This is a weekend when anything can happen. NASCAR is at its longest track, the always unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway, and the NHRA is visiting Las Vegas in the next-to-last stop in the Countdown to 1. The title is set in Formula One, but the real draw for the season finale is the course, not the race.
NASCAR has an interesting pairing this weekend at Talladega’s 2.66-mile tri-oval. The Nationwide Series is off, so it will be the Sprint Cup making its next stop on the Chase on Sunday in the Amp Energy 500 (10 a.m., ABC/Ch. 4) and the Camping World Truck Series hitting the high banks on Saturday for the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s (1 p.m., SPEED).
By the way, if you haven’t seen Dave DeSpain’s “On Assignment: Talladega” on the SPEED network, keep an eye out for it and set your DVRs the next time it is aired. A great look at the building of the track, and the controversial first race. Having interviews with some of the greats from the 60s and 70s, including Chargin’ Charlie Glotzbach, an added plus.
Magic 8-ball says “who knows?”
I’m thinking of not even trying to pick a winner for the Cup race on Sunday. Maybe I’ll just go with a manufacturer, or a team. Seriously, how can any driver ensure victory at Talladega?
Run up front? That’s no guarantee as the line you’re in — there will be at least two — may or may not be moving forward at the right time.
Stay back and avoid getting into the “big one?” That didn’t work so well for Carl Edwards last year, but in fairness he did cause the wreck, so maybe it could work. The key thing with this strategy would be to test your ability to move forward and then make it happen at the right time.
The right time? When is that, exactly? Um, how about turn 3 of the white-flag lap.
How about running with your teammates to ensure there will be someone to bump you out front? Well, if you can avoid the Edwards scenario above (he took out two of his own), this may work. But in the draft it can be hard to get things lined up that way, and who’s to say your teammates won’t be going for the win, too?
All of the above makes Talladega must-see TV. Will there be a “big one” or maybe two? (or three?) Very likely, but please, TV talking heads, don’t just focus on that. It gets tiring. Trying to keep up with the shuffling lines of bumping cars makes for a much more involving experience than your usual Cup fare.
The Onion is the man at ‘Dega
Of the two races, the trucks are a little easier to take a swing at when it comes to guessing. Todd Bodine has won four straight superspeedway races in the series, winning at Talladega in 2007, sweeping Daytona and Talladega last year and then repeating at Daytona in February of this year.
In fact, Bodine has won two of the three truck races held at Talladega, just missing the win in the inaugural race in 2006 by dipping below the yellow line while battling Mark Martin in a run to the checkers.
Others to watch for on Saturday include Mike and Chrissy Wallace, the first time ever that a father and daughter have started the same race. Also in the family vein, Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress, will attempt to make a couple of series debuts, his own and that of Richard Childress Racing at a superspeedway.
The NHRA is in Sin City this weekend for the Las Vegas Nationals (Saturday, qualifying 8:30-10:30 p.m. on ESPN2; Sunday, final eliminations 4:30-7:30 p.m. on ESPN2), the second-to-last stop on the Countdown to 1.
There have been plenty of upsets and “did you see that” moments so far in the Countdown. With the exception of Pro Stock where Mike Edwards holds a comfortable lead, at least two drivers are in contention for the championship Wally in each category.
By far the closest fight is for Funny Car, where Robert Hight holds a slim 13-point lead over his teammate Ashley Force-Hood, and No. 3 Tony Pedregon is 48 points back. In Top Fuel, defending champion Tony Schumacher is out front, with No. 2 Larry Dixon (-47) still alive but No. 3 Cory McClenathan (-68) needing lots of help. In Pro Stock Motorcycle the title will go to either current leader Hector Arana or defending champion Eddie Krawiec, who trails Arana by 28 points.
The final Formula One race of the season has one big hello — the Yas Marina circuit on a man-made island off the Abu Dhabi coast, which includes a stretch under a hotel — and a lot of goodbyes.
Personally, I can’t wait to see the action on this new track, and with the driver and builder titles already clinched — Jenson Button and his team Brawn GP, respectively — Sunday’s race (5 a.m., SPEED) is all about looking ahead, not back.
It could be BMW’s last F1 race, as the manufacturer is pulling out at the end of this season. Sunday also marks the end of Fernando Alonso’s time with Renault, and the same for Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari. Alonso will replace Raikkonen at Ferrari, but the former champion Finn has nothing official set for 2010, yet.
Another driver with no set plans for next year is 2009 world champion Jenson Button. His deal with Brawn GP for this season was at a bargain basement price — sensible for both parties as Brawn was a start-up and Button hasn’t done much to that point — but you can expect he’ll be wanting a sweeter paycheck as a defending champion.
Nikko Rossberg is leaving Williams at the end of this season, and could challenge Raikkonen for a spot at McLaren alongside old karting buddy Lewis Hamilton, and Button’s teammate at Brawn, Rubens Barrichello, is also rumored to be on the move.
New, state-of-the-art course that goes under a hotel? Lots of intrigue on the starting grid? Check and double-check. The DVR is already warmed up.
For the NASCAR Cup race at Talladega, my picks go in this order of precedence: (1) Chevrolet, (2) Richard Childress Racing, (3) Casey Mears. Why? Because there is no way I can be right otherwise. If I hit the trifecta? You tell me.
For the trucks I’ll stick with the sure thing and say Todd “the Onion” Bodine. Unoriginal? Sure, but again, this is a pretty tough race to call, but one that’ll be pure fun to watch.
For the NHRA, I’m thinking upsets will continue to happen. Let’s say Tony Pedregon gets back into the title hunt with a Funny Car win, and Larry Dixon makes things more interesting in Top Fuel. It’s hard to pick against Mike Edwards in Pro Stock and Hector Arana in Pro Stock Motorcycle (see Bodine argument above).
Any number of drivers need to have a good showing at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, to audition for new rides next year or to prove their worth to their existing teams, but I like Lewis Hamilton to win it.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
