IN-CAR AUDIO SITES

PREVIEW, FACT SHEETS and MISC News

• Talladega Facts: There have been 63 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Talladega; two a year except for in 1969, the inaugural year, which had only one race. Bill Elliott leads all drivers with eight Bud Poles at Talladega. Sterling Marlin and Dave Marcis (three each) along with Mark Martin, Joe Nemechek, Jeremy Mayfield and Ken Schrader (two each) are the only other active drivers with multiple Bud Poles at Talladega. Mark Martin was the last driver to sweep both Bud Poles in a year at Talladega, doing so in 1989. Jeff Gordon is the defending champion of the Talladega 500. Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon (two each) lead all active drivers in Talladega victories. Thirty-four of the 63 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the first three starting positions (54 percent). In the 31 years of twice-a-year NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing at Talladega, a sweep has occurred only five times: Pete Hamilton (1970), Buddy Baker (1975), Darrell Waltrip (1982) and Dale Earnhardt (1990 and 1999). The furthest back a winner has started in the 63-race history at Talladega occurred when Jeff Gordon won the 2000 DieHard 500 from a 36th-place starting position.(NASCAR PR)(4-17-2001)
  
  
• No wins since Martinsville: Four drivers have not won again since winning at Martinsville. #55-Bobby Hamilton, who won the spring 1998 race, #28-Ricky Rudd, the fall 1998 winner, #43-John Andretti, the spring 1999 winner, and #6-Mark Martin, who won this race last year(Roanoke Times)(4-4-2001)
  
  
• That's Racin': Talladega 500 Race Info
  
  
• CBS Sportsline: Talladega 500 Preview
  
  
• Raceday Today - Talladega 500(4-22-2001)
  
  
• NASCAR.com: Talladega 500 Race Page
  
  
• Sporting News: This Week In NASCAR - Talladega 500
  
  
• NASCAR - Talladega 500 Preview(WRAL)
  
  
• Yahoo: Talladega 500 - Preview
  
  
• Crew Chief Club
  
  

• note: this is not to promote gambling but to offer readers odds and ideas on what the 'experts' think about the upcoming race and the Cup series season
  
  
• Don Best Sports - Talladega 500 and the 2001 Winston Cup Championship(4-16-2001)
  
  
• Imperial Palace NASCAR Odds - Talladega 500 and the 2001 Winston Cup(SportsFax News)(4-18-2001)
  
  
• NASCAR Odds - Early Odds for the Talladega 500(4-18-2001)
  
  
• Stardust NASCAR Odds - Talladega 500(WRAL)(4-21-2001)
  
  
• United Bet - Talladega 500 Odds - click on Motorsports link(4-18-2001)
  
  
• Vegas Insider - Talladega 500 odds and The Regent Las Vegas - Talladega 500 Odds (4-18-2001)
  
  

• Hamilton wins the Talladega 500: #55-Bobby Hamilton was able to pass #20-Tony Stewart on the last lap to win the Talladega 500. It was Hamiton's 4th career Winston Cup win and his fist in just over three years when he last won at Martinsville on April 20, 1998, 101 races ago. The win was the first ever for Andy Petree Racing(APR) and puts Hamilton into the 2001 The Winston and in position for the 2002 Winners Circle Program. It was the first win for car number 55 since Phil Parsons won using it at Talladega on May 1, 1988 and the #55's 12 overall win in Winston Cup(see my Winners by Car Numbers page)
  #88-Dale Jarrett holds onto the point lead by 148 points over #24-Jeff Gordon. #97-Kurt Busch got his best career finish with a 3rd, #6-Mark Martin got his first top five of 2001 and #33-Joe Nemechek got his first top 10 of 2001. There were 27 different leaders in the race which Fox reported as the most ever in any Winston Cup race and ever at Talladega (the old record was 26 at Talladega on July 27, 1986). The race was run caution free, the first time since Michigan in June 1999.
  See Unofficial Results at NASCAR.com along with Unofficial Points Standings and a full story at That's Racin': Hamilton wins a caution-free Talladega 500(4-22-2001)
  
  
• The Yellow Line: Mike Helton, president of NASCAR, during the pre-race drivers meeting, sternly made his point to the 43 competitors and crew chiefs assembled in the room. He let them know where the sanctioning body stood on reckless driving during the 500-mile event. "If we (NASCAR) feel a move below, or move coming from below the yellow line was unnecessary -- you can look for a black flag," he said authoritatively. "Be prepared, and we'll see you at the trailer after the race and let you know how much of your argument we'll listen to." Helton was referring to the yellow line on the low side of the racing surface that separates it from the apron. In prior races on this 2.66-mile high-banked oval, drivers have been known to make aggressive moves in that area to gain positions(NASCAR.com). Who got black flagged? #19-Casey Atwood, #66-Todd Bodine, #31-Mike Skinner(4-22-2001)
  
  
• The last four Talladega races have been won by drivers starting 17th or lower.
  
  
• Happy Hour at Talladega is Over: #97-Kurt Busch was the fastest in Happy Hour for the Talladega 500 with a speed of 192.541mph with #32-Ricky Craven 2nd fastest at 192.154mph. These speeds were of course in the draft. Slowest? #24-Jeff Gordon at 187.805mph in the #24 Pepsi/DuPont Chevy. See the speeds at That's Racin' or NASCAR.com(4-21-2001)
  
  
• Compton on the Pole at Talladega: for the Talladega 500. #92-Stacy Compton wins his first ever Winston Cup pole with a speed of 184.861mph. #40-Sterling Marlin is on the outside pole with a speed of 184.576mph, three Dodges in the top 3 (#9-Bill Elliott being the other). #71-Dave Marcis pulled off the 15th fastest speed and makes his 2001 Cup debut.
  Five drivers missed(DNQ'd) the Talladega 500: #27-Kenny Wallace(39th in owners points), #90-Hut Stricklin(43rd), #45-Kyle Petty(44th), #50-Rick Mast(45th), #49-Andy Hillenburg(none). #22-Ward Burton had no recorded speed, heard he broke a gear in the rearend or transmission just before he was to go out.
  #10-Johnny Benson took his first provisional of 2001, while #21-Elliott Salder took his 5th. For more info on provisionals, see my Provisional/Owner Points page and my Provisionals Used by Race page. See That's Racin' for Talladega 500 qualifying results and a column: Dodge takes top 3 spots. Or see NASCAR.com for Talladega 500 Qualifying Results and an Unofficial Starting Lineup at Motorsports One(4-20-2001)
  
  
• Progression of the pole: who held the pole for the Talladega 500 in order of whp ran the fatstest up to that point:
  #33-Joe Nemechek, went out 1st, ran a lap of 183.483mph and will start: 10th
  #20-Tony Stewart, 10th, 183.702mph, starts: 7th
  #40-Sterling Marlin, 15th, 184.576mph, starts: 2nd
  #92-Stacy Compton, 20th, 184.861mph, starts: 1st
  (4-20-2001)
  
  
• Friday Practice is over at Talladega: #32-Ricky Craven was the fastest at 186.050mph with #6-Mark Martin over a mph slower at 184.904mph. Looks like the pole speed will be considerably slower then Joe Nemechek's BGN pole speed of 189.729mph for the Subway 300 BGN Race at Talladega on Saturday. See the speeds at That's Racin' or NASCAR.com (4-20-2001)
  
  
• Qualifying Order is up for the Talladega 500. See above for the links. 48 drivers are scheduled to make an attempt at 4:00pm/et today (7:00pm/et on FX tape delayed). Scheduled to go out first is #33-Joe Nemechek, scheduled out last is #88-Dale Jarrett.(4-20-2001)
  
  
• Friday Practice is over at Talladega: #32-Ricky Craven was the fastest at 186.050mph with #6-Mark Martin over a mph slower at 184.904mph. Looks like the pole speed will be considerably slower then Joe Nemechek's BGN pole speed of 189.729mph for the Subway 300 BGN Race at Talladega on Saturday. See the speeds at That's Racin' or NASCAR.com (4-20-2001)
  
  
• Entry List is up at NASCAR.com for the Talladega 500. See above for the link. 48 drivers/teams are listed. Drivers include #49-Andy Hillenburg, #51-Jeff Purvis and #71-Dave Marcis(4-13-2001)
  
  
• an interesting point: When NASCAR officials decided to disallow Jerry Nadeau's qualifying time yesterday, it raised an interesting question. With the Winston Cup series having only one round of qualifying the rest of the season, what happens if an unapproved part is found? According to NASCAR, drivers no longer have to post an official qualifying time to use a provisional, they only have to practice. So a driver could have a penalty on a qualifying issue but still have access to one of the seven provisionals for the race(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-11-2001)
  
  
• How to break a tie during qualifying?(same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski Provisional Status page(2-20-2000)
  
  
• Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these sites: NASCAR Online, Racin Network, and That's Racin'
  
  

TRACK/RACE NEWS

• New Asphalt at Talladega/Daytona soon? The Talladega Superspeedway may have a new racing surface as soon as next year. "We're looking at it real hard," said speedway President Grant Lynch. "It does reach a point where the asphalt becomes brittle and you have to do something." Sunday's Talladega 500 will be the 64th Winston Cup race on the 2.66-mile track that opened in 1969 and has been totally repaved only once. The grind of years of pavement pounding have taken a toll. In fact, track owner International Speedway Corp. is considering repaving the tracks at both Talladega and Daytona International Speedway. Officials are talking with contractors and mulling options. Paving the steep banks of NASCAR' two huge superspeedways would require expensive and special equipment. Estimates range between $2 million to more than $6 million, depending on how extensive a job is needed.(Alabama Live)(4-19-2001)
  
  
• Talladega Chassis Rumors UPDATE: Rumor has it that several teams will come to Talladega with varying alterations that may or may not be consistent with NASCAR’s rules. The team member said those with altered cars “include assurances the owners and sponsors are prepared to fight for their approval in the inspection line should questions be raised by NASCAR.” and according to the same team member, at least three new chassis featuring softer, more crushable front ends will be run at Talladega. The teams that will run them developed the chassis(more at NASCAR.com Buzz and Stock Car Reporter)(4-14-2001)
  UPDATE: While some are hemming and hawing about the possibility of some teams bringing a "soft chassis" to Talladega this weekend that may not conform to NASCAR rules and regulations, Michael Waltrip took the issue head-on during today's news conference. "I've heard nothing about that," Waltrip said. "That's something that somebody dreamed up somewhere. There's no validity to any rumor that would have anything at all to do with that."(NASCAR.com Buzz) and a followup story at: Stock Car Reporter - Michael, Michael...(4-18-2001)
  
  
• Earnhardt Honor at Talladega: The late Dale Earnhardt will be honored with the Governor's Award for 2001 by the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The award will be presented to members of the Earnhardt family as part of the induction ceremony on April 19 in Talladega. Past recipients of the award include Bill France, Jr., Tony George, Robert Penske and T. Wayne Robertson. The award is presented to ''an individual or group that has made significant contributions to the growth of motorsports.'' Earnhardt, who died in a crash in the February Daytona 500, won his 76th and final race at Talladega Superspeedway last October. He is Talladega's all-time winner, with 10 victories in Winston Cup, one in Busch and three in IROC. Earnhardt's long-time friend, Neil Bonnett, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Jimmy Bryan, Mike Hailwood and Fred Offenhauser.(Tennessean)(4-6-2001)
  
  
• Talladega Rules Changes Ford/Dodge UPDATE: Ford teams will get a rules break after all, NASCAR decided yesterday. Ford will be allowed a two-inch narrower rear spoiler, giving them the same size rear spoiler as the Chevy at Talladega. Dodge teams will have to add a larger roof spoiler to their Intrepids. The new Dodge spoiler would be the same size as the one Ford teams used last fall at Talladega. Ford will still be allowed to run the smaller roof spoiler at Talladega even though the Ford and Dodge use essentially identical body templates(Winston Salem Journal)(3-22-2001)
  UPDATE: NASCAR officials announced today modifications for the Ford and Dodge teams to be used in the Talladega 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 22, 2001. The width of the Ford's rear spoiler will be decreased from 59 inches to 57-inches wide. The Pontiac's rear spoiler will remain at 59-inches wide, while the Chevrolet's rear spoiler will still be 57-inches wide. The Dodge teams will still use a 1 3/8-inch tall roof mounted air deflector. However, the deflector will now have to form a straight line, which will raise the outer edges' height. Prior to this modification, the deflector had a shape similar to the contour of the roof. Measurements for the Chevrolet and Pontiac models remain unchanged(NASCAR PR)(3-22-2001)
  
  
• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
  
  
• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Talladega
  
  

DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

• Winn Dixie on the #32: Winn-Dixie has joined the PPI Motorsports Tide team as an associate sponsor for the Talladega 500 this weekend. The Winn-Dixie logo will appear on the rear "TV" panel of the #32 Tide Ford driven by Ricky Craven, as well as on Craven's driver's suit and helmet(PPI Motorsports Site)(4-19-2001)
  
  
• Inspection Tough/Parts Taken: NASCAR officials confiscated several parts at Talladega on Friday . Unapproved fuel cell racks were taken from the cars of Ricky Rudd, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The entire front windshield had to be removed from Hamilton's car because it "failed to fit the NASCAR template." Magnets were found on the Dodge of Casey Atwood and all 20 lug nuts from Steve Park's Chevrolet were confiscated. The lug nuts had indentations on the sides(That's Racin')(4-21-2001)
  
  
• Subway to the #51: it was mentioned during the Fox TV coverage of the Talladega BGN race that the Subway sponsorship that was going to be on the #27 Eel River Racing Pontiac with driver Kenny Wallace will now run on the #51 Phoenix Racing Ford and driver Jeff Purvis since Kenny Wallace failed to make the race(4-21-2001)
  
  
• Subway to the #27? UPDATE 2: Word last weekend was that sandwich company Subway was planning to sponsor a Winston Cup car in the upcoming Talladega 500. Kenny Wallace's Eel River Racing team has no sponsor, so it could very well be him. Plus, Subway is the title sponsor of Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race, so it could happen.(NASCAR.com Buzz)
  UPDATE: an the Kenny Wallace Racing site is reporting Subway as the teams new sponsor for the weekend(4-17-2001)
  UPDATE 2: Kenny Wallace’s #27 Pontiac will carry sponsorship from Subway in the Talladega 500. Crew chief/team manager Barry Dodson said the deal was for only one race but was hopeful the arrangement could be extended(Gaston Gazette)(4-18-2001)
  
  
• Lepage in thru Talladega: Kevin Lepage has been granted another week as driver of the #4 Kodak Chevy for McClure-McClure Motorsports and will stay in the car at least through the April 22 race at Talladega. Lepage was notified of owner Larry McClure's decision this week(That's Racin')(4-6-2001)
  
  
• Hillenburg BGN and Cup plans: Andy Hillenburg will attempt to qualify for the March 31 BGN race at Texas in a car owned by Wisconsin businessman Tom Mohrhauser. The car will be fielded out of Hillenburg's Fast Track High Performance Driving School shop in Harrisburg, NC. Its sponsor, Quail Unlimited, a non-profit wildlife organization, also backed the driver during last year's Indianapolis 500. Hillenburg's also got a seven-race Winston Cup deal with BAM Racing, set to begin at Talladega next month(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to read online), sorry folks, no idea who BAM Racing is....yet, know they run ARCA(3-22-2001)
  
  
• New Cup team/driver UPDATE: ARCA driver, Brian Conz recently came to an agreement with new to NASCAR Field & Stream Watches® Racing and other soon to be announced associate sponsors. Plans are being made for the #78 Field & Stream Watches® Chevy to make their Winston Cup debut at Talladega Superspeedway on April 22, 2001. Conz plans on running five Cup events, Talladega 4/22, Daytona 7/7, Michigan 8/19, Talladega 10/21 and one event that the sponsor hasn't decided on yet(Brian Conz Site)(3-15-2001)
  UPDATE: The team has postponed their debut until Daytona in July. Also: Other divisions of Field & Stream have signed on and the official title is now Field & Stream Lifestyles Racing. Conz has been in Mooresville/Charlotte area recently purchasing new equipment and all of the team's equipment is purchased or ordered now, but won't be ready in time for Talladega(next week Apr 22nd). New team Cup schedule: Daytona, 7/7, Chicagoland 7/15. Brickyard 400 8/5, Michigan 8/19, Talladega 10/21 and Homestead-Miami 11/11. Plans for the 2002 season are being worked on now. Conz has talked to several people regarding the crew chief position but has not decided on anyone yet. The team has found a shop in Mooresville plans are to move into it sometime this season. The team plans on doing quite a bit of testing and running some ARCA races between now and Daytona to get ready for the Pepsi 400(Brian Conz Site)(4-13-2001)
  
  
• See the 2001 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team
  
  

PAINT SCHEME NEWS

• Brooks and Dunn Return: The #40 Coors Light Dodge has gone country for this weekend's race at Talladega. Driven by Sterling Marlin, the Coors Light Dodge will feature a paint scheme touting the country music duo Brooks & Dunn's upcoming Neon Circus & Wild West Show tour. A known country music lover, Marlin hopes to give the duo's tour a little more exposure by parking his Coors Light Dodge in Victory Lane on Sunday afternoon. Marlin is also scheduled to run the special Brooks & Dunn paint scheme at the Winston and Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte and the inaugural race at the Kansas Speedway(Ganassi PR)(4-17-2001)
  
  
• #24 Pepsi Car unveiled: For the first time since 1983, NASCAR fans could see a Pepsi car in a Winston Cup winner's circle. Beginning this spring, Jeff Gordon will race the #24 Pepsi/DuPont car in two races - the spring race at Talladega on April 22 and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona on July 7. In addition, DuPont Automotive has developed a special pearlescent blue paint for the car so fans won't miss it. For the past four years, Pepsi-Cola has enjoyed a successful relationship with Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports, highlighted by its associate sponsorship of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet in the Cup Series and its two-year title sponsorship of Gordon's #24 Pepsi Chevrolet on the BGN. But now, the Pepsi car graduates to the Cup, where a Pepsi car has not been seen since Darrell Waltrip's Pepsi Challenger finished second in points in 1983(actually Ernie Irvan ran a few cars with Pepsi on the hood in the late 1980's). Last June, Pepsi extended its relationship with Gordon through 2005 and will continue to include him in promotional activities. Pepsi serves its products at 18 of the 23 Winston Cup Series tracks and is the title sponsor of NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in Daytona, Fla. (Pepsi 400), Brooklyn, Mich. (Pepsi 400) and Darlington, S.C. (Pepsi Southern 500).(in part from a Pepsi-Cola Company/Millsport PR). See the image of the car in my 2001 Cup section of my Paint Schemes Gallery(1-9-2001)
  
  
• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery, choose current news
  
  

STATS and STUFF thru the race before this one