson by 23 points after the second of 10 races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has scored five victories in 2005, tied with Tony Stewart for the most of all drivers. He has scored 16 top-10 finishes in 28 races this season. Biffle has competed in five races at Talladega Superspeedway and has yet to score a top-10 finish. Biffle finished 28th in this race one year ago and 13th there in May, his best Talladega finish. He has led just three laps at Talladega Superspeedway. Biffle has an 20.4 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway and ranks fifth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Biffle has competed in 11 career restrictor-plate races, scoring one victory (Daytona - July 2003). That remains his only restrictor-plate top-10 finish. He has a 20.727 average finish in restrictor-plate races

    Seventh
    Jeremy Mayfield finished seventh in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and climbed from eighth to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Mayfield has scored eight top- 10 finishes but has 17 top-15 finishes in 28 races in 2005. Mayfield ranked 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 28 races one year ago. He has competed in 22 races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring two top-10 finishes, both top fives. He finished 38th in this race one year and fourth there in May, his best Talladega performance. That fourth-place finish was his only finish in the last 12 Talladega races better than 14th. Mayfield has a 23.090 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway and ranks ninth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Mayfield has competed in 46 career restrictor-plate races, scoring eight top-10 finishes. He has a 21.347 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Eighth
    Carl Edwards finished ninth in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and climbed from ninth to eight in the point standings One year ago he ranked 41st in the point standings after competing in just six races in 2004. Edwards has scored 15 top-15 finishes in 28 races in 2005 including 11 top-10 finishes. He finished 42nd in this race one year ago and 32nd there in May, the best of his two races at Talladega. He has never led at Talladega. Edwards has a 37.0 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway, ranking last among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Edwards has competed in four career restrictor-plate races. His best restrictor-plate finish, 12th, came at Daytona in February. He has a 29.750 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    Ninth
    Matt Kenseth finished 35th in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and dropped from fifth to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Kenseth ranked seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP point standings after 28 races one year ago. Kenseth has scored 16 top-15 finishes including 12 top-10 finishes in 2005. Kenseth has competed in 11 races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring three top- 10 finishes. He finished 14th in this race one year ago and 11th there in May. Kenseth has finished outside the top 10 in his last four races at Talladega Superspeedway. Kenseth has an 18.545 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway and ranks fourth among the Chase drivers in average finish there. Kenseth has competed in 23 career restrictor-plate races, scoring just one top-five finish. He has a 19.956 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    10th
    Kurt Busch finished 23rd in the MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover International Speedway and remained 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago Busch started the 2004 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then scored top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase. Busch ranked second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 28 races one year ago and went on to record his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship by just eight points over Jimmie Johnson. He has scored 14 top-10 finishes in 28 races this season. Busch has competed in nine races at Talladega Superspeedway, scoring four top-five and six top-10 finishes there. He finished fifth in this race one year ago and seventh there in May. Busch has a 12.444 average finish at Talladega Superspeedway, the best average of any of the Chase drivers at Talladega. Busch has competed in 19 career restrictor-plate races, scoring 10 top-10 finishes. He has a 16.578 average finish in restrictor-plate races.

    This Week in The Chase - 2004
    Week No. 3, Race No. 29 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the EA Sports 500 and led the most laps in the race, earning 190 points. For the second time in three races, Jeremy Mayfield was involved in an early accident that resulted in a poor finish. Jimmie Johnson retired due to overheating on lap 157, posting the fifth DNF by a Chase driver. Kurt Busch finished fifth and earned 160 points, leaving him and Earnhardt as the only drivers with net positive points in The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.
    NOTE: Earnhardt Jr. was fined 25 points for post-race comments changing the top-two positions in The Chase with Busch taking over the top spot by 12 points.

  • Three of the 10 drivers in The Chase posted top-10 finishes in the 2004 EA Sports 500.
  • Just 61 points separated the top-three drivers in the NASCAR Top 10 (Earnhardt, Busch and Gordon).
  • Eight of the top-10 drivers changed positions at Talladega Superspeedway.

     

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