2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series UAW-Ford 500

BY NBC INC. >>> WELCOME TO THE ADT SECURITY "NBC SPORTSDESK." HERE'S YOUR HOST MARK WELCOME T YORK STUDIO. COMING UP NEXT, NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING FROM TALLADEGA. RACE NUMBER THREE OUT OF TEN IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. IN LAST WEEK'S WIN OVER WASHINGTON, IRISH PASSED FOR 32S AND A TOUCHDOWN. HE WOULD NEED A REPEAT PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT AS THE IRISH HEADED TO PURDUE TO TAKE ON THE BOILERMAKERS. TO WEST LAFAYETTE, CHARLIE WEIS LOOKING TO STAY UNBEAT ON. FIRST QUARTER NOTRE DAME BRADY QUINN >> Announcer: WELCOME TO THE BANK OF AMERICA ACCOUNT COUNTDOWN TO GREEN" AS WE GET SET TO GO RACING. >> THE TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY IN ALABAMA. NASCAR'S BIGGEST AND PERHAPS BOLDEST TRACK. IT TAKES DAYS OFOF RACING. NOT THE TEAMS, THE FANS. A WORLD FAMOUS TRACK AND NASCAR'S MOST FAMOUS INFIELD. THEY DON'T CAMP HERE. THEY MOVE IN. TODAY MORE THAN 140,000 HAVE COME TO ALABAMA TO SEE THE STARS OF THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT TALLADEGA. YEAR TWO OF THE CHASE AND TWO WILD RACES. NOW THE ONE WILD CARD, YOU. >> PLEASE DON'T ANYBODY MAKE A MISTAKE. >> THE CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS TEN TRACKS LONG AND NO TRACK IS LONGER OR STRONGER THAN THIS ONE. MORE THAN 2 1/2 MILES OF MEMORIES. >> HIS FATHER WON HERE TEN TIMES. FLAG. >> SOME GOOD. AND SOME NOT SO GOOD. THE BIG CRASH HAPPENED ON THE FINAL LAP. >> OH, WE GOT A CAR SIDEWAYS. >> CAN SOMEBODY FIND OUT? >> YEAH, FIVE SECONDS TO CHECK TWO, ONE. >> TALLADEGA, WHERE EVERYONE IS ON THE FAST TRACK TO THE FRONT BUT CAN YOU STAY THERE? AND CAN YOU GET HERE? 500 MILES ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT AND THIS SEAT.MPORTANT RAC THE NEXT ONE. TALLADEGA. >> GOOD JOB, GUYS. >> NBC SPORTS PRESENTS THE NASCAR CHASE FOR THE IT'S NASC NEXTEL CUP SERIES FROM THE TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY IN ALABAMA. HELLO, EVERYONE. THE RACE FAMILY LEAP TO WELCOME YOU AND THRILLED TO TELL YOU NBC IS YOUR EXCLUSIVE HOME FOR THE FINAL EIGHT RACES OF THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. THIS IS THEOUNTDOWN TO GREEN." I'M BILL WEBER. THERE ARE NINE IN THE CHASE AND TALLADEGA. THE RULES MAKE THIS THE WILD CARD IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP DECK. A RACE WHERE RESTRICTOR PLATES KEEP THE CARS BUNCHED TOGETHER IN A HIGH SPEED BALLET OF BALANCE ANDBRAWN. THEBJ MULTI-CAR WRECK THAT TAKE OUT A NUMBER OF CARS THAT COULD TAKE OUT SOME OF THE TEN CONTENDERS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. HERE IS THE POINTS SPIKE TUR HEADING IN JIMMIE JOHNSON ON TOP COMING OFF THE WIN LAST SUNDAY AT DOVER, JUST 23 POINTS BACK T FOR FIFTH. MATT KENSETH AND KURT BUSCH HAD TROUBLE HAS WEEK. 156 POINTS IS THE MAXIMUM AND WITH THE STYLE OF RACING WE SEE AT TALLADEGA, THIS PICTURE COULD CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY BY THE END OF TODAY. ONE YEAR AGO JIMMIE JO FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, EIGHT POINTS BEHIND KURT BUSCH. IN THIS RACE BUSCH FINISHED FIFTH. JOHNSON FINISHED 37th. JIMI HAS 17 CAREER WINS, NONE AT THIS PLACE. IN HIS THREE FALL RACES HERE HIS BEST FINISH IS 44th. TODAY JOHNSOIN THE CARDS. ♪ ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING SOMETHING THAT NEVER LEADS TO NOTHING ♪ ♪ NOTHING SATISFIES BUT I'M GETTING CLOSE CLOSE TO THE PRIZE AT THE END OF THE ROAD ♪ >> THE PAST JOHNSON HAS FINISHED RUNNER-UP. LAST YEAR THE DRIVER BELOW CHEVROLET MADE A LATE SEASON SURGE WINNING FOUR OF THE LAST SIX RACES. NOW WITH LAST WEEK'S WIN AT DOVER, JOHNSON IS ON TOP OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS WITH ONLY EIGHT RACES REMAINING, THE DEEPEST POINT IN THE SEASONTOP. TO REACH HIS DREAM, HOWEVER, JOHNSON WILL NEED TO AVOID SOME OF THE TROUBLES THAT HAVE HIT HIM IN HIS SEVEN STARTS AT TALLADEGA. >> WHERE'S MARK MARTIN GOING? HE TAKES OUT JIMMIE JOHNSON BEFORE THE RACE EVEN STARTS. >> OH. INSIDE. >> DON'T COME BACK ACROSS THE RACETRACK -- HE'S GOING TO. >> I DON'T THINK HE HAS MUCH OF A CHOICE. >> OH, BOY, DID HE JUST GET THROUGH THERE. >> THE ENGINE DOES SOUND SICK AND TOUGH BREAKMMIE JOHNSON. >> REALLY, REALLY SICK. >> YEAH, IT'S OVER. THAT'S TOO BAD. >> TROUBLE NOW. TRUEX SPINS, TWO CARS OUT SLAMMING THE INSIDE WALL. JIMMIE JOHNSON, WEKS JR. ALL CRASHING OUT OF CONTROL. >> WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON, CERTAINLY HOPING FOR BETTER THINGS. HOW MUCH DOES PAST PERFORMANCE WEIGH ON YOUR MIND? >> NOT TOO MUCH. REALLY THE ONLY THING OUT OF THE LAST THREE FALSE STARTS WAS THE BUMP DRAFTING IN ONE OF THE RACES WHEREOR AND COOKED THE EN. THE OTHER STUFF I COULDN'T CONTROL AND WE'LL JUST GO FROM THERE. YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST GET OUT AND HAVE A SMOOTH DAY IF WE CAN. EVERYBODY IS SAYING THE SAME THING. >> YOUR CAR GOT A LITTLE LEFT REAR BODY DAMAGE YESTERDAY. HOI BIG WAS THE DAMAGE AND HOW MUCH CONCERN? >> WE'RE NOT FRAME AND DIFFERENT THINGS UNDERNEATH THE BACK SO CHAD AND THE GUYS WORKED REAL HARD TO GET EVERYTHING STRAIGHTENED OUT. BIGGEST CONCERN GOING THROUGH TECH. WHEN WE GOT HIT IT BENT THE FRAME AND BODY TO WHERE THE TEMPLATES DIDN'T FIT. IT SHOULD BE IN GOLUCK. JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER STARTS NINTH. BILL? >> HERE AT TALLADEGA NASCAR REQUIRES TEAMS TO RUN A RESTRICTOR PLATE THAT REDUCES SPEEDS BY RESTRICTING AIRFLOW TO THE ENGINE. LESS HORSEPOWER AND LOWER SPEEDS. RESULT BIG PACWRECKS. NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM THE TROUBLE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THESE GUYS HAVE HAD THEIR SHARE OF POOR FINISHES. RUSTY WALLACE, 44 STARTS AND ONE TOP FIVE FINISH, FIFTH IN 1988. TODAY HE STARTS 41s IS RUSTY'S SHOT AT VICTORY BUT STARTING DEEP IN THE FIELD. DO YOU PLAY IT SAFE AND HANG THERE OR A QUICK RUN TO THE FRONT? >> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PLAY IT SAFE AND HANG THERE. I'VE SEEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ALL OVER THE TRACK. I'LL MAKE A THE FRONT. CARPENTERLY AGGRESSIVE AND I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY BACK THERE. >> IF HE DOES GO TO VICTORY LANE A TALLADEGA RECORD AS HE ROLLS OFF FROM 41st. >> TO MARTY SNIDER. >> RYAN NEWMAN, TWO TOP FIVES IN THE FIRST TWO CHA FOR THE FIRES TIME HE SAID RHYME LOOKING FORWARD TO A TALLADEGA RACE. WHY? >> WE PERFORMED WELL AS FAR AS SPEED AND CONSISTENCY AS FAR AS RUNNING OUT FRONT AT THE OTHER THREE RACES SO WE THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AGAIN HERE AT THIS RACE IN PRAC STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY. MAYBE NOT QUITE AS MUCH BUT I THINK THE CAR IS GOOD. QUALIFIED GREAT. BEST WE EVER QUALIFIED IN RESTRICTIVE PLATES. >> HOPING TO DODGE THE BIG WRECK THAT FOUND HIM HERE IN MAY, FINISHED 39th, LAP. HERE'S WHAT'S AHEAD ON THE TALLADEGA EDITION OF THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN." IT HAS BEEN A SEASON OF DISAPPOINTMENT FOR DALE EARNHARDT JR. BUT NOW HE BACK WITH HIS COUSIN AND CREW CHIEF R ONE? THIS IS CARL EDWARDS FIRST FULL SEASON IN THE NEXTEL SEASON. TWO WINS, A SPOT IN THE CHASE AND A CHANCE AT THE NEXTEL CUP. MARK MARTIN IS THE LEADER OF THE FAB FIVE AT ROUSH RACING. PROBLEM IS HE'S NEVES THE ONLY S TO DO LIST. THIS MIGHT BE HIS LAST CHANCE TO DO IT. IT'S ALL COMING UP ON THE "BANK OF AMERICA >>> "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN" BROUGHT TO YOU BY BANK OF AMERICA, HIGHER STANDARDS. AND BY PIZZA HUT HOME OF GATHER AROUND THE GOOD STUFF. >>> NOW THIS WEEK'S BANK OF AMERICA "HIGHER STANDARDS MOMENT." >> AS THEY COME TO THE SUPER STRETCH, JEFF GORDON LEADS THE WAY. DALE EARNHARDT JR. LOOKING FOR HIS FIFTH WIN AT TALL GORDON LO THE CHECKERED FLAG. ♪ NOTHING BUT A GOOD TIME HOW CAN I RESIST ♪ ♪ AIN'T NOTHING FOR NOTHING BUT A GOOD TIME AND IT DON'T GET BETTER THAN THIS ♪ >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE SE RACES PRIOR TO THAT AT TALLADEGA HE WON FIVE AND FINISHED SECOND IN THE OTHER TWO. DRIVING THE BUDWEISER CHEVY JUNIOR IS THE KING OF CHEERS BUT THIS YEAR HAS LEFT HIS FANS WITH BITTER RACE FACE. JUST ONE WIN HE MISSED THE CHASE, THE BEST RIDE THIS SEASON FOR HIM HAS BEEN COMMERCIAL WITH THE COLLIDESDALES. AFTER STRUGGLING WITH TWO CREW CHIEFS HE'S BEEN REUNITED WITH HIS COUSIN. IN THE PAST THEY HAVE BEEN A ONE-TWO PUNCH KNOCKING OUT THE COMPETITION WINNING RACES AND TWOCHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS HAS THE CREW BELIEVING THERE ARE A LOT MORE WINS ON TAP. ♪ HOW MUCH YOU GOT TILL YOU GOT ♪ >> JUNIOR, WITH YOU GUYS IT WASN'T NECESSARILYETTER AT THE LAST YEAR, I MEAN, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE FACT THAT Y'ALL WEREN'T GETTING ALONG, RIGHT? >> WE WON SIX RACES LAST YEAR. I KNEW THAT IF WE WERE TOGETHER WE WILL BE GOOD ON THE RACETRACK, YOU KNOW, BUT SOMETIMES -- I PEEN FOR ME IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO BE W WANT TO HAPPY WITH THE RELATIONSHIP I GOT WITH THE PEOPLE I'M WORKING WITH, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO END UP FALLING OUT BAD WITH HIM ONE DAY OVER SOMETHING HAPPENING AT THE RACETRACK AND US NOT BE ABLE TO TALK AND BE CLOSE FRIENDS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN. YOU'RE IN THE CHASE AND YOU HAD SIX WINS, ARE WE SITTING HERE TALKING TO HIM IN A RED SHIRT? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW. WHAT DO YOU THINK? I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO SAY. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL IT A MISTAKE BUT I THINK IT WAS GOOD JUST TO GET AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER. I LEARNED A LOT ON THE OUTSIDE. I THINK WE BOTH MATURED QUITE A BIT. IF WE GO BACK AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS SUCCESS AND RUN GREAT, AND RUN GREAT NEXT YEAR, A LOT SHOULD HAVE NEVER SWITCHED. BUT MAYBE THAT SUCCESS IS A RESULT OF THAT TIME APART. >> I WANT TO READ YOU SOMETHING DALE. BEFORE THIS SEASON WHEN YOU SWITCHED CREWS YOU SAID SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT WHY YOU THOUGHT THE SWITCH WOULD BE GO "I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF MATURING TO DO. I COULD TALK TO TONY JUNIOR HOWEVER THE HELL I WANT. I COULD SAY ANYTHING TO HIM BECAUSE I KNEW THE NEXT DAY WE WERE STILL COUSINS." DO YOU THINK THIS MATURITY YOU SPOKE OF HAS HAPPENED IN THIS SHORT EIGHT MONTHS? >> IT'S NOT AN THESE TWO GUYS TOGETHER DOES IT WORK OUT? I MEAN IT'S -- IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS, WELL, THIS WILL WORK IF I MATURED. I WILL LOVE TO BE A LOT MORE MATURE THAN I AM BUT I THINK I HAVE MATURED SOME AND LEARNED SOME. >> DALE EARNHARDT SAIDON THE RA FROM RAY BEST FRIEND HE HADN'T HEARD FROM IN A LONG TIME. >> KIND OF NERVOUS. I HOPE THINGS WORK OUT. I JUST KIND OF WENT IN THERE AND I GUESS JUST SAY PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THERE AND KIND OF PUMPED THEM GUYS UP. HAD SUCCESS OVER WEEKS. >> HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT GETTING BACK TOGETHER. THIS IS THE MOST WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT. >> MET EACH OTHER IN LOUDON AND SAID, LET'S DO IT. >> IT'S BEEN FUN. I THINK HE'S BEEN PUMPED UP AS MUCH AS I HAVE. TALKING A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN I KNOW, LAST TWO WEEKS, IF IT'S ANY SIGN OF HOW THIS RELATIONSHIP