Catchfence

TALLADEGA, Ala. – For now, Talladega Superspeedway rests soundly in the Alabama foothills. But in a few short weeks, the best of NASCAR will rouse the sleeping giant and test their mettle in a battle for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch says it all comes down to Talladega.

“I think Talladega is going to be the big breaker in this Chase because it’s only three races from the end,” said Busch. “If you survive Talladega and have a shot at it, that’s when you’ve got to go and attack.”

For several Chase contenders, making it out of Talladega with their points intact is a big “if”.

Busch leads the Chase contingent with a career average finish of 13th at Talladega. And though he is yet to score a victory at the track, he does have an impressive 12 top-10 finishes at Talladega in only 17 starts.

Below is a breakdown of all 12 championship contenders’ statistics at Talladega:

1. MARK MARTIN – Points: 5040 Car: No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet

Team: Hendrick Motorsports

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 43 Wins: 2 Poles: 2 Top 5’s: 10 Top 10’s: 22 Average Finish:16

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 8th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 43rd

2. TONY STEWART – Points: 5030 Car: No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet

Team: Stewart-Haas Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 21 Wins: 1 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 9 Top 10’s: 12 Average Finish: 14

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 1st 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 23rd

3. JIMMIE JOHNSON – Points: 5030 Car: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet

Team: Hendrick Motorsports

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 15 Wins: 1 Poles: 1 Top 5’s: 4 Top 10’s: 6 Average Finish: 18

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 9th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 30th

4. DENNY HAMLIN – Points: 5020 Car: No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota

Team: Joe Gibbs Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 7 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 2 Top 10’s: 2 Average Finish: 19

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 39th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 22nd

5. KASEY KHANE – Points: 5020 Car: No. 9 Budweiser Dodge

Team: Richard Petty Motorsports

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 11 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 1 Top 10’s: 1 Average Finish: 23

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 36th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 36th

6. JEFF GORDON – Points: 5010 Car: No. 24 National Guard/DuPont Chevrolet

Team: Hendrick Motorsports

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 33 Wins: 6 Poles: 1 Top 5’s: 13 Top 10’s: 16 Average Finish: 16

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 38th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 37th

7. KURT BUSCH – Points: 5010 Car: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge

Team: Penske Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts:17 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 6 Top 10’s: 12 Average Finish: 13

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 21st 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 6th

8. BRIAN VICKERS – Points: 5010 Car: No. 83 Red Bull Toyota

Team: Red Bull Racing Team

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 10 Wins: 1 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 3 Top 10’s: 5 Average Finish: 20

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 35th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 8th

9. CARL EDWARDS – Points: 5000 Car: No. 99 Aflac Ford

Team: Roush Fenway Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 10 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 1 Top 10’s: 3 Average Finish: 25

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 29th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 24th

10. RYAN NEWMAN – Points: 5000 Car: No. 39 U.S. Army Year of the NCO Chevrolet

Team: Stewart-Haas Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 15 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 4 Top 10’s: 7 Average Finish: 18

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 43rd 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 3rd

11. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA – Points: 5000 Car: No. 42 Target Chevrolet

Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 5 Wins: 0 Poles: 1 Top 5’s: 1 Top 10’s: 1 Average Finish: 19

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 25th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 20th

12. GREG BIFFLE – Points: 5000 Car: No. 16 3M Ford

Team: Roush Fenway Racing

Talladega Statistics – Starts: 13 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Top 5’s: 0 Top 10’s: 1 Average Finish: 24

2008 AMP Energy 500 Finish: 24th 2009 Aaron’s 499 Finish: 7th

In 2009, Talladega Superspeedway proudly celebrates forty years of the most competitive racing in NASCAR. While the track has seen changes made to the cars that circle its high-banks, the surface that they race on and the grandstands that thousands of fans fill twice a year, one constant remains; Talladega Superspeedway is authentic NASCAR racing at its finest.

Race fans should make plans now to experience the AMP Energy 500 weekend, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. This weekend features the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AMP Energy 500. For information on attending the HALLOW-DEGA℠ Presented by Captain Morgan festivities, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.

- Talladega Superspeedway, Press Release