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Happy29
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EA Sports Thunder 500
September 28,2003
Talladega Superspeedway
2.7 mile oval
2002 Pole Sitter: Jimmie Johnson (owners points)
2002 Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2003 April Race Pole Sitter: Jeremy Mayfield
2003 April Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Race Preview
---------------------------------------------
We now come to Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR's most competitive track, that was, until Earnhardt Jr. came. Earnhardt has clearly dominated the track by winning the past 4 straight races, of course his father, The Intimidator Dale Earnhardt ruled the track with 11 wins there, now every Sunday at Talladega, Dale Jr. becomes the dominator along with his 2-time Daytona 500 winning teammate Michael Waltrip. However, now the competition may be catching up to the DEI cars. The dominance of DEI showed some cracks in the Pepsi 400 when Greg Biffle and the 16 team came out the surprise winner, will DEI despite losing the Pepsi 400 be able to retain their title as one of NASCAR's superspeedway kings. A whole host of drivers like Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson will be out to dethrone them, but the question is, can they get past that 8 car? Well, obviously if Dale Jr. isnt cleared to race, then those guys wont have any problem on Sunday now, will they?
The Championship Contenders
---------------------------------------------
- Matt Kenseth and that 17 DeWalt team can feel the championship coming ever closer. Last week at Dover, they were able to handle an ill handling car and finish 9th while the rest of the championship contenders had trouble. Now Kenseth has one last hoop to jump through at Talladega. They've had hopes derailed before at Talladega, and could it happen this week? The answer is probably No. Matt posted up top 10s in the past two restrictor plated tracks.
- Kevin Harvick and the 29 GM Goodwrench team will be the talk of the garage area this week. They've truly emerged as one of the top contenders in the biggest races of the year. Harvick has posted up the best average finish for superspeedways this year, at the Daytona 500, he finished 4th, in the Aarons 499, he finished 2nd and in the Pepsi 400, he finished in the top 10. Those are some brilliant numbers for the Goodwrench team as they hold 2nd in the NASCAR Winston Cup standings. Keep an eye on them, that Goodwrench car could return to victory lane at Talladega.
- Jimmie Johnson finished 15th in the Aarons 499 after having a great car all day. Johnson finished in the top 5 in the Daytona 500, that 48 team could have a surprise for everyone by winning. In 2002, Johnson started on the pole because he led the points standings at that time until being taken out by the 6 car when the 6 car was errantly out of control on the pace lap. The 48 team will be a threat to win the EA Sports 500.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr, his Talladega record has been incredible and unbelievable. He started the streak in 2001 by winning this race and then continued on, and on, and yet again this year in the Aarons 499 after surviving the big wreck and surviving a tough call by NASCAR. However, Earnhardt Jr. has not been cleared to race yet after a hard crash at Dover. Of course, if he is cleared, no one will be doubting his ability to drive and his ability to win. The 8 team will be the team to beat on Sunday that is if Dale Jr. races.
- Ryan Newman is clearly the hottest driver in NASCAR and if it were not for those engine failures and wrecks, he'd be running away with the championship. There are still spots to gain in the points race for the 12 team and with the winning streak they have, well they'll have everyone on their feet. Newman finished in the top 10 in the 2002 EA Sports 500 however, the 12 car has struggled horribly this year at the superspeedway tracks with that violent crash in the Daytona 500 and yet another violent crash in the Aarons 499. Will Newman and the 12 team have something for the field? Or will they be caught up in the big one?
The Drivers to watch
---------------------------------------------
- Kevin Harvick, posted top 5s and top 10s in every superspeedway race this season. No doubt the 29 team had one of the strongest, if not the strongest car during the Pepsi 400. Harvick finished 2nd to Dale Jr in the Aarons 499, Harvick could be the man having everyone else in his rear-view mirror when the checkered flag waves.
- Steve Park, the AOL 30 team won the pole with Jeff Green in the Daytona 500 and Steve Park got them the pole during the Pepsi 400. If he can stay out of wrecks all day long, that 30 team could be competing for the win.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr, obviously has won the past 4 Talladega races. With the horsepower that DEI has, it'll almost be impossible to get by him. However, Dale Jr has not been cleared to race yet. Regardless of whether he does or not, that 3 year undefeated streak could come to a halt.
- Michael Waltrip, 2-time Daytona 500 champ. Didnt have a good finish in the Aarons 499 after a wreck, but Waltrip could break out early and race for the win at Talladega. If he can pair up with Dale Jr, they'll be unbeatable all day long.
- Jimmie Johnson, had a great car during the Aarons 499 until he was spun with 2 laps to go. However, he will be a threat to win the EA Sports 500 if he stays out of trouble.
- Ryan Newman, Penske Racing makes some good horsepower and excellent fuel mileage. Newman could be racing for the win in the EA Sports 500.
- Ward Burton, runs good at Superspeedways, posted a top 10 in the Aarons 499. He hasnt won yet in 2003, but that could possibly change at Talladega.
- Robby Gordon, Twin 125 winner, with some RCR power and the help of his RCR teammates, Robby will be running up front on Sunday.
- Elliott Sadler, finished in the top 5 in the Aarons 499 and has had great runs at restrictor plated tracks. If he can stay out of trouble, he too will probably be a threat to win the EA Sports 500
September 28,2003
Talladega Superspeedway
2.7 mile oval
2002 Pole Sitter: Jimmie Johnson (owners points)
2002 Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2003 April Race Pole Sitter: Jeremy Mayfield
2003 April Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Race Preview
---------------------------------------------
We now come to Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR's most competitive track, that was, until Earnhardt Jr. came. Earnhardt has clearly dominated the track by winning the past 4 straight races, of course his father, The Intimidator Dale Earnhardt ruled the track with 11 wins there, now every Sunday at Talladega, Dale Jr. becomes the dominator along with his 2-time Daytona 500 winning teammate Michael Waltrip. However, now the competition may be catching up to the DEI cars. The dominance of DEI showed some cracks in the Pepsi 400 when Greg Biffle and the 16 team came out the surprise winner, will DEI despite losing the Pepsi 400 be able to retain their title as one of NASCAR's superspeedway kings. A whole host of drivers like Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson will be out to dethrone them, but the question is, can they get past that 8 car? Well, obviously if Dale Jr. isnt cleared to race, then those guys wont have any problem on Sunday now, will they?
The Championship Contenders
---------------------------------------------
- Matt Kenseth and that 17 DeWalt team can feel the championship coming ever closer. Last week at Dover, they were able to handle an ill handling car and finish 9th while the rest of the championship contenders had trouble. Now Kenseth has one last hoop to jump through at Talladega. They've had hopes derailed before at Talladega, and could it happen this week? The answer is probably No. Matt posted up top 10s in the past two restrictor plated tracks.
- Kevin Harvick and the 29 GM Goodwrench team will be the talk of the garage area this week. They've truly emerged as one of the top contenders in the biggest races of the year. Harvick has posted up the best average finish for superspeedways this year, at the Daytona 500, he finished 4th, in the Aarons 499, he finished 2nd and in the Pepsi 400, he finished in the top 10. Those are some brilliant numbers for the Goodwrench team as they hold 2nd in the NASCAR Winston Cup standings. Keep an eye on them, that Goodwrench car could return to victory lane at Talladega.
- Jimmie Johnson finished 15th in the Aarons 499 after having a great car all day. Johnson finished in the top 5 in the Daytona 500, that 48 team could have a surprise for everyone by winning. In 2002, Johnson started on the pole because he led the points standings at that time until being taken out by the 6 car when the 6 car was errantly out of control on the pace lap. The 48 team will be a threat to win the EA Sports 500.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr, his Talladega record has been incredible and unbelievable. He started the streak in 2001 by winning this race and then continued on, and on, and yet again this year in the Aarons 499 after surviving the big wreck and surviving a tough call by NASCAR. However, Earnhardt Jr. has not been cleared to race yet after a hard crash at Dover. Of course, if he is cleared, no one will be doubting his ability to drive and his ability to win. The 8 team will be the team to beat on Sunday that is if Dale Jr. races.
- Ryan Newman is clearly the hottest driver in NASCAR and if it were not for those engine failures and wrecks, he'd be running away with the championship. There are still spots to gain in the points race for the 12 team and with the winning streak they have, well they'll have everyone on their feet. Newman finished in the top 10 in the 2002 EA Sports 500 however, the 12 car has struggled horribly this year at the superspeedway tracks with that violent crash in the Daytona 500 and yet another violent crash in the Aarons 499. Will Newman and the 12 team have something for the field? Or will they be caught up in the big one?
The Drivers to watch
---------------------------------------------
- Kevin Harvick, posted top 5s and top 10s in every superspeedway race this season. No doubt the 29 team had one of the strongest, if not the strongest car during the Pepsi 400. Harvick finished 2nd to Dale Jr in the Aarons 499, Harvick could be the man having everyone else in his rear-view mirror when the checkered flag waves.
- Steve Park, the AOL 30 team won the pole with Jeff Green in the Daytona 500 and Steve Park got them the pole during the Pepsi 400. If he can stay out of wrecks all day long, that 30 team could be competing for the win.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr, obviously has won the past 4 Talladega races. With the horsepower that DEI has, it'll almost be impossible to get by him. However, Dale Jr has not been cleared to race yet. Regardless of whether he does or not, that 3 year undefeated streak could come to a halt.
- Michael Waltrip, 2-time Daytona 500 champ. Didnt have a good finish in the Aarons 499 after a wreck, but Waltrip could break out early and race for the win at Talladega. If he can pair up with Dale Jr, they'll be unbeatable all day long.
- Jimmie Johnson, had a great car during the Aarons 499 until he was spun with 2 laps to go. However, he will be a threat to win the EA Sports 500 if he stays out of trouble.
- Ryan Newman, Penske Racing makes some good horsepower and excellent fuel mileage. Newman could be racing for the win in the EA Sports 500.
- Ward Burton, runs good at Superspeedways, posted a top 10 in the Aarons 499. He hasnt won yet in 2003, but that could possibly change at Talladega.
- Robby Gordon, Twin 125 winner, with some RCR power and the help of his RCR teammates, Robby will be running up front on Sunday.
- Elliott Sadler, finished in the top 5 in the Aarons 499 and has had great runs at restrictor plated tracks. If he can stay out of trouble, he too will probably be a threat to win the EA Sports 500