THIS WEEK'S RACE
Aaron's 499
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega, Ala.
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV/Radio: Fox/WNPV (1440-AM)
Race course: 2.66-mile oval
Race distance: 188 laps/500 miles
Race forecast: cloudy, low 70s
Last year's winner: Brad Keselowski
Last year's pole winner:
Jeff Gordon, 191.623 mph
Track qualifying record:
with restrictor plates, Bill Elliott, 199.388 mph (May 1990); without
restrictor plates, Elliott, 212.809 mph (April 1987)
Track facts: The National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel has upheld the penalties against Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, whose race cars failed pre-race inspections for the April 13 Texas race. Keselowski, the reigning Sprint Cup series titlist, and Logano lost 25 points each, and their crew chiefs were fined $100,000 apiece and suspended for six races. Penske may still appeal to National Stock Car Racing chief appellate officer . . . Keselowski won last year's Talladega race by leading the last two laps under a green/white/checkered flag finish. He also led eight other laps.
Kyle Busch was second, Matt Kenseth was third. Kenseth led the most laps (73). He won the fall race at Talladega. There were 33 lead changes among 17 drivers . . . Jeff Gordon is a six-time winner at Talladega (last W's in 2007 when he swept both races) . . .
Wins: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, 2 each; Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, 1 each.
Standings
1. Jimmie Johnson. . . 343
2. Carl Edwards. . . 300
3. Kasey Kahne. . . 297
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.. . . 297
5. Clint Bowyer. . . 290
6. Brad Keselowski. . . 284
7. Kyle Busch. . . 278
8. Greg Biffle. . . 272
9. Kevin Harvick. . . 271
10. Paul Menard. . . 271
11. Aric Almirola. . . 258
12. Jamie McMurray. . . 245
13. Matt Kenseth. . . 241
14. Jeff Gordon. . . 235
15. Martin Truex Jr.. . . 231
Up next: Bojangles Southern 500, May 11, Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C., 7 p.m.; TV: Fox; last year's winner: Jimmie Johnson.
- Bill Fleischman