IS NOW, IT'S A GOOD SIGN BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK -- MAYBE WE'RE NOT TALKING MORE AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF WORDS WE'RE SHARING AMONGST EACH OTHER TONE OF THE CONVERSATION AND HOW IT'S HANDLED IS A LOT BETTER AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE JUST -- I'M 31 OCTOBER 10th, AND IT'S TIME TO, YOU KNOW, TO TIM CHAMPIONSHIP WAGON. >> AND WE ARE LIVE WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. RIGHT NOW. AS THAT WAGON, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP WAGON HAS SAILED WITHOUT YOU ON IT, YOU CAN STILL WIN RACES THIS YEAR. HOW BIG WAS IT TO WALK IN AND SEE YOUR COUSIN AS THE CREW TA PRETTY HARD THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, HIM AND ALL THE GUYS ON THE BUD TEAM. EVERYONE AT THE SHOP HUSTLED. THEY TORE IT APART AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER IN A LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME. GOOD EFFORT AND TONY JR. THI A COUPLE OF GOOD GUYS OUT THERE WE HAVE TO RACE WITH. SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. >> HAS HE GIVEN YOU THE KIND OF CONFIDENCE YOU'VE HAD IN THE PAST, JUNIOR? >> YEAH, I MEAN, HE'S TALENTED AT WHAT HE DOES AND ANY TIME YOU GET IN HIS CAR YOU KNOW YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING PRETTY GOOD AND SOMED IT MAKES YOU -- GIVES YOU A LOT OF CONFIDENCE SO DEFINITELY BRINGS, YOU KNOW, BRINGS A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN. >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND COUSIN TONY START 20th. >> JEFF GORDON DOMINATED AND WON THE LAST RACE IN EARLY MAY. HOW ABOUT THE CONFIDENCE METER FOR YOU? >> WE'RE FORWARD AS WE DID THEN BUT HAVE A GREAT RACE CAR. YESTERDAY IN PRACTICE HAPPY WITH IT. DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF LAPS, YOU KNOW, BUT FELT REALLY CONFIDENT IN THEOWER AND THE CAR. IT'S A BRYAN CAR AND JUST GETTING A FEEL FOR IT. BUT 2 DROVE IT'S A GREAT RACE. I KNOW EVERYBODY GETS EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THIS ONE. WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, OUT OF THAT BIG ONE BUT I THINK ALL WE CAN REALLY DO IS GO OUT THERE AND RACE. >> JEFF STEPPED OUT OF A TEAM MEETING TO JOIN US. JEFF STARTS 12tS TEAMMATE KYLE SECOND LAST WEEK BUT 41st HERE IN MAY, STARTS 13th. MARTIN TRUEX LEADS THE STANDINGS TODAY, A STEP TOWARD GETTING READY FOR 2006 DRIVING THE 1 CAR, HE STARTS 17th. >>> BUSCH IN THE WALL. CHAMPION. ONE DOWN ALREADY. >> OH, MY, GOODNESS. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS. I WANT TO TALK TO HIM A LITTLE BIT. THE 10 CAR, WE'VE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST. THIS ISN'T THE PLACE. TOLD HIS BE READY. I THINK I'VE GOT A FLAT TIRE. >> THAT IS THE DEBRING THE 17 CAR RAN OVER WITH HIS LEFT REAR TO GIVE HIM THE FLAT. YOU'LL SEE IT FLY UP RIGHT THERE. UP AGAINST THE FENCE. >> 17 CAR GOING DOWN IN THE CORNER. THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE GOING FLAT. >> MATT KENSETH WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE GARAGE. DAMAGE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ROBBIE REISER TOLD HIM TO GARAG. OUCH. >> EVERY WEEK EVERY POINT MATTERS AND IN THE CHASE IT'S NOT JUST THE POINTS YOU GET, IT'S THE POINTS YOU DON'T GET THAT MAY TELL THE STORY WHEN WE GET TO HOMESTEAD. DOWN TO MARTY. >> YEAH, BY, SEEMS LIKE MATT KENSETH HAS BEENOU HAVE ONE MORN YOU TO MAKE IT? >> I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL SEE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD CARS THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND HAD LUG NUT CAUGHT ONE WEEK AND TWO FLAT TIRES THE NEXT WEEK SO SEEMS LIKE WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF BAD LUCK. HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE GREAT CAR WEEKEND AND HOPEFULLY DO THE RIGHT THINGS AND BE LUCKY TODAY AND BE BACK IN IT. >> TRAILS JIMMIE JOHNSON BY 124 POINTS. >> FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW KURT BUSCH IS TENTH. DO YOU RACE THIS DIFFERENTLY THAN IF YOU WERE IS PRETTY MUCH SAME. NEED TO LEAD A LAP. DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LEAD MOST LAPS WE DON'T THINK BUT GAIN THE FIVE POINTS AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE RACE. HAVE SMOOTH PIT STOPS AND WORK TOWARDS THE LATTER PART AND SEE IF WE'RE IN POSITION FOR A GOOD FINISH. MISS THE BIG ONE IF IT HAPPENS. >> ONE CONSTANT, SAME PHRASE HEARD OVER, THE 20 TEAM HAS THE CAR TO BEAT. TONY STEWART, IS IT AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN IT WAS AT THE BEACH? >> IT'S HARD TO TELL. A CAR WE HAD UNTIL WE GOT TO THE RACE. AT PRACTICE IT WAS HARD TO TELL. DIFFERENT GROUPS OF CARS YOU WERE AROUND. WITH THE RIGHT GUYS WE WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DID AT DAYTONA. >> THE BEST THING TO DO, SURVIVAL. OVER THE LAST SEVEN RACES THEY HAVE ONLY EVERY SINGLE LAP. >> KYLE PETTY FINISHED EIGHTH AT DOVER LAST SUNDAY. HE ROLLS OFF 38th. ONE SPOT IN FRONT OF KEN SCHRADER. NICE A RIDE TO THE INFIELD WITH CARL EDWARDS WATCHING THE "BANK >>> PRETTY DAY FOR THE BIG RACE. SUNNY, BREEZY, 86 DEGREES IN TALLADEGA THIS AFTERNOON. RACING HERE IS THRILLING FOR FANS TO WATCH AND CHALLENGING FOR RACERS TO DRIVE. BUT FOR THE GUYS IN THE CHASE, IT CAN REALLY BE AHE DAY ALL TH CARS IN A BIG WAD RACING BUMPER TO BUMPER UNTIL SOMEBODY BLINKS. THAT'S WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF HAND YOU'VE BEEN DEALT. DAVE, IN THE RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS IS THE WILD CARD. >> YEAH, BILL, AND HERE'S WHY, ANY OF THE TRACKS IN THE CHASE SEEN ALREADY. I MEAN YOU'VE GOT CARDS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, THE GAS CARD. YOU CAN RUN OUT OF FUEL SOMETIMES. THERE'S A PENALTY CARD IF YOU INCUR A PENALTY, A BIG PROBLEM OR HOW ABOUT THE ENGINE CARD? HERE'S THE CARD THAT IT WAS THE 97 OF KURT BUSCH A COUPLE RACES AGO AT DOVER. HERE'S THE ONE THAT GOT MATT KENSETH TWICE AT THE DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. ANY OF THESE CAN BE PLAYED AT TALLADEGA, TOO. BUT HERE THEY BECOME THEIR OWN UNIQUE WILD CARDS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS MAGNIFIED AT TALLADEGA. YOU KNOW WHAT -- I'M GOING TO NEED A TALLADEGA. HERE'S THE TALLADEGA DECK RIGHT NOW. ALL RIGHT. WHAT CAN HAPPEN HERE AT TALLADEGA IS TOTALLY UNIQUE. I THINK I'LL NEED MY POKER FACE TO DO THIS ONE. AS YOU HERE AT TALLADEGA, IF YOU GET A DENT ON YOUR CARD THAT COULD BE A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE IF PLACE, IT BECOMES ONE OF THE SLOWEST CARS BECAUSE THESE ARE SO SENSITIVE. A BAD BEEF. WHAT ABOUT THE OB CARD, THE ONLY TIME THE CARD CAN BE PLACED DURING THE CHASE BECAUSE THE YELLOW LINE IF YOU IMPROVE YOUR POSITION BY GOING BELOW IT NA FIELD. HERE'S THE CARD THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO AVOID, THE "B" CARD, BIG ONE. WHAT MAKES TALLADEGA SO UNIQUE RUNNING IN A PACK, THERE IS RARELY A SINGLE CAR INCIDENT AND, GUYS, GOING FISH FOR A SPOT IN LINE THEY DON'T WANT TO INAD 43-CARD PICKUP. TALLADEGA IS THE WILD CARD IN THE CHASE BECAUSE HERE TALLADEGA IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE BIG ONE. BILL? >> THANKS, DAVE. TODAY THEY'LL BE PLAYING TO A FULL HOUSE. YEEETING WE WERE DISCUSSING WHO WAS GOING TO USE WHAT GOLF CART TO PICK UP WHICH DRIVERS SO WE COULD INTERVIEW THEM ON THE "COUNTDOWN TO GREEN." WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONED CARL EDWARDS, ALL THE WOMEN SIGHED. THE NEWEST GUY IS A TRACK IT'S TALENT THAT HAS HEARTS RACING. MEET A 26-YEAR-OLD WHO IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE. >> I'M CARL EDWARDS AND I GREW UP IN COLUMBIA. MY FAVORITE MUSIC IS PROBABLY RAP, HIP-HOP. I AM SUPER STISHGS. I'D HAVE TO SAY MY MOTHER HAS IN IN MY CAREER. ♪ SENSATION ♪ >> ALL RIGHT. SO YOU GOT ME OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INFIELD ON TALLADEGA BOULEVARD TO DO WHAT? >> WE'RE ALL CARL EDWARDS FANS. >> GUYS FROM COLUMBIA, CARL EDW. >> THIS IS MY CARL EDWARDS BUS. >> SO YOU'RE GOING TO TRAVEL AROUND TO SOME OF THE RACES. THIS IS THEIR FIRST OUTING SO I'M GOING TO CHECK IT OUT. >> HAD IS MY CARL EDWARDS TABLE. >> LOOKING QUIET HERE. I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WAS A PARTY BUS. LOOKS LIKE IT HASN'T BEEN LONG. THERE'S STILL A LITTLE SMOKE. I HOPE THEY'RE NOT REAL BIG GUYS, GET MAD AT US. CAN YOU GET IN TROUBLE FOR GOING INSIDE A BRUS WITH YOUR NAME ON IT? >> IT'S YOURS. COME ON. >> THESE PEOPLE ARE FROM COLUMBIA, RI WELL, THEY'RE NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT -- WHAT DO THEY HAVE ON TOP OF THE SUITCASE? NOTHING LESS THAN A CARL EDWARDS ATLANTA FIRST TRUE RIGHT THERE. THAT'S MY BOYS. >> YOU'RE THE WHOLESOME HOMETOWN KID AND YOU WIN. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE HAVE JUMPED ON THE BANDWAGON. HOW MUCH OF THAT IMAGE IS CARL EDWARDS? >> THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS I'M A GUY FROM COLUMBIA, GOT UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND I'M GETTING TO DO SOMETHING THAT TRULY TO ME WAS MY DREAM, SO I THINK SOMETIMES THAT COMES THROUGH, YOU KNOW. >> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR GIVING ME OPPORTUNITIES. I'M THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD HAVE IT'S EXCITING FOR OUR WHOLE TEAM. EVERYBODY IS SUPER PUMPED HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH IT. WE REALLY CAN'T LOSE SO TO US WE ONLY HAVE, YOU KNOW -- THERE'S ONLY BLUE SKY OUT THERE. WE CAN GAIN EVERYTHING SO I'M ENJOYING IT. I CAN TEL AND HAVE GREAT RUNS AND IN THE TOP TWO OR THREE IT'S GOING TO BE NERVE-RACKING BECAUSE OF HOW GREAT IT COULD BE. >> WE GOT TO FIND SOMETHING YOU CAN SIGN SO THESE PEOPLE KNOW YOU WERE HERE. >> A NEW SENSATION. >> THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN CARL WAS THERE BUT THEY CARL, YOU COME INTO THE RACE EIGHTH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. DO YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE ALLIES BEHIND YOU TO WIN AT TALLADEGA OR GET A TOP TEN FINISH? >> I THINK SO. I THINK WE REALLY DO. I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF OUR WORLD FINANCIAL GROUP IS STRONGFOR A NUMBER OF LAPS BUT I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WE RAN WELL AT DAYTONA. THIS COULD BE ONE OF THOSE BREAKOUT RACES AT A SPEEDWAY. WE NEED ONE NOW. >> CARL STARTS IN TENTH POSITION. MATT? >> CARL AND TWO OF THE ROUSHKATEERS WHO WORKED TO PERFECTION IN 2005. DO YOU HAVE TO BE MORE OF A LONE RANGER HERE? >> YEAH, A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, YOU STILL WORK WITH YOUR TEAMMATES THE BEST YOU CAN AND TRY NOT TO HANG THEM OUT TO DRY BUT CERTAINLY YOU CAN'T HEL THIS POINT IN THE GAME. USUALLY TALLADEGA, DAYTONA RESTRICTOR PLATES YOU HAVE TO GO WITH THE FASTER CAR. TEAMMATE RUNNING FAST, YOU GO WITH HIM BUT LINE YOURSELF UP WITH A BUNCH OF FAST CARS AND GOOD PEOPLE. >> HE FINISHED THIRD BACK IN MAY. >> THANKS, MATT. NEXT THE LEADER OF ROURKE RACING, SURE, JACK MAY OWN THE JOINT BUT FOR THOSE GUYS THIS IS THE GUY. MARK MARTIN WITH A "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN" CONTINUING. INC.. >>> ARE YOU A NEW FAN OF NASCAR? NEED A DRIVER TO ROOT FOR IN THE CHASE? HOW ABOUT MARK MARTIN. 46 YEARS OLE. FOUR TIMES H POINTS. THIS WAS GOING TO BE MARK'S FINAL YEAR IN NEXTEL CUP. THE SALUTE TO YOU TOUR UNTIL JACK ROUSH REALIZED HE WAS ONE DRIVER SHORT FOR NEXT SEASON AND ASKED, NO, BEGGED MARK TO RETURN. LIKE JOHN ELWAY OR PHIL MICKELSON DID MARK STILL TO NEV IN MARK'S CASE WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP. WHAT HE HAS WON IS 34 RACES, THE LOVE OF HIS FANS AND THE RESPECT OF HIS PEERS. ♪ IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE COMES A TIME ♪ ♪ GOT NO PATIENCE TO SEARCH FOR PEACE OF MIND ♪ ♪ EVERY DAY IT'S SOMETHING THAT HITS ME ♪ ♪ FINALLY NO EXCUSES THAT I KNOW ♪ >> WHILE MARK IS KNOWN FOR BEING SMOOTH ON THE TRACK, MUCH OF HIS LIFE HAS BEEN A ROUGH RIDE. HIS FIRST ATTEMPT AT THE CUP SERIES IN THE EARLY '80s FAILED. CAR RUNNER JACK ROUSH GAVE HIM A SECOND SHOT IN 1988. MARK LOST HIS HERO IN 1998 WHEN A PRIVATE PLANE CRASH TOOK THE LIFE OF HIS FATHER JULIAN ALSO HALF-SISTER. IN THE HEAT OF ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP RACE, MARK TOOK THE WHEEL OF THE FAMILY TRUCKING COMPANY IN ARKANSAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE STILL HAD A JOB. MARTSON A PHYSICAL FITNESS NUT. ONE REASON FOR THAT, HE WANTS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH HIS TEAM ON HI. YOU DO HAVE 34 CAREER WINS. HOW IMPORTANT IS NUMBER 35? >> I DON'T KNOW. YOU TELL ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. >> LOOKING AT JOHNSON, THE CHAMPIONSHIPTEAMMATES COMING TO CHECKERS. JIMMIE JOHNSON WINS AT DOVER. >> I SHOULD HAVE PUT 4 ON THERE. YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB TODAY. TRYING TO GO FOR THE WIN. >> WE DON'T NEED TO WIN, PAT. WE NEED TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE I'VE GOT 34 WINS. TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> JUST KEEP DIGGING. >> I LOVE YOU GUYS. THANK YOU FOR SUCH A GREAT DAY, GREAT WEEKEND. >> I HAD BEEN THINKING THAT WAS MY MISSION SINCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN I WENT TO EVERY ONE OF MY GUYS ON THE 6 CAR AND SAID, PLEASE, LET'S ME ONE LAST SHOT AT THIS THING. I NEED A CHAMPIONSHIP. >> DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH RESPECT THE OTHER DRIVERS AND COMPETITORS IN THE GARAGE HAVE FOR YOU? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THAT CAN STAND NEXT TO CAREER COMPLETE WITHOUT A CHAMPIONSHIP? YOU KNOW, I GET QUESTIONS ASKED ALL THE TIME, RUSTY, WHICH GUY DO YOU LIKE RACING WITH THE MOST AND WHICH COMPETITOR DO YOU TRUST THE MOST AND MY ANSWER IS ALWAYS MARK MARTIN. >> THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE LEARNED FROM MARK AS FAR AS HOW TO RACE EACH OTHER ON THE RACETRACK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE NEW GUYS THAT COME INTO THE SERIES ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE OF REALLY LEARNING IT AND LEARNING IT THE RIGHT WAY BECAUSE OF MARK. >> EVEN BEFORE THE FINAL RACE AT HOMESTEAD LAST YEAR SOMETHING WENT ON THAT DAY THAT REALLY INSPIRED MELEVEL FOR ME AND WHE OUT OF THE GARAGE AREA I CAME UP BEHIND HIM ANTICIPATE SAID, BUDDY, WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU. >> THAT'S PRETTY COOL. >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? IT REALLY. I HAD A FEW PEOPLE TELL ME ALL I HAD TO DO WAS MO WAY THAT DAY. I WOULDN'T HAVE SLEPT GOOD THAT NIGHT. AND I CAN SURE SLEEP GOOD AFTER WATCHING THAT. >> MARK MARTIN HAS TWO WINS AT TALLADEGA. THE ONLY DRIVER IN THE CHASE TO HAVE WON AT THIS TRACK. MARK, WHEN WE TALKED YESTERDAY, YOU SAID YOU WO COULDN'T EVEN S FOR 10th. TELL ME ABOUT THE RISK/REWARD FACTOR OF RACING HERE? >> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWERS TO CONTROL ALL THE THINGS AROUND US, THE BEST THAT WE CAN. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RACING OUT HERE TODAY, WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL. AND WE THAT PART. >> MARK, WE CALL THEM YOUR CREW GUYS. YOU CALL THEM SIMPLY HEROES. >> YEAH, MY GUYS ARE MY HEROES. DEFINITELY. >> GOOD LUCK OUT THERE THIS AFTERNOON. >> THANK YOU. >> MARK ROLLS OFF 24th, THE GREEN" WILL CONTINUE FROM PIT ROAD HERE AT THE SUPERSPEEDWAY THEY CALL TALLADEGA. >> CONTACT. BOBBY LABONTE IS OVER. BIG WRECK ON THE FINAL LAP. >> IN FRONT. KEEP COMING. KEEP COMING. >> THERE'S A CRASH. SEVERAL CARS INVOLVED. >> OH, MY GOODNESS. THREE OR FOUR CARS COMPLETELY SIDEWAYS. ARS INVOLVED. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. >> CHECK IT UP. >> TROUBLE OFF TURN TWO. IS THIS THE BIG WRECK? >> WATCH THE GRANDS. WATCH THE GRANDS. >> BOY. >> YOU BETTER STAY HIGH, STAY STRAIGHT. >> A TERRIBLE CRASH. >> WE'RE IN IT, BO YOU ALL RIGHT? >> WELL, THE BIG WRECK IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY AT TALLADEGA. SOME WOULD SAY A PROBABLEABILITY. JEREMY MAYFIELD HOPES TO AVOID IT STARTING 32nd. HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE AND CONSERVE FROM BACK THERE? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW. WE'LL PLAY IT KEEP IT OUT OF TROUBLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. EITHER GO TO THE FRONT IF WE CAN OR RIGHT TO THE BACK. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF STRATEGIES GOING ON. WE'LL DO OUR BEST AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A GOOD RUN -- >> TAKE A LITTLE MUSCLE FROM RUSTY. >> TAKE OUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY FOR DODGE. >> HERE'S MARTY. >> AN ALL ROBERT YATES FRONT ROW. DALE JARRETT SECOND. CAN YOU STILL HAPPENING OUT IN THE BACK WHEN YOU START SECOND? >> YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. WE' MUCH AS WE CAN. I SAAID A NUMBER OF TIMES IF YO CAN STAY IN THE TOP FIVE, A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN FROM FIFTH BACK TO 30th. NEED TO BE BEHIND THAT OR IN FRONT OF THOSE FIVE SO WE'VE GOT A GOOD RACE CAR HERE. WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS GO AND LET THE RACE DICTATE BA WE'LL DO COMES TIME TO BE UP FRONT THAT'S WHEN WE'LL BE THERE AND THAT'S AT THE END. >> TO YOUR TEAMMATE ELLIOTT SADLER. I'M NOT SURE IF I SHOULD GET TOO CLOSE TO YOU. THIS HASN'T BEEN TOO KIND. >> NO, IT HAS NOT. WHEN WE BUILT THE CAR, TODD NAMED IT HEADS UP,RING. RAN WELL IN THE SPRING. THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CAR FOR THE FALL ONE OF THE BEST SPEEDWAY CARS I'VE EVER HAD. WE'LL TRY TO GET IT IN VICTORY LANE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> MATT? >> WELL, KEVIN HARVICK IS HERE, INSPECTIONS TIME THAT'S ALLOWED. YOU WANT TO REVERSE THAT TREND YOU'VE HAD ON THE PLATE TRACK. >> YEAH, WE'VE HAD REALLY FAST CARS. JUST -- >> A LOT OF WRECKING. >> BEEN A LOT OF WRECKING GOING ON MADE UP FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE WE DIDN'T. THE CHEVROLET WILL BE GOOD AND IT WILL BMY DRAFTING PARTNER, R, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. >> ONLY PERSON FARTHER BACK IS WILL FERRELL WHO IS SHOOTING A MOVIE. >> McMURRAY HAD A STRONG RUN. EXPECT A REPEAT PERFORMANCE? >> TMAY. TOOK IT HOPE AND PUT IT ON JACK STANDS AND DIDN'T EVEN RACE IT AT DAYTONA. BROUGHT IT BACK HERE. THE ENGINE SHOP HAS A LITTLE MORE POWER. FELT LIKE WE HAD ONE OF THE BEST CARS IN HAPPY HOUR YESTERDAY. >> ALLEN BESTWICK, TAKE U ENGIN CAR BUT OOH AND AH FROM THESE FANS AS THEY REACT TO THE MOVES THAT DRIVERS MAKE ON THE RACETRACK RACING INCHES APART WITH DISASTER LURKING AT EVERY CORNER. THE COUNTDOWN IS AT ZERO. RACING COMING UP. >>> RYAN NEWMAN MAKES THE CHASE AND KURT BUSCH WINS RAT RICHMOND. SUMMER HAS GONE PAST ♪ ♪ IT CAN NEVER LAST ♪ >> THIS ISN'T THE PLACE TO REPAY SOMEBODY. >> TEAMMATES COMING TO THE CHECKERED. JOHNSON, THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER WINS AT ♪ MAKE ME OUT ♪ >> NBC SPORTS PRESENTS NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING FROM THE TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY IN ALABAMA. TODAY, IT'S THE THIRD RACE IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CHAMPIONSHIP. LET'S TAKE YOU JOIN THE PRERACE CEREMONIES. >> LADY AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AND REMOVE YOUR HATS AS THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS COLOR GUARD PRESENTS OUR NATION'S COLORS. PLEASE REMAIN RICHARD ALLFORD DIRECTOR OF ALABAMA RACEWAY MINISTRIES DELIVERS TODAY'S INVOCATION. >> JOIN ME IN PRAYER. HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL DAY TODAY ANTICIPATE THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. WE THANK YOU FOR THE RACE AND THE SPORT OF IT. WES, CREWS AND ALL THE FANS. WE ALSO REMEMBER OUR MILITARY FORCES AS THEY SERVE IN STRATEGIC PLACES AROUND THIS WORLD. THANK YOU FOR TODAY, FATHER. GUIDE US NOW WITH SAFETY, AMEN. >> LADY AND GENTLEMEN, RECORDIND ALABAMA NATIVE, BO BICE AS HE PERFORMS TODAY'S NATIONAL ANTHEM. BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING? ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ OH, SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME ES REMAIN IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. THE TOUGHEST RACES THE NEXT ONE AND THE NEXT ONE IS THIS ONE. THE COMMAND AT TALLADEGA IS NEXT. YOU'RE WATCHING NASCAR LIVE ON NBC. >>> FEEL THE RACE LIKE NEVER BEFORE IN 360 DEGREES OF FULL SURROUND SOUND AND GET READY TO HEAR THE BIG PICTURE. ONLY WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULL IMPACT IS WITH NBC SPORTS AND SONY HD AUDIO. HI, EVERYBODY, BILL WEBER BENNY PARSONS. THANKS FOR HAVING US IN FOR THE RACE. ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING OF THE YEAR. 43 DRIVERS TRYING TO GO 500 MILES HOPING TO GET THE BIG FINISH SHALL NOT THE BIG WRECK. IT CAN START IN A VARIETY OF FASHIONS. >> BUT I'LL TELL YOU WALKING AROUND THE GARAGE I NOTICE THEI RACE CARS. THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED BUMP DRAFTING AND I THINK THEY'LL BE SLAMMING MORE TODAY. HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. WHAT YOU DO, YOU GET A LINE, YOU FOLLOW THE GUY, YOU HIT HIM IN THE BUMPER. THAT HELPS GET HIM DOWN THE RACETRACK. THE PROBLEM IF YOU'RE NOT LINED UP PERFECT YOU CAN THIS. THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE ON THE BUMP DRAFTING. THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE HAPPEN BUT ON THE RACETRACK THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE YOU HAVE TO DODGE BULLETS. >> AMAZING HOW MUCH TROUBLE THESE GUYS WILL HAVE GETTING ON AND OFF PIT ROAD. RUNNING 190 MILES THEN SLOW TO 55 MILES PER HOUR TO PIT ROAD AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY LOCK UP THE BRAKES. THEY PUT FLAT SPOTS ON THE FLAT SPOTS ON THE TIRES. NOW, IF THEY DECIDED TO CHANGE TWO TIRES GUESS WHAT THEY FLAT SPOT THE TIRE NOW THEY'VE GOT TO CHANGE FOUR. AND ONCE THEY MAKE THE PIT STOP, THEY LET THE CLUTCH OUT. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE CAREFUL TO DO IT SMOOTHLY NOT TO BREAK THE RACETRACK AS QUICK AS THEY CAN TO JOIN THE GROUP. IF THEY DON'T THEY'LL GET LEFT. >> BECAUSE THEY RUN RESTRICTOR PLATES THEY RUN AT HALF THE HORSEPOWER AND RUN IN ONE BIG PACK. LET'S SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. OUR HOME DEPOT VIRTUALDRAFT. >> CARS RUNNING TOGETHER BECAUSE THE FRONT CARS BREAK THE AIR. THE CARS BEHIND RUN IN THAT VOID AND THEY CAN RUN THAT MUCH FASTER AND AS WALLY POINTED OUT, THE MORE CAR, THE FASTER YOU GO. AND WE'LL SEE THE CARS SIDE BY SIDE NOS TWO, THREE WIDE ALL THE WAY THROUGHOUT THE FIELD. YOU HAVE TO DRAFT. IT'S ABOUT A SECOND AND A HALF FOUR OR FIVE MILES FASTER PER HOUR THAN RUNNING BY YOURSELF. >> IF YOU GET LEFT OUT YOU'LL HAVE BIG SOME GUYS NOT PARTICIE IN PRACTICE, THEY'LL TRY TO FIND THEIR TEAMMATES ON THE TRACK BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. >> THAT'S THE THING. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO WORK AT THE RACETRACK. YOU HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERS AND YOU'LL HEAR THE TERM HANGING OUT TO DRY. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN LINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN GO WITH SOMEBODE THE ONLY GUY STICKING OUT. THAT WILL BE BAD. FIVE MILES PER HOUR SLOWER THAN THE REST OF THE PACK. >> ALL ABOUT HAVING FRIENDS AT TALLADEGA. YOU GUYS WANT TO BE FRIENDS? >> FOR NOW. >> TRACKSIDE AND THE WORDS YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING TO HEAR. >> LADY AN PLEASE WELCOME GERALD D. BANTAM, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR, UAW NATIONAL FORD DEPARTMENT AS HE GIVES THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN MOTORSPORTS. >> GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES. >> YOUR TEAM RIGHT OUT OF THE RACE, 43 DRIVERS READY TO PLAY BALL AT TALLADEGA. HOPING THIS ONE IS A NO-HITTER. THE GREEN FLAG FROM TALLADEGA IS NEXT. >>> THIS WEEK'S NEXTEL FAN OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY SPRINT IS RENEE HILL FROM ROME, GEORGIA, AND THE FAMILY IS A RACING FAMILY. FATHER RACES, SON RACES. RENEE IS THE CREW CHIEF FOR EVERYBODY. HOW DID IT START? >> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN JUST SOMETH FAMILY COULD DO TOGETHER AND I JUST KIND OF STEPPED IN AND DONE MY PART. >> NOW I SEE THIS JEREMY MAYFIELD CAR DESIGNED EXACTLY LIKE HIS RACE CAR. HAD YOU BECOME AWM JEREMY MAYFID FAN? >> WELL, I HAVE A BEEN FOLLOWING JEREMY SINCE HE WAS IN THE RCA CAR SO I DON'T KNOW, I JUST SHO SUPPORT. >> YOU WON'T LET CASEY DRIVE ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO, HE'S GOT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. >> IF YOU WANT TO BE THE NEXT FAN OF THE WEEK LOGON TO NASCAR.COM/NEXTEL. >>> N BROUGHT TO YOU BY FORD F-100. BUILT FORD TOUGH. BY ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR. CALL 1-800 RENT-A-CAR. BY BANK OF AMERICA, HIGHER STANDARDS AND BY MILLER, THERE'S GOOD ENOUGH AND BETTER THAN IT MILLER, GOOD CALL. THROUGHOUT THE RACE TODAY THE STORY REALLY ISN'T WHEN THE BIG ONE HAPPENS, IT SHOULD BE HOW MANY TYPES IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. SO MANY CARS, SO LITTLE MARGIN OF EAR ENAND WALLY'S WORLD DRIVEN BY STATE FARM HOW TO AVOID HAVING A SMALL PART IN THE BIG WRECK. ♪ WALLY'S WORLD WALLY'S WORLD, NASCAR NOW, ALL WEEK COMING UP IN TALLADEGA, EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE BIG WRECK BECAUSE THIS RACE IS THE WILD CARD. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND AS A DRIVER, YOU'RE HOPING ONE OF YOUR BUDDIES DOESN'T DO SOMETHING DUMB. NOW, LET ME TELL YOU AND HOW A DRIVER CAN AVOID THE BIG ONE. THE BEST PLAN IS IF YOU HAVE A GOOD RACE CAR, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO SHOW YOUR HAND. BUT AT THIS PLACE YOU HAVE TO. YOU WANT TO GET OUT TO THE FRONT AND LET THE WRECK HAPPEN BEHIND YOU. THE NESTARTING NEAR THE BACK OR IN THE MIDDLE, SOMETIMES IT'S BEST TO DROP TO THE BACK OF THE PACK AND LET THE WRECK HAPPEN OUT FRONT OF YOU. THIS WAY IF YOU'RE RIDING OUT THE BACK WERE YOUR BUDDIES AND THE WRECK HAPPENS YOU CAN SLOW DOWN AND YOU CANNOT GET CAUGHT IN IT. RACE AT DAYTONA IN '04 MY TEAM OWNER JOE NEMECHEK, WE WERE IN THE DRIVER'S SPEED TALKING ABOUT MAYBE HANGING OUT WITH THE GUYS THAT WERE GOING TO DROP BACK TO THE BACK OF THE PACK AND LET THE WRECK HAPPEN AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AHEAD OF THE RACE E CAME OUT AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE GOT REALLY FAST RACE CARS, LET'S GET TO THE FRONT AND LET THE WRECK HAPPEN BEHIND US. WELL, WE WERE ON OUR WAY AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. OOH, THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT SO WELL. IF YOU'RE IN A WRECK HERE AT TALLADEGA AS A DRIVER, YOU REACT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BUT NINE TIMES OUT OF TENURE'S JUST ALONG FOR THE RIDE. >> HOW WAS THAT SAW IT THE NEXT DAY AFTER THAT. >> NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WAS. WHEN I SAW THAT WALL, I THOUGHT THIS IS GOING TO HURT. >> CARS OUT ON THE TRACK. BUDWEISER, THE OFFICIAL BEER OF NASCAR IS THE PROUD SPONSOR OF THE POLE AWARD GIVEN TO THEIFIE. THEY CONGRATULATE ELLIOTT SADLER ON HIS THIRD POLE OF 2005. TAKE A LOOK AT THE STARTING GRID PRESENTED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON FOR TODAY'S 500-MILE RACE AT TALLADEGA. >> HEY, MICHAEL, THIS IS WALLY IN THE BOOTH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES, WALLY. HOW ARE YOU? >> PRETTY GOOD. MAN, YOUR CAR LOOKS AWFULLY GOOD YESTERDAY IN PRACTICE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU QUALIFIED WELL BUT HAD TO DROP BACK WITH THE TRANSMISSION CHANGE. HOW DO YOU >> WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO OBSERVE POSSIBLY FOR A FEW LAP, WALLY. THERE ARE GOING TO BE FOUR OR FIVE WIDE AND NO SENSE OF ME TRYING TO GET FROM LAST UP TO THAT. I MEAN, MY CAR IS STRONG ENOUGH TO WIN ONCE THEY STRING OUT A LITTLE BIT I'LL BE ABLE TO GET . WATCH FOR THE NAPA CHEVY AND THE GUYS BACK HERE TO CHILL OUT FOR A FEW LAPS. >> SO YOU'LL JUST LET THINGS SETTLE DOWN. WILL YOU STAY BACK THERE, DO YOU THINK, THROUGH THE FIRST PIT STOP OR WILL YOU JUST LET IT SETTLE AND PICK YOUR WAY THROUGH? >> I THINK I'LL BE UP FIRST PIT STOP HAPPENS, I HOPE. AND, AGAIN, IT JUST -- IT HAS TO ALL DEVELOP, WALLY. YOU GOT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND FOLLOW ALONG AND THEN MAKE YOUR PLAN OFF THAT. ONE THING IS FOR SURE, THOUGH, I'M NOT NERVOUS BECAUSE I'M DREE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. NOT A WHOLE LOT TO WORRY ABOUT BACK HERE. CHECK IN LATER, THE PULSE MIGHT GO UP A LITTLE. >> OKAY, GOOD LUCK, MICHAEL. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP WITH WALLY ON THE RADIO. DOWN TO PIT ROAD, THE FINAL BEFORE WE GO GREEN AND START >> THE TEN HAS A WIN AT TALLADEGA. MART MARKEN HAS TWO OF THEM. BUT HE ADMITS I'M NOT A VERY BIG FAN OF RESTRICTOR PLATE RACING. I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FOLKS AT HOME WOULD LOVE IT SO MUCH. IF I WAS AT HOME I'D BE SITTING ON MY COUCH. YOU COULDNTELEVISION. EXCELLENT ADVICE FROM HIM. SIT BACK, RELAX. MAKE SURE THE SOFT DRINKS AND SNACKS AREN'T TOO FAR AWAY BECAUSE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS A MINUTE OF TODAY'S RACE. MARK TOLD ME JUST A MOMENT AGO THE CAR IS OUTSTANDING. WE CAN DEFINITELY WIN. MATT? >> TONY STEW POINTS LAST WEEK DG FOR SPOTS. SAYS 18th PLACE FINISH AT DOVER THAT WASN'T THEIR CHASE MULLIGAN. THEY ARE ONLY 23 MARKERS OUT OF FIRST. IF YOU LOOK AT HIS PAST HISTORY THIS YEAR AND HERE AT TALLADEGA TODAY SHOULD BE A GREAT POINT T AT DAYTONA BACK IN JULY LEADING ALL BUT NINE LAPS. IF YOU LOOKED AT HIS PAST RESULTS HERE, FOUR TIMES, DAVE BURNS, HE HAS FINISHED SECOND. >> RYAN NEWMAN WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE RECORD BOOKS FOR RP, ROGER PENSKE BECAUSE HE HAS NO COULD DO THAT TODAY BASED ON A GOOD CAR IN PRACTICE AND MOMENTUM IN THE CHASE SO FAR HE'S THE ONLY CHASE DRIVER TO HAVE TWO TOP FIVE FINISHES IN TOP RACES IN LOUDON AND FIFTH AT DOVER. ALLEN? >> RIGHT NOW EVERY DRIVER ON THE TRACK, EVERY CREW MEMBER HERE ON PIT ROAD ISTHING, WILL THE BIG HAPPEN AND WILL OUR CAR BE IN IT? THE TEN DRIVERS CHASING THE CHAMPIONSHIP WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE IN THE BIG WRECK WILL DETERMINE WHETHER TALLADEGA WAS OPPORTUNITY OR OBSTACLE FOR THEIR TITLE BID. FOR SOME LIKE BUSCH OR KENSETH IT COULD BE AN ELIMINAT CLOSE U SOME FIND THEIR TITLE HOPES EXTINGUISHED. WE FIND OUT STARTING RIGHT NOW. >> THANKS, ALLEN. YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY DOWN ON PIT ROAD. CHEVROLETS HAVE BEEN VERY STRONG HERE AT TALLADEGA. THEY WON THE LAST 13 RACES AT THIS TRACK. TAKE A LEE WATCH. LAST EIGHT RESTRICTOR PLATE RACES, JEFF GORDON, FOUR WINS, EARN JR., STEWART AND MICHAEL BOTH WITH A WIN. SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE TODAY. FOR MUCH MORE LOGON TO ALLEN BESTWICK HAS A LOOK AT WHY KURT BUSCH IS THE DRIVER WITH THE MOST TO GAIN. ALL AT NBCSPORTS.COM. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE GRID YOU SAW DRIVERS THAT FAILED TO MAKE THE RACE AND HAD TO FOLLOW THE BACK. BOBBY HAMILTON JSTS. HE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RACE IN HIS CAR BUT WORKED A COUPLE OF DEALS DOWN IN THE GARAGE SO BOBBY SHIFTED TO A CAR, 32 AND TIGHT ON IT. MIKE SKINNER MOVED OUT OF ONE CAR INTO ANOTHER AND HERMIE OUT. HE DID QUALIFY BUT IS NOT IN THE RACE. >> I WOULD IMAGINE SOME CASH CHANGED HANDS. >> YOU THINK? >> I THINK. >> A THINK A LOT OF CASH PROBABLY CHANGED HANDS. THEY WANTED TO GET IT INTO THE RACE AND MICHAEL HAD THE DEAL THAT HE WANTED TOOK A LOT OF GU. BEAUTIFUL DAY IN TALLADEGA. 82 DEGREES. SUNNY, BREEZY AND A LOT OF FUN. >> WELL, IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR US, A LOT OF FUN FOR THE FANS AND HOPEFULLY THE TV AUDIENCE BUT SOME GUYS NOT GOING TO THE GUY THAT WINS WILL. >> RIDDEN 43,000 SEATS HERE. TICKS WERE SOLD TO PEOPLE FROM EVERY STATE IN THE UNION AND TEN FOREIGN COUNTRIES ARE REPRESENTED IN THE CROWD IN THE GRANDSTANDS AND IN THE INFIELD. THEY'VE ALL COME TO SEE THE FO. >> 2 CAR ON THE LEFT, BLAINE, WITH DALE JR., THAT CAR PULLED UP IN THE THIRD LANE WITH EARNHARDT. >> 187 TO GO. AND NOW THESE CARS -- SPEED WITH THE FIRST RECORD -- TAKES ABOUT A LAP AND A HALF, ALMOST TWO FULL LAPS TO GET UP TO FULL SPEED. HAS THAT 2 CAR UP ON THE OUTSIDE TRYING TO MAKE IT BRING ITS WAY FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT. >> RUSTY LOST AN ENGINE IN QUALIFYING. >> WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE -- BACK THERE. I TALKED TO THAT CAR BY JUNIOR TALKED TO HIM LAST NIGHTING WALLY, HE SAID HE HAS THE BEST RIDE HE'S EVER HAD AT TALLADEGA. CAR IS FLYING. >> TONY STEWART TRYING TO GET THE LEAD AND FIVE BONUS POINTS. >> FIVE BONUS POINTS FOR STEWART. THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THOSE DRIVERS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN NEXTEL YELLOW ON THE TICKER AT THE T ON BOARD WITH TONY. >> HERE COMES HIS TEAMMATE BOBBY LABONTE IN THE 18 CAR. >> UPDRAFT. >> THAT'S PRETTY NICE RIGHT THERE. THEY'LL GET A LOT HARDER AS THE THEY'LL BE RIGHT ON THE BACK BUMPER. >> BILL, WHEN YOU TALK TO CREW CHIEFS IN THE GARAGE ALL WEEKEND LONG THEY SAID THE CAR IS WHO YOU WANT TO RUN WITH. HE CAN RUN ANYWHERE. HE'S THE CAR TO BEAT. LATCH ON STAY UP AT THE FRONT. RIGHT NOW HE'S GOT HIS TEAMMATE LATCHED ONTO THE BUMPER. >> DALE JARRETT HAS SOMETIMES TAKEN THE STRATEGY OF DROPPING TO THE BACK OF THE PACK SAYING IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO TRY TO FINISH IF YOU'RE NOT AROUND WHEN THE CHECKEHIS BRAND-NEW RACE CA TODD PARROTT CREW CHIEF SAYS WE'LL STAY AS LONG AS WE CAN, THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE ON THE RACETRACK. >> HE MIGHT HAVE THE HORSEPOWER TO DO IT BECAUSE THE 88, 38 AND ALSO THE HAVE SOME -- A LITTLE EXPERIMENTAL AND MORE HORSEPOWER BUT WONDER ABOUT THE DURABILITY. THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE TO GET READY FOR THE DAYTONA 500 IN FEBRUARY. >> YOU CAN GO FAST BUT CAN YOU LAST IS THE QUESTION. >> THAT'S THE KEY. WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT. >> RUSTY WALLACE HAD A START AT THE BACK OF THE FIELD, HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP TO 25th. HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PACK RIGHT NEXT TO MART MARTIN, MATT. >> RUSTY TOLD ME THAT PENSKE PLATE PROGRAM HAS REALLY STEPPED IT UP THIS YEAR TRYING TO TAKE FINAL RESTRICTOR PLATE RACE OF THE DAY. HE TOLD ME HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACKERS FIRST CHOICE OBVIOUSLY THE FRONT, SECOND CHOICE AT THE BACK. BUT HE SAYS ANYWHERE FROM THE MIDLINE BACK USUALLY THAT'S WHERE TROUBLE FINDS PEOPLE. >> YELLOW LINE IS OUT OF BO DOW PASS. >> MUST GIVE THE POSITION BACK OR NASCAR WILL BRING YOU IN FOR A CONVERSATION. >> THAT'S WHY TONY STEWART BACKED OFF AND LET THAT 88 CAR GET BACK IN FRONT OF HIM. >> I THINK THAT'S -- >> I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING WENT DOWN SO LOW. HE DIDN'T NEED TO GO THAT FAR BUT SOMETIMES YOU FORGET WHEN YOU'RE RACING IN A PACK LIKE THIS. >> THEY'RE THERE THREE, FOUR WIDE GOING DOWN TO TURN ONE OUT OF 190 MILES PER HOUR. >> AND THESEEY'RE GLUED TO THE . BELIEVE ME, THEY'RE NOT. THESE CARS ARE A HANDFUL AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AIR. IT'S ALL THE AIR TURNED ON ESPECIALLY THE MIDDLE OF THIS PACK MAKING THE CAR DO WEIRD THINGS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T TURN GOING INTO THE CORNER. THEN THE GET SIDEWAYS, JUST DEPENDS WHERE THE CARS ARE POSITIONED AND WHERE THE CARS ARE POSITIONED AROUND YOUR CAR. >> SOMETIMES IT'S TERRIFYING BECAUSE YOU DON'T FOE WHAT A CAR WILL DO. >> SOMETIMES -- >> ONLY BETWEEN THE GREEN -- >> YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWU KNOW THAT CAR MOVES AROUND. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THESE CARS DO. >> MAGNIFY IT TIMES 100. >> GUYS IN SINGLE FILE TRYING TO BREAK AWAY FROM THIS PACK. >> TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HANGING GUYS OUT TO DRY. HERE'S RUSTY. HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PACK. HE CAN SEE ALL THESE GUYS IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER. YOU CAN HEAR RUSTY WORKING THE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL BECAUSE IF YOU'RE IN THAT MIDDLE LANE, ANY GUY AROUND YOU MAKES A MISTAKE AND YOU CAN BE IN A WRECK. >> HEAR HIM BACKING OFF THE THROTTLE. >> YOU DO THE MOMENTUM. >> SEE HOW THE CAR IS FLOATING AROUND ESPECIALLY THROUGH -- THESE CARS ARE NOT STUCK ON THE TRACK. >> THIS TRACK IS ROUGH. >> VERY ROUGH. >> S NOT AS ROUGH AS SOME PLACES. SEE THE CAR -- >> A LOT OF IT IS THE AIR. >> HEARS -- RYAN NEWMAN MOVING >> 17 CAR. >> NEWMAN WOULD LIKE TO LEAD THE LAP AS WELL. SO WOULD MATT KENSETH. >> ON THE MOVE, ALLEN. >> FIVE-TIME TALL B.P., THIS RACE CAR AND ITS CREW STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO FRIDAY. IT HAS BEEN -- THOSE TWO WEEKS, FIVE TIMES GETTING READY FOR THIS ONE RACE. BACK UP TO TALLADEGA. >> ALLEN, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE POINTS. TRYING TO GET IT GOING AROUND NOW ELLIOTT SADLER. SADLER GETS -- MATT SAID I NEED THE FIVE BONUS POINTS. TODAY I HAVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF BODY, CAR AND ENGINE I'VE EVER HAD. NOT ONLY CAN WE WIN, WE CAN >> THERE HE IS IN FRONT. >> FOR HOW LONG? A COUPLE OF TEAMMATES RIGHT BEHIND HIM. THAT'S JIMMIE JOHNSON AND JEFF GORDON. >> CREW CHIEF ROBBIE REISER HE GARAGE THIS MORNING. HE WAS SO NERVOUS HE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RACE. I SAID, ARE YOU IN A BAD MOOD? HE SAID NO. I SAID, TALLADEGA? HE SAID, YEAH. I'LL SEE YOU IN KANSAS. >> SEE THOSE FIVE BONUS POINTS -- THE NEXTEL CUP. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. IF TROUBLE BREAKS OUT, WE'LL BREAK IN. YOU'RE WATCHING NASCAR. >>> STILL UNDER GREEN AT TALLADEGA. COMP IN THE ZONE DRIVERS. JUNIOR WITH FIVE WINS IN HIS LAST EIGHT RACES, TONY STEWART, AND JEFF GORDON WON HERE BACK IN MAY. AUTOZONE "IN THE ZONE" DRIVERS AT TALLADEGA. THE LEAD UP FRONT. SADLER HAS IT BACK. MATT KENSETH HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF LAPS. JIMMIE JOHNSON WANTS IT. >> WANTS IT BADLY. WE T DAMAGE IN THE NEAR CORNER IN YESTERDAY'S FINAL PRACTICE. REPAIR THE BODY WORK ON THE CAR BASICALLY FROM THE REAR GLASS BACK TO THE BACK BUMPER. I ASKED THE CREW CHIEF IF THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT HIM. HE SAID, NO, WE THINK WE'VE GOT IT ALL ONLY THING JIMMIE SAID WE THINK IT'S THE LEFT SIDE FENDER SKIRT THAT HANGS DOWN BETWEEN THE WHEELS. HE THINKS THAT'S DRAGGING JUST A BIT. OTHERWISE, REALLY GOOD. >> SEE THAT 6 CAR ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE THERE, THAT BLUE -- MARK MARTIN FROM 24th TO ONLY DRIVER IN THE CHASE THAT'S WON HERE. HAS DALE EARNHARDT JR. ON HIS REAR BUMPER. HOW ABOUT IT? >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE MARK WANTS TO BE. HE TOLD ME YESTERDAY, LOW LINE WAS NOT GOOD FOR HIM, CAR DOWN. TOP LINE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD FOR MARK. HE SAID I'VE BEEN RUNNING THIS THAT MOST OF THE DAY. THE TOP GROOVE IS WHAT WORKS WITH ME. >> THE POLE SITTER IS STAYING OUT FRONT. FUEL MILEAGE MAY COME INTO MOST TEAMS GET 35 TO 37 LAPS BUT THE 38 CAR WILL NOT BE MAKING THE STRETCHING FUEL RUN LIKE THEY MIGHT AND TRIED DIFFERENT CHANGES TO THE CARBURETOR WHICH WOULD SAVE FUEL BUT TOOK AWAY MANEUVERABILITY. THE FUEL CONSUMING SETUP ON THE 38. >> FROM FIRST TO 43rd, 3.9 SECONDS. JIMMIE JOHNSON LOOKING FOR THE LEAD ON THE HIGH SIDE. THE LOW LEAD ON THE LOW SIDE. >> WHO IS GOING TO WIN? >> TO THE START/FINISH LINE DOWN CLOSE TO TURN NUMBER ONE. >> McMURRAY DIDN'T HAVE HELP ON HIS REAR BUMPER, WHAT COST GOT 17, 17 TRULY PUSHING HIM. >> AND JAMIE LED THAT LEP LAP. >> THIS IS JUST FUN TO WATCH, McMURRAY TOLD ME HIS CAR IS SO GOOD HE FEELS LIKE HE CAN ALMOST PASS PEOPLE BY HIMSELF WITHOUT ANY HELP TO CORNERS, THINKS HE SOMEONE WITHOUT THE DRAFT BEHIND HIM AND SAID LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, BEST SPEEDWAY CAR IN COMBINATION I'VE EVER HAD. I FEEL LIKE WE CAN LEAD TODAY AND WELL WITH EVERYBODY INCLUDING THE ENGINE SPECIFICALLY ELLIOTT SADLER. JE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AT THIS TRACK. WE ASKED HIM THAT QUESTION. >> THERE'S TIMES THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. AND THEN THERE'S TIMES WHERE I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE RULES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST THAT CARS CAN STILL PASS. THEY CAN STILL CLOSE UP BUT THEY DON'T CLOSE UP SO MUCH WHERE WE'RE RUNNING INTO ONE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW. AND EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN THEIR CAR SO CLOSE, THE DRIVERS HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE DRAFT IT MAKES IT VERY, VERY TIGHT CORNERS. I'D SAY THAT I AM AGAINST AND IT'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, JUST THAT THE SLIGHTEST LITTLE MISTAKE BY ANYBODY WE ALL MAKE THEM THROUGHOUT THE RACE CAN CAUSE A 20, 30-CAR PILEUP AND I'M JUST FORTUNATE THAT OUR CARS ARE AS SAFE AS THEKNOW, JEFF WAS RIGHT BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON EARLIER WENT TO COMMERCIAL AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS JOHNSON WAS OUT FRONT AND HE WAS TRYING TO BREAK IT ON THE LOW SIDE/HIGH SIDE. JEFF CAUGHT HIM AND HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE THROTTLE NOT TO HIM, JIMMIE JOHNSON, AND HE WOUND UP. I THINK JEFF HAS A REALLY GOOD CAR WORKING HIS WAY BACK. >> I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE PRETTY TOUGH TODAY. >> WALLY, I CAN GIVE YOU THE LATEST ON HIS CAR. HIS RADIO, HE SAID THE FRONT END NOT GRIPPING AS WELL AS HE WOULD LIKE. A LITTLE SLIDING, THE NOSE, IN THE CORNERS. >> BACKSTRETCH. JAMIE McMURRAY. KURT BUSCH BACK CURRENTLY RUNNING IN 35th POSITION. >> MATT? >> BILL, TWO ISSUES FOR THE 97. BUSCH NOW FIRST. HE PASSED THE 41 OF CASEY MEARS UNDER THE YELLOW SO HE HAD MEAR BY. ALSO, HIS SPOTTER, JIMMY BRICKHOUSE REPORTS HIS TEAM MAY HAVE SOME SLIGHT COSMETIC DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH. >> TROUBLE IN TURN ONE. >> INTO THE WALL. MARK MARTIN IS IN IT. ONE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS. >> ELLIOTT SADLER, THE POLE SITTER, 38. >> HEAVY DAMAGE. >> THAT'S MARK MARTIN'S CAR RIGHT THERE. I CAN REALLY TELL. >> OBVIOUSLY IS OKAY. >> SOMETIMES YOUDE. >> AND THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS IN THE CHASE ESPECIALLY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT. >> THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT IS THIS RIGHT HERE. >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. GOT PART OF IT. TIRE -- I GOT A LOT OF DAMAGE. I HIT PRETTY HARD. >> ALLEN? >> YEAH, CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER JIMMIE JOHNSON GOT A PIECE OF THAT ALSO, BILL. HE IS CALLING TO HIS CREW, SOME RIGHT SIDE DAMAGE ON THE CREW. CREW CHIEF IS CALLING JIMMIE IN AND WILL CHANGE THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES, CHECK IT OVER, SEND HIM BACK OUT TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP >> NOT TOO BAD, THOUGH, ALLEN. HE GOT AWAY WITH A LOT OF IT THERE. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> B.P., YOU SEE MARK MARTIN THERE. LOOKS LIKE ELLIOTT SADLER GOT TURNED BY JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> YEAH, LOOKS LIKE HE GOT HIT BY THE 48 CAR GETTING OUT OF TH. LOOK AT THE REAR END HANGING OUT OF MICHAEL WALTRIP'S CAR. >> 00 IS MIKE SKINNER. >> OKAY. WATCH UP FRONT, WATCH THE 48 CAR. TAGS THE -- JUST TAGS HIM. >> MICHAEL THERE. >> POOR MICHAEL HAS NOPLACE. MAKES CONTACT WITH RUSTY WALLACE AND MARK MARTIN. >> MARTIN'S CAR IS THE ONE THAT LAUNCHED. >> OH, MAN, THOSE CARS JUST GETTING BY ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. >> AND LIKE I SAY, IT'S JUST GL BUT IT JUST TAKES SOMEBODY TO TOUCH ONE OF THESE BUMPERS IN THE WRONG WAY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CORNER. YOU CAN DO IT ON A STRAIGHTAWAY AS LONG AS YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT BUT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT TO GET THEM SIDEWAYS. REALLY IS A TIGHT ONE WHEN YOU'RE GOT TO RESPECT EVERYBODY AND YOU'RE SO TIGHT ALL THE TIME, IF A GUY JUST -- IF THE GUY SLIPS A LITTLE BIT AND GETS OUT OF THE THROTTLE YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY RIGHT ON YOUR BUMPER SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR SOMEBODY TO GET INTO YOU. >> SO SEVERAL CARS INVOLVED. 20 LAPS ARE COMPLETE. THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE CARS. MEANWHILE, THE FIELD ON PIT >> WELL, MATT KENSETH SAYS HIS CAR IS VERY GOOD. WILL TAKE TWO TIRES, TIGHT OFF THE CORNERS. AIR ADJUSTMENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT. >> 20 IN. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GOING WITH THE FOUR-TIRE CHANGE BUT GOING TWO TIRES. >> TOP OF YOUR SCREEN GREG BIFFLE KNOWS HE RAN THROUGH DEBRIS SO HE SAID WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE FOUR TIRES ON THE 16. ALLEN? >> JEFF GORDON TAKING FOUR TIRES, BOTTOM LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN. YOU CAN SEE THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN. GORDON GOING TO LOSE SOME SPOTS GETTING THE FOUR TIRES. >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. SURVEYING THE DAMAGE. HE CAME INTO THEL GIVE HIM JUST. WE'LL GET HIM -- WE HAD HIM A SECOND AGO. CREW CALLED HIM OVER TO LOOK AT THE RIGHT FRONT. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE 8 CAR AND GET A WORD WITH JUNIOR IN A SECOND. >> A LOT OF GUYS DOWN IN THAT GARAGE, VERY CROWDED WORKING ON THOSE CARS. JUNIOR FIVE-TIMEUT NOT TODAY. THIS WAS A MOMENT AGO, MARK MARTIN CLIMBING OUT OF HIS CAR. TWO-TIME WINNER AT THIS TRACK, FOUR TIME, SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS WAS HOPING TO GET THROUGH HERE WITH SOME POINTS. >> WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH HE WANTS THIS CHAMPIONSHIP. ON BOARD WITH JUNIOR. >> WATCH MARK MARTIN. >> KEEP COMING, BUDDY. CLEAR LOW. >> ON BOARD WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP. JUST HANG ON. >> PRETTY WILD. >> THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIE JUST GOT HIT. HE GOT HIT. NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, MARTY. >> YEAH, GUY, AFTER HIS TEAM CALLED HIM TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD IT'S TERMINAL DAMAGE THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW. THE 38 AND THE 48 JUST STOPPED IN THE CORNER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNER. I DEPARTMENT HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO AND HIT JIMMIE SCARE BUT I GUESS HE HAD 38 BY THE CORNER AND TURNED THE 38 AROUND. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY STOPPED. . WHETHER THEY GOT TOGETHER IN FRONT OF US BUT I COULDN'T DO NOTHING GOING THAT FAST. >> THE RACING SEEMED TO BE QUITE INTENSE VERY EARLY TODAY, JUNIOR. >> THAT'S WHAT WE GET PAID FOR. >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. WILL BE DONE FOR THE DAY. >> HIS TEAMMATE MICHAEL CAR WE UNDER HIS OWN POWER. MIKE SKINNER, JOE NEMECHEK, MARK MARTIN, DALE EARNHARDT JR., MICHAEL WALTRIP, ELLIOTT SADLER AND JIMMIE JOHNSON ALL INVOLVED IN THAT CRASH. YOU CAN ADD THE 2 OF RUSTY WALLACE, ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER THAT GOT A PIECE OF IT. WE'LL UPDATE YOU >>> NBC SPORTS HERE AT THE TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY IN ALABAMA. UNDER THE CAUTION FOR A MULTICAR WRECK. >> JUST A MOMENT AGO THE 38 CAR, ELLIOTT SADLER, GETS BUNCHED FROM BEHIND BY THE 48 AROUND HE GOES IN FRONT OF ALL OF THAT TRAFFIC. HE WAS RUNNING SECOND WHEN THAT CRASH TOOK PLACE. AND WE'RE FORTUNATE 20 CARS WERE NOT INVOLVED. >> YEAH. >> MATT YOCUM. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP AND I JUST WATCHED REPLAY. RIDE? >> THEN IT WAS RIGHT THEN IT WAS WRONG. THEN IT WAS RIGHT THEN IT WAS WRONG. I CAME TO A STOP AND THE DREAM MACHINE SLID UP RIGHT BESIDE THE CHEVY. I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE A NIGHTMARE. I FEEL GREAT. SOMEBODY TURNED THE POLE SITTER. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TYPICAL HERE. OOH, WATCHING IT AGAIN. >> I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING AND RUSTY JUST BUTTED ME BACK OVER AND GOT ME IN A HUGE CRASH, BUT, DARN, I WAS HAVING FUN. I WAS TRYING TO LAY BACK LIKE I SAID I WAS GOING TO. I GOT ALL THE WAY UP TOYS THEY' GOING TO WRECK EACH OTHER. I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP IS A-OKAY. >> FORTUNATELY MARK MARTIN SEEMS TO BE HAPPY, TOO. YOU'RE GLAD TO HAVE SURVIVED THAT. >> PROBABLY SOMEONE THE 38 OUT . 38 SPUN AND I JUST WHATTANT TO SAY ONE THING. THE FANS ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. NO ONE ELSE K THE DRIVERS CAN'T. THE OWNERS CAN'T. AND NASCAR IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, SO I DOUBT IF THE FAN TRY. I KNOW THAT IT'S EXCITING RACING TO WATCH BUT, GOD, I DIDN'T EVEN GET A SWEAT WORKED UP. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T GO AGAINST GOD'S WILL. I'D HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP BY NOW IF IT WAS GOD'S WILL AND, YOU FINISH THIS ONE OFF AND WE'LL WORRY ABOUT NEXT YEAR NEXT YEAR. >> WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO FIX IT? SURELY YOU DON'T THINK THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS OVER AT THIS POINT, MARK. >> SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER IF I'D HAVE FINISHED IN THE TOP TEN TODAY. YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING THEY OUT OF THESE PLACES THEN IT WOULDN'T BE AS EXCITING FOR THE FANS. THAT'S WHY IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. WHEN YOU HAVE 230 MILE-AN-HOUR RACE CARS RUNNING AROUND AT 185, THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL GET. I DON'T CARE. THE DRIVERS CAN'T CONTROL IT. YOU CAN SAY THEY CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION. AND WE CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE AND, YOU KNOW, THE RACE CARS TODAY HAVE OUTGROWN THESE RACETRACKS. THEY'RE 230 MILE-AN-HOUR VEHICLES AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE RIDING AROUND OUT THERE KIDDIE CARS, YOU KNOW, AT OUTS FROM MARK MARTIN. >> ELLIOTT SADLER HAS ALREADY WALKED OUT OF THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T NEED TO SEE THE VIDEO. >> I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. 48 JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS GOING, LAP 18 OR 19, WHATEVER IT WAS AND TOO EARLY IN THE RACE TO BE DOING THAT. MY BACK TIRES WERE OFF THE GROUND. IT'S A SHAME. I'M GOING TO BITE MY TONGUE RIGHT NOW BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE M&M GUYS. WE HAD A GOOD RACE CAR JUST KIND OF RIDING AROUND PUSHING EACH OTHER EXCHANGING THE LEAD. WAY TOO EARLY IN THE RACE TO CAUSE A BIG PILEUP LIKE THATVE . MIDDLE IS THE BRAKE IN CASE HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT MAYBE I'LL GIVE HIM A DIAGRAM FOR NEXT WEEK. IT'S A SHAME TO TAKE OUT A LOT OF GOOD CARS THIS EARLY IN THE RACE. >> I SEE YOU'RE VERY FRUSTRATED. ELLIOTT SADLER. GUYS? OFF OF PIT ROAD A COUPLE TIMES NOW AND JIMMIE JOHNSON. SO THEY'RE POINTING THE FINGER AT JIMMIE FOR THIS ONE. AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE AT TALLADEGA IN THE SPRING. >> A LOT OF FOLKS POINTED THE FINGER AT JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THIS SITUATION. GOING INTO TURN ONE, MOVES GETS IT FOUR 4 CAR OF MIKE WALLACE. GOES UP, THE END RESULT, SEVERAL CARS INVOLVED IN THIS CRASH. >> AND SEVERAL DRIVERS WERE VERY UPSET WITH JIMMIE AFTER THIS RACE. >> THAT LETS IT TH >> SO THAT WAS MAY. AND NOW FROM OUR HELICOPTER ONE MORE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE MOMENTS AGO. >> YOU WATCH THE 38 CAR. HE'S GOT -- HE'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE 48. AND TURNED HIM.UN. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO RUN THIS PLACE WITH ONE FOOT ON THE THROTTLE ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, YOU JUST -- YOU GOT TO WORK THE BRAKE PEDAL LIKE ELLIOTT SAID. EACH OTHER. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON AND HERE IS HIS RADIO CONVERSATION AFTER THE CRASH. >> CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED ME RIGHT INTO THE 38. TRAFFIC AT THE CORNERS.ALL RIGH. WE'LL GET HER FIXED UP HERE. >> ALL RIGHT. HE SAID THAT SOMEONE RAN IN THE BACK END, PUSHED HIM INTO 38. >> IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED ABOUT 300 YARDS BEFORE THE CRASH. IF YOU LOOK RIGHT HERE, THERE IS NOBODY ON THE 48, ON THE 48'S BUMPER. >> THERE'S THE CARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. 8 CAR -- >> IF YOU WATCH HERE. NO CONTACT, NO CONTACT, THERE'S NO CONTACT. SO -- HE'S ALREADY TURNING HIM BEFORE JUNIOR GOT TO THE BUMPER. >> NOW ON BOARD WITH RICKY RUDD. >> WRECK IS IN FRONT OF HIM. >> GO LOW, BABY. GO LOW. YOU SEE IT. KEEP DIGGING. TRY TO DOE. >> OH. >> JUST GOT BY. >> RICKY RUDD WEAVING HIS WAY THROUGH. UNDER CAUTION AT TALLADEGA. AFTER A MULTICAR WRECK THAT TOOK OUT CHAMPIONSHIN AND OTHERS. >>> COMING TO THE GREEN IS OUR MILLER RACE FACT. POLE SITTER HAS WON ONLY 1 OF THE LAST 19 TALLADEGA RACES. WE CAN CROSS THAT OUT AND MAKE IT 20 BECAUSE ELLIOTT SADLER WAS ON THE POLE. >> AMAZING. >> BACK TO GREEN. >> TWO TIRE STOP. TONY STEWART TWO TIRES. BUSCH I'M SURE TWO TIRES. PROBABLY THE FIRST CAR WITH FOUR WOULD BE SCOTT RIGGS OR GREG BIFFLE BACK IN SEVENTH OR EIGHTH. >> GOOD FULL LAP. GET THESE CARS UP TO SPEED. >> TWO TIRES WE UNDERSTAND ON GET AN UPDATE FROM MARTY. >> HERE'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION FOR MARK MARTIN. ONLY 21 POINTS BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON AND THIS CAR IS HEAVILY DAMAGED. FRONT AND REAR CLIPS ARE BOTH BENT. TRACK BAR MOUNT WAS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR IS RIPPED OUT COMPLETELY. LOWER CONTROL ARM PLACES WHERE THEY MOUNT IN THE FRONT ARE RIPPED OUT COMPLETELY BUT THEY'LL TRY TO GET BACK OUT AND ONE THING THEY HAVE IN THEIR FAVOR THERE MIGHTE CAN PASS CAR THAT WAY. IF THEY GO BACK OUT NOW BEST PASS TWO DARES, ELLIOTT SADLER AND MARK MARTIN BUT ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET HIS 6 CAR BACK IN THE RACE. >> IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK DONE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THAT CAR BACK ON THE RACETRACK. >> WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABASSED EARNHARDT JR. AND ELLIOTT SADLER. >> I TELL YOU, JAMIE McMURRAY DID NOT LIE TO ME. HE DOES HAVE A VERY GOOD RACE CAR, THAT 42 APPARENTLY IS SHOWING IN THIRD POSITION. >> McMURRAY TORES ON THAT PIT STOP. >> HE WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT, HOW GOOD HIS CAR WAS. >> I THINK THIS IS WHERE IT HELPS THE GUYS THAT TOOK FOUR TIRES. GREAT PIT STOP NEXT ROUND, THOS AWAY WITH THE TWO. MARTIN DROPS TO SEVENTH. THREE SPOTS HE LOSES AND A BIG AMOUNT OF POINTS. MARK'S FAVORI BRAND OF RACING AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED. >> HE'S BEEN NOT VERY HAPPY WITH RESTRICTOR PLATE RACING. >>. >> WOW, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER RIGHT THERE. >> JAMIE CAREFUL, THERE'S CARS COMING ON THE OUTSIDE. >> 5 ON THE OUTSIDE. >> AND McMURRAY HAPPENED TO CHECK UP THAT LITTLE BIT. HE'S GOING TO LOSE FIFE OR SIX SPOTS BECAUSE OF THAT. >> HOW ABOUT THE 48 CAR? WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DOES HE HAVE? >> MADE FIVE PIT STOPS UNDER THAT CAUTION FLAG. BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, RIGHT FRONT FENDER DAMAGE. THE RIGHT FRONT WILL NOT ABUSE. BE CAREFUL IF HE BUMP DRAFTINGS. TEAMMATES HAVE DROPPED BACK TO TRY AND HELP JIMMIE GET BACK UP THROUGH THE TRAFFIC AND GET BACK INTO CONTENTION FOR THIS THING. >> DAVE, HOW ABOUT VICKERS? >> PRETTY GOOD RACE CAR AND WHEN THEY RECEIVED JUST A LITTLE BIT OF LEFT FRONT DAMAGE ON THEIR CAR THEY MADE A COUPLE PIT STOPS FIXING IT. WITH ONE TO GO THEY TOPPED OFF THE TANKS KNOWING THEIR TEAMMATE JIMMIE JOHNSON WOULD NEED HELP GETTING BACK THROUGH THE PACK. SEPARATED NOW BUT 25 DEFINITELY HUNGRY TEAMMATE. >> CASEY MEARS IN THE PINK CAR, NOW HE'S CLEARING OUTSIDE. THOUGHT HE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS ON THAT RESTART. DEPARTMENT KICK IN. NOW SAID IT'S DRIVING WELL. HEORMS BEST. >> WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE HIGH GROOVE WORK WELL FOR THE CARS TODAY. USED THE HIGH LINE TO TAKE THE LEAD. >> RACE CARS -- HE JUST PASSED THREE ON THE LOW SIDE. HE LIKES THAT 42 CAR. >> HE LOVES THE CAR, WALLY. I KNOW YOU HAD A CAR THAT HANDLED LIKE THAT. THEY'RE FUN TO DRIVE WHEN THEY DRIVE LIKE THIS BUT ACTUALLY THIS IS NOTTS TO BE AND RADIOED HIS CREW AND SAID GET ME OUT OF THE BOTTOM LANE. HIS CAR HAS BEEN TIGHT FOR MOST OF THE RACE WITH THE AMOUNT OF -- THE BOTTOM MAKES IT FEEL TIGHTER TO JAMIE. WON'T TURN. >> UNFORTUNATELY BUSY UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIM. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL BEF THAT . GOT TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR A GAP TO OPEN UP. TO THE NEXT LANE -- >> OR GET TO THE FRONT AND THEN DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. >> 29 CAR, KEVIN HARVICK. >> IT LAST BEEN AN THAT TEAM THIS WEEKEND. >> AND ADVENTURE CONTINUES AS HARVICK COMES DOWN WITH THE LEAD. >> FAILED POST QUALIFYING INSPECTION AND THERE'S A LOT TO THAT STORY, ALLEN. >> YEAH, SURE IS. VIOLATIONS FOUND ON KEVIN'S CAR SLOWING DOWN. >> LEFT REAR BLEW OUT TOOK THE FENDER WITH IT. >> SURE DID. >> CAUTION IS OUT. CAUTION IS OUT. >> CAUTION IS OUT. COMING BEHIND YOU. >> AND THE CAUTION SHOULD BE THROWN BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OFRACETRACK WITH BEEN RIPPED OFF THE 48 CAR. >> SO JIMMIE JOHNSON WILL HAVE TO -- >> WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO DO -- FILL IN THE HOLE HERE. BE PREPARED TO WORK ON >> WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TIRES COME APART. THERE YOU HAVE IT. WHEN THEY DO, THEY JUST RIP THE SIDE OF THE RACE CARS OFF. >> THAT'S A TIRE INSIDE A TIRE. AND THAT IS SUCHRACETRACKS LIKE. >> RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN AS WE GO ON BOARD WITH JOE NEMECHEK. >> SEE THE 48 CAR GOING BY AND NOW WE SEE THE SMOKE AND THAT WAS THE START OF THE TIRE COMING APART AND JIMMIE IS LUCKY HE FENCE. >> LUCKY HE DID IT ON PRETTY MUCH THE STRAIGHTAWAY. IF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN TURN ONE OR TWO I'M PRETTY SURE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FENCE BUT HE HAD THE CAR POINTED STRAIGHT WHEN IT BLEW. >> SO THE SECOND CAUTION OF THE DAY OUT AT TALLADEGA FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, ONE OF THE CONTENDERS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. >>> MARK MARTIN IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE CHASE DRIVERS TO WIN A CUP RACE. IF FACT, HAS WON TWO HIS MONTH E CAUTION-FREE RACE OF 1997 WHEN HE BEAT DALE EARNHARDT FOR THE WIN. NASCAR'S FASTEST 500-MILE RACE EVER. THE RACE WAS COMPLETED IN 2 1/2 HOURS. FOR MORE LOGON TO MARK MARTIN IS DONE FOR THE DAY. HE IS LISTED AS 41st ON THE FIELD RIGHT NOW. >> DALE EARNHARDT JR. DONE FOR THE DAY. 40th. MICHAEL WALTRIP, 42nd. MIKE SKIPPER, 43rd ALL OUT OF THE RACE. >> YOU KNOW, I TALKED ABOUT THE AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ON PIT ROAD. IT CAN ELIMINATE YOU. WATCH AS THE 45 CAR, KYLE PETTY, TOP OF YOUR SCREEN, MAKING A PIT STOP GETS BUMPED FROM BEHIND. OH, MY GOODNESS BY THE 18 CAR OF BOBBY LABONTE AND LUCKILY, HIS CREW GUYS WERE ABLE TO GET BEHIND THE WALL BEFORE HE MADE CONTACT WITH THAT WALL. >>> THE FIELD IS TAKING THE GREEN FLAG GOING INTO TURN ONE UNDER THIS CAUTION JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY PITTED, A VARIETY OF STRAENS. SOME WITH FOUR TIRES. KURT BUSCH IN THE 97 CAR LEADS THE RACE. HE DID NOT STTS FOR BUSCH, ONE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS. >> NEWMAN IN THE 12 CAR WANTS TO GET THAT LEAD, GET THOSE FIVE BONUS POINTS. 16, GREG BIFFLE. WHY WE SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TRYING TO GET THOSE FIVE BONUS POINTS. >> BEHIND MEARS IS THE 2 OF RUSTY WALLACE. HE'D LIKE TO GET UP THERE AND GET HIS POINTS. ON BOARD WITH RUSTY. >> LAST RIDE AT TALLADEGA. >> THIS PLACE HASN'T BEEN TOO KIND TO RUSTY. >> WHAT DID YOU SAY IN THE PRERACE SHOW, ONE TOP FIVE IN -- ALL THIS TIME. >> THAT WAS A FIFTH BACK IN 1988. >> MY GOODNESS. >> UPDATE ON CAR 2 FROM PIT STS CAUTION. THEY BASICALLY CUT AWAY ALL THAT WHEN THE TIRE WENT ON THE LEFT REAR. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO FUEL THE CAR. THE NECK WHERE THE FUEL CONTAINER IS COUPLED TO PUT FUEL TO THE CAR IS OKAY. TRAVELS DOW HAVE ANY SHARP METAL EDGES TO CUT ANOTHER LEFT REAR TIRE. >> IT'S NOT A VERY PRETTY RACE CAR, IS IT? >> YOU'RE NOT KIDDING. >> FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE THE MINIMUM SPEED THAT NASCAR HAS POSTED FOR TODAY'S RACE SO HE CA RACETRACK. >> 39 NOW, 40 LAPS COMPLETE THIS THE UAW FORD 500. OUR CRAFTSMAN PIT SUMMARY. AND THIS WILL JUGGLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY BASICALLY BASED ON YOUR PIT STRATEGY. >> LOOKS LIKE CHIEF FOR KEVIN HARVICK DECIDED TO CHANGE FOUR TIRES ON THAT STOP. BACK TO 15th. >> TOOK FOUR AND SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS DID NOT. PASSED HIM ON PIT ROAD. >> BACK TO YOUR STRATEGY NOW NEXT TIME LAHR VIC ONLY NEED TWO, PERHAPS. >> IF IT STAYS THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS ARE -- >> TONY STEWART BEHIND JAMIE McMURRAY TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT, MAMENT. >> YOU SAW THE REPLAY BETWEEN 18 AND 45, ANOTHER INCIDENT, TONY STEWART TOOK TWO TIRES BUT STALLED AS LEAVING HIS PIT MY END. MIKE WALLACE TRYING TO GET IN. HE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES AND 10 CAR OF RIGGS HAD TO HIT HIS BRAKES ALL SLIGHT BODY CONTACT. NOTHING MAJOR BUT WE HAD SOME MORE INCIDENTS ON PIT ROAD. >> DID SOMEBODY SAY PIT RO PLAC? >> BEN. >> SLIGHT CONTACT HERE ALSO, IF YOU WRECK THESE FENDERS IN THE PITS, IT WILL HURT YOUR PERFORMANCE OUT ON THE RACETRACK BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THROUGH THE AIR. >> THAT'S RIGHT. DAMAGE AND TEN MILES PER HOUR. PER HOUR. >> ONE OF HIS CARDS IN THE COUNTDOWN. REMEMBER THAT? DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE DENT CARD SHOW UP IN YOUR HAND. NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE CINGULAR CHALLENGE, WHICH WIN A RESTRICTOR PLATE RACE FIRST? I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON TODAY. >> NOPE. >> VOTE BY TEXTING THE WORD RACE TO 191 ON YOUR CINGULAR CHANCE $1,000,031. >> HUNG OUT TO DRY AS THEY SAY. >> HE IS HUNG OUT TO DRY. THERE'S NO ONE TO HELP POOR OLD RUSTY. BACK HE GOES. NOW, SOMEONE FELTBACKWARDS. >> RUSTY WAS FOURTH PLACE THAT LAST LAP. AND LOST ABOUT 20 SPOTS JUST BECAUSE HE GOT FORCED OUT OF LINE. AND HE'S TRYING TO REGROUP AND START TO WORK HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT BUT RUSTY LIKE SOMETH. RUSTY, HIS FINAL SHOT AT PICKING UP THAT POINTS -- HIMSELF AND OWNER ROGER PENN. >> WALLACE, THERE YOU GO. BROTHERS. >> YOU SAW RUSTY WITH THE HAND GESTURE TELLING MIKE TO COME ON. >> JEFF BURTON, 31 CAR, I THINK I'LL TRY TO FOLLOW JEFF, GO DOWN THE MIDDLE. >> MIKE IS GOING TO FOLLOW RUSTY. JEFF WILL FOLLOW MIKE. >> HARVICK IS GOING TO FOLLOW ON THE INSIDE. >> HARVICK IS GETTING PAST RIGHT NOW. BY THE LOOKS OF IT HE'S DROPPING BACK, AS WELL. >> HOW ABOUT JEFF BURTON, DAVE? >> PRETTY GOOD RACE CAR. CAR FO RUSTY TO FOLLOW. AFTER THE MORNING PRACTICE YESTERDAY THEY DID SOME CHANGES ON THE FRONT END. IT NEVER TIGHTENED UP. NEVER HAD THAT PUSHY FEELING TO IT. THE ENTIRE FINAL PRACTICE SESSION, SO VERY PLEASED WITH HIS CAR. I THINK YOU'LL SEE IT UP FRONT A LONG TIME TODAY.LL RIGHT. UP TOWARDS THE FRONT YOU'VE GOT 25 OF BRIAN VICKERS AND JEFF GORDON. HE LOST A LOT OF POSITIONS. PIT LANE THAT LAST PIT STOP SO THEY MUST HAVE MADE CHANGESS GO SOME SPOTS. >> JEFF GORDON. >> OH, THOSE CARS ARE FLOATING AROUND. >> BIFFLE IN THAT 16 CAR, LOOKS LIKE HE'S LOSING HAT'S A TOUGH OUT OF TURN 4. THE CAR IS REALLY FLOATING AND THEY JUST SLIDE UP OUT OF THE CORNER. >> STERLING MARLIN IN THE CAR. >> RADIOED IN. REALLY, REALLY LOSE WHEN GUYS ARE TIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE OF ME. CARS ARE REALLY UP NEXT TO HIM. >> YOU CAN SEE THAT, BY THE VIDEO. THERE AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS PLACE ALL ABOUT THE GOING THE CARS RIGHT NOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE IT PUSHING YOU ON THE RACETRACK. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T. IT'S ACTUALLY LIFTING YOU OUT OF THE RACETRACK. CARS GOING BY. FINALLY HERE COMES THE 48 CAR OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. JEREMY MAYFIELD IN THE 19 AND SCOTT RIGGS IN THE 10. HAS HE SAID ANYTHING ON THE RADIO? >> YEAH, B.P., THERE IS A LOT OF RADIO TRAFFIC. IT'S ABOUT NONSTOP. FACT THAT ALL FIVE ROUSH RACING CARS IN THE CHASE AND ONLY ONE OF HENDRICK'S IS BUT JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS THOSE FOUR OTHER TEAMMATES ON THE TRACK WORKING TO TRY AND HELP HIM MAKE THE MOST OUT OF TODAY. >> THERE'S GUN A LOT OF TALK - >> YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET BACK UP THERE? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? >> GET IN THERE. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HANGING ON TO THOSE FOUR CARS. I NEED SOME HELP. >> GUY, IF YOU CAN GET BACK THERE TO HELP, GREAT. BUT, KNOW THE BIG KRACE. >> PACE CAR IS OFF. JIMMIE IS HAVING A HARD TIME BEFORE AND NEVER MIND NOW BUT THEY COULD USE IT BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE GOT TO DO TOO. >> I'LL LET YOU KNOW. >> JUST KEEP RACING WHERE YOU'RE RACING. >> HERE WE GO. THAT WAS THE VOICE OF JEFF GORDON TAGGED ON TO THE END THERE. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS TALKING -- JEFF TRIED TO DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IN THE RACE BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE BIG PICTURE FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD BACK THERE, IS THIS STRATEGY ON HIS PART? >> I BET IT'S STRATEGY ON HIS PART. >> DAVE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? >> IT'S STRATEGY ON THEIR PART. ACTUALLY ON SOMETHING EARLIER THEY HAD A TIRE RUB WITH THE CAR BUT IT WENT AWAY SO NOW JEREMY LIKE SO MANY OTHER GUYS RUNNING IN BACK RIGHT NOW BIDING HIS TIME. >> I TELL YOU, BETTER GET UP THERE ON THE BACK BUMPER OF THOSE GUYS BECAUSE IF HE LEADS THEM HE'LL BE LAPPED QUICKLY. >> 48 LAPS.A. >> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES FROM TALLADEGA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUDWEISER, THE OFFICIAL BEER OF NASCAR. GRAB A COLD ONE, THE RACE IS PA NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES. BY BALLPARK FRANKS, BE BIG, BE MEATY, BE FRANK AND BY SUNOCO, THE OFFICIAL FUEL OF NASCAR. >> HAVEN'T MISSED A THING. 36 CARS ON THE LEAD 31 CARS SEP9 SECONDS. JAMIE McMURRAY BACK TO THE FRONT. TONY STEWART RIGHT BEHIND HIM AND A BUNCH OF COMPANY COMING. IN KANSAS NEXT SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON NBC AT 1:30 EASTERN TIME. THAT'S SATURDAY NIGHT RACE OCTOBER 15th. AND ON TO THE SHORT TRACK AT MARTINSVILLE AND LIGHTNING QUICK ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY. ALL ON NBC AND ALL OUR COVERAGE BEGINS WITH THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN" AND OUR WENDY A RACING. >> FOR A SECOND AS LOW AS HE DROPPED DOWN BUT HE'S DONE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES. >> YEAH. >> WHAT'S HE DOING THERE? THE 20. WATER TEMPERATURE IS RUNNING VERY HOT, IN FACT, TOLD HIM IF HE WANT TO PULL OUT TO GET FRESH, GO FOR IT. ALL THE GUYS ARE UP ON THE WALL IN CASE HE GETS TOO HOT. HAS TO COME IN. TOOK A GOOD SHOT OF THEPRETTY C. >> CLEAN. I MEAN, HE'S OUT FRONT RIGHT NOW. DRIVING DOWN ON THAT ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY, BUT I MEAN -- >> IT WORKED BECAUSE LAST TIME HE LED THAT LAP, MATT. >> THE BIG THING HE WAS RUNNING D WHEN THE 42 OF McMURRAY MOVED TO THE HIGH SIDE THAT GAVE SMOKE THAT FRESH AIR HE NEEDED. >> OKAY. >> MARTY, WHAT ABOUT McMURRAY? >> MOVED TO THE HIGH SIDE ON PURPOSE. HE SAID HIS CAR WAS TOO TIGHT TRYING TO RUN THE BOTTOM AND SAW TONY TRY TO PEEK OUT AND GET AIR TRYING TO HELP TONY OUT, YO-YO JAMIE DOES. 17 GET TO HIS BUMPER. WHEN THE 17 GETS CLOSE HE GETS A HUGE PUSH AND GOES WAY OUT FRONT. >> TONY DO THAT AGAIN. >> YEAH. >> GOT ON IN THAT 42 CAR. >> WORKED HERE BUT WORK A COUPLE LAPS AGO. >> PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GET A GAP LIKE THIS IN BETWEEN YOU AND THE GUYS BEHIND YOU THEY'RE GOING TO RUN AND THEY'LL PASS YOU. >> THIS IS A RACE WHERE YOU CAN GET TOO GOOD OF A LEAD. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. >> BRIANE 25. NEXT TO McMURRAY. MORE ON THE HOME DEPOT RIDE NOW. >> DROVE BY THE FRONTSTRETCH HE SOLD ZIPPY, IT'S STILL 260 AND NOT IN A HURRY COMING DOWN ON THEIR NEXT STOP THEY WILL PULL SOME TAPE O GET MORE AIR CLOSE CONTACT THERE BETWEEN THE TWO CARS THERE, THE 25 AND 42 BUT THEY'LL TRY TO PULL MORE TAPE OFF TO GET MORE FRESH AIR IN TO COOL THE ENGINE. >> THE PROBLEM IS AS THEY TAKE THE TAPE OFF THEY SLOW THE CAR DOWN A LITTLE BIT. IS JUST GETTING THERE TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S BEING UNSAFE AS FAR AS THE ENGINE GOES. RUN IT AT 260. HIGHER THAN THAT YOU'RE IN TROUBLE. AS LONG AS HE'S OUT FRONT, HE'S OKAY. HE STARTS GETTING PEOPLE IN FRONT OF HIM THAT TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO GO WAY UP. >> ANOTHER HOT CAR WOULD BE THE 16 OF GREG BIFFLE, DAVE. >> WE DON'T MEAN HOT LIKE FAST RIGHT NOW. BUT HE SAID TELL MY TEAMMATE KURT BUSCH I'M BREATHING THE NOSE OUT TRY TO GET FRESH AIR IN THE CAR. I'M NOT TRYING TO PASS YOU. KEE TO BLOCK HIM AND THE AIR HE WANTS TO GET ON THE NOSE AND KEEPS HIM FROM -- GETS HIS NOSE OUT SO HE CAN GET THE CAR COOLED DOWN. >> I TELL YOU WHAT, THEY HAVEN'T -- 10, 15, 20-LAP SPUR FAR HOW MANY LAPS -- 55 BUT WE'RE RUNNING IN THESE 15, 20-LAP SEGMENTS AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING A CHANCE TO DO IT. >> IT'S HOTTER HERE THAN IT NORMALLY IS FOR MID-80s TODAY. >> WELL, WE GOT OUR LEAD PACK OF 36 CARS AND THREE WIDE AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. >>> TROUBLE THERE AT TALLADEGA. CAUTION IS OUT. >> 0. RAN IN THE BACK OR JUST LOST IT OFF TURN 2. ALL OF A SUDDEN AROUND HE GOES. MAYBE THE LIFT TIRE BLEW ON HIS CAR. >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK. THIS HAPPENED JUST A MOMENT AGO. >> NOW, HE JUST -- YEP, LEFT REAR BLEW. >> GOOD CALL, BENNY. >> AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE -- THAT'S WHY JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS SD IN THE STRAIGHTA. >> A FEW MORE FORTUNATE GUYS OUT THERE. >> JEFF GREEN, 43 CAR NOT SO FORTUNATE. MARK TRUEX LOOKS LIKE HE HAS >> GENTLEMEN, HE DOES. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD WAY DOWN THERE. COMES BACK ONTO THE RACETRACK. HE CLEARED IT. >> THINK THE 11 CAR, J.J. YELEY FEDEX CAR ALSO INVOLVED. >> ON BOARD WITH RICKY RUDD. AH RICKY. THERE YOU SEE THE SMOKE. RICKY GETS OUT ON THE THROTTLE. >> GOOD SHOT. KEEP COMING, YELLOW IS OUT. >> ON BOARD WITH DALE JARRETT, U.P.S. FORD. >> SEE D.J., WHAT HE SEES. OH, MAN, HE LUCKILY THEY PAVED THIS A FEW YEARS AGO. THAT USED TO BE GRASS HE WAS ON BACK THERE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS. >> AND THERE IT'S OKAY TO GO BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. WHICH IS AN OUTOF BOWNES SEE YE HE RUNS IN THE BACK OF THE 0 CAR. SEE KVAPIL IN THE 77 MAKING SKKT WITH THE OUTSIDE RETAINING WALL AND RENNA RENNA IN THE GREEN CAR WAS NOT. HARVICK, SOMETHING WRONG WITH HARVICK? >> WALLY SAID HE HAD BEEN DROPPING BACK SO EITHER GOING BACK FOR A REASON OR THAT HE HAD SOME PROBLEMS BUT IT WORKED OUT FOR HIM THERE. >> YEAH,. >> SAME FOR JEREMY MAYFIELD. AND IF THEY COME TO PIT ROAD WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH TONY STEWART'S GRILL. >> AND THEY COME TO PIT ROAD BECAUSE THIS GAS TANK THEY HAVE IN THESE CARS ONLYGALLONS. YOU HAVE TO STOP EVERY CHANCE YOU CAN TO PUT FUEL IN IT. >> A PARADE ON PIT ROAD, MARTY, COMING FOR YOU. >> MATT KENSETH RAN OUT FRONT. BECAUSE OF OTHER PROBLEMS THEY'RE GOING TO CLEAN THE GRILL AND MAKE NO CHASSIS CHANGES TO THE CAR. FOUR TIRES FOR THE 17 TEAM AND A CLEAN WINDSHIELD. >> LUGS ON THE RIGHT REAR. THEY ARE MAKE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE AND TAKE THEIR TIME TO GET THE TAPE OFF THE FRONT NICE AND NEAT NOT TO RUIN THE RHYS OF THE TAPE. 16 CAR OF GREG BIFFLE GOING TO MAKE A LITTLE WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. CAR IS A LITTLE LOOSE. THEY DID NOT REMOVE ANY TAPE ON THE FRONT. JUST CLEANED THE GRILL. >> CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER JIMMIE JOHNSON JUST RIGHT SIDE TIRES AND BACK OUT ON THE TRACK. THAT'S GOING TO BE INAR PERFORM THE DRAFT UP FRONT WITH NO LEFT REAR FENDER. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WILL HE BE VERY GOOD. >> GAIN 13 SPOTS ON PIT ROAD. MIGHT BE GIVING THEM BACK IN A HURRY. LOOK AT THAT SHOT, BENNY. >> BIRMINGHAM, BECOME BOBBY HAMILTON. TROUBLE. IT GOES AROUND TO THE LEFT SIDE. THIS DOESN'T TAKE LONG. >> THOSE GUYS WORKING HARD ON PIT ROAD AT TALLADEGA. AT THE TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY IN ALABAMA. ELLIOTT SADLER AND DALE JARRETT TOOK THEM TO THE GREEN FLAG. >> BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG. LAP 20, THE 38 CAR POLE SITTER GETS A BUNCH FROM BEHIND BY THE 48 AROUND HE GOES. MARK MARTIN, MICHAEL WALTRIP. MIKE SKINNER. >> THOSE FOUR CARS INCLUDING MARTIN CONTENDER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OUT OF THE RACE. WILD RIDE FOR MICHAEL WALTRIP. EVERYBODY WAS OKAY. THERE'S MARK OUT OF THE RACE, DONE FOR THE DAY. >> LAP 32, JIMMIE JOHNSON TAKING THE LEFT REAR FENDER WITH IT. >> THAT BROUGHT OUT THEOTHER DR CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> WE SEE KYLE PETTY GETS BUMPED BEHIND COMING ON TO PIT ROAD BY THE 18 CAR IN THE INSIDE WALL. >> LAP 57, MIKE BLISS BLOWS A LEFT REAR. IT'S JEFF GREEN, J.J. YELEY, MARTIN TRUEX GOT A PIECE OF IT THEN WE'RE GOING BACK TO GREEN. BRIAN VICKERS LEADS. TONY STEWART HAD THE HOOD UP ON PIT ROAD. LOOKS LIKE HE WAS PUTTING WATER INTO THE CAR AND APPARENTLY RESTARTED IN 31st, MATT. >> B.P., HE HIT PIT ROAD AGAIN. PUT WATER IN IT BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURES WASN'T COMING DOWN AND TOOK A LOOK TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T ANY BUMP DRAFTING DAMAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE THE AIRFLOW FLEW THE GRILL INTO THE RID YATER. SO FAR HE'S IN THE BACK, WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE. >> WE SEE JIMMIE JOHNSON SITTING THERE IN THIRD SPOT WITH NO LEFT REAR FENDER, B.P. SO SEE HOW LONG HE CAN STAY THERE. HIS CAR NOT TOO AERODYNAMICALLY SOUND. >> I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE. WHEN SOMEBODY COMES UP BEHIND A CAR LIKE THAT, THEY DON'T WANT TO DRAFT A CAR LIKE THAT. >> NO FRIENDS RIGHT NOW. JOHNSON LOOKING UNDER THE 97. BUSCH. >> AND DECIDED HE WOULD TAKE THE LEAD BUT WENT WITH THE 17 CAR. LEFT HIM OUT TO DRY. >> YOU SEE GORDON UP BEHIND THE 48 BUT LIKE I SAID I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THAT CAR WOULD HANDLE WELL IN THE CORNERS. RIGHT UP BEHIND. >> HENDRICK TEAMMATES, 48 OF O TWO TIRES, 5 OF KYLE BUSCH. >> AND FINALLY MATT KENSETH, DeWALT CAR HAS SOMEONE TO DRAFT WITH, RUSTY WALLACE. LIKE A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY. >> JEFF GORDON NEEDS TO GET BY THAT CAR AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND MOVE ON. >> MARTIN, DID MATT SAY ANYTHING ON THE RADIO? >> YEAH, B.P., MADE THAT MOVE INTENTIONALLY EARLY ON AND SAID MY CAR DOESN'T PUSH AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD MEANING IT DOESN'T PUSH OTHER CARS. I'LL TRY TO TAKE THE LEAD. KURT WENT OUT FRONT, BETTER THAN IT WILL PUSHING. WHEN HE WENT NO ONE WENT WITH HIM. HE'LL HAVE TO FALL BACK AND WORK HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT. >> BUSCH STEPPING OUT OF LINE GOING LOW. >> CASEY MEARS. >> HERE COMES YOU KNOW WHO, 42, JAMIE McMURRAY. >> 41 AND 42 ARE TEAMMATES. MEARS IN THE 41, 42 OF McMURRAY. MARTY, ON McMURRAY. >> THAT CAR WAS SO FAST TODAY, BIGGEST PROBLEM IT'S BEEN TIGHT FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON WHICH MEANS IT DOESN'T WANT TO TURN WHEN HE HAS TO CORNER. ON THE LAST PIT STOP FOUR TIRES WENT UP ON THE TRACK, PUT A POUND IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER. CLEARLY THEY H RYAN NEWMAN A GO. NO CHANGES ON THE CAR THE LAST STOP EXCEPT FOR THE FOUR TIRES AND EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE TAPE TAKEN OFF THE LOWER ON THE FRONT. MATT? >> THE 41 OF MEARS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE 97. NOW YOU SEE THE 25 OFHIM. NOW HE SAYS THE CAR IS RUNNING VERY WELL. NO CHANGES LAST TIME. TRACK, THOUGH, IS GETTING A LITTLE SLICK. TEMPS ARE RUNNING HIGH SO WE CAN TURN THE FANS ON, GUYS. >> FANS PULL THE AIR THROUGH THE GRILL INTO THE RADIATOR. SEE 17 TRYING TO COME BACK TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE 2. >> LET'S PAY OFF OUR CINGULAR POLL HERE BEFORE ANYTHING NASTY MIGHT HAPPEN. WHICH DRIVER WILL WIN A RESTRICTOR PLATE RACE FIRST? OH, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DAYTONA 500. THEY THINK JOHNSON IS GOING TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO WIN TODAY, THOUGH. >> EIGHTH RIGHT NOW. >> AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON, B JIMMIE JOHNSON AND KYLE HAVE GOT THEIR SHOCKS TAKEN FROM THEM IN POST-RACE INSPECTION LAST WEEK. A VERY HOT TOPIC IN THE GARAGE THIS WEEKEND. IT DOES NOT HAVE A BEARING ON THIS RACE, BECAUSE NASCAR CONTROLS THE SHOTS HERE BUT WE EXPECT TO SEE A NEW RULE >> OFF THE FIELD. >> RIGGS. >> OH. RIGGS. >> MAN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CARS ON THERE. >> I THINK I SAID EARLIER ON THAT THE FANS LOVED IT BUT 43 DRIVERS ARE NOT TOO HAPPY. >> WHEN IT CAME DOWN ON RIGGS' CAR WHICH IS A GREAT SIGN. OKAY. >> JEFF BURTON IN THE 31 CAR. >> RIGGS, 48 HAS MORE DAMAGE.SC. THAT-A-BOY, SCOTTY FROM NORTH CAROLINA. >> HE'S OKAY. >> CLIMBING OUT. >> THE DRIVERS DON'T LIKE THE RACING BUT THEY SURE DO LIKE THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN >> CARS HAVE COME SUCH A LONG WAY. ESPECIALLY WITH THE HEAD/NECK RESTRAINT, THE H.A.N.S. DEVICE THAT I TRIED OUT PERSONALLY. >> CASEY MEA STARTED. JIMMIE COMING BACK TO PIT ROAD. >> WELL, LET'S SEE. SEE THE 41 CAR, LOOKED LIKE HE'S GOING TO GET BUNCHED FROM BEHIND BY THE 12. >> RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 12. >> RIGGS HARD INTO THE WALL. GETS WORSE. >> YES. >> THERE YOU SEE THE 41 CAR, THE 12 LINES UP. DRAFTING THING. HE WAS NOT LINED UP STRAIGHT WHEN HE HIT THE 41 CAR. THE 41 CAR WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT TO HIS LEFT. YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM A STRAIGHT SHOT AND THIS WAS COMING THROUGH THE TRIAL BUT WHICH IS ANOTHER PROBLEM. >> THE 16 NEXTEL CUP POINT CONTENDER INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. >> AS WAS RUSTY WALLACE IN THE 2. ANOTHER LOOK. SEE, WATCH. SEE HOW THE CARS ARE TURNING. YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T BUMP DRAFT SOMEBODY WHEN THE CAR IS >> ONCE MORE. >> THERE'S BIFFLE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT THEN HE COMES DOWN. OFF THE WALL. >> 31 I THINK, HE KIND OF GOT SANDWICHED. >> HAD A HECK OF A VIEW. >> LET'S SEE. >> THERE IT IS. >> RIGHT BEHIND MIKE WALLACE. >> BAD. STAY OUT. >> EASY, BACK IT DOWN. >> WOW. >> NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE OUT OF YOUR WINDSHIELD. >> OH, MY GOSH! >> I'M OKAY. >> ON BOARD RUSTY WALLACE. >> IN FRONT >> THAT'S ANOTHER AREA OF THE TRACK THAT WAS REPAVED IN RECENT YEARS. >> BROTHER ALMOST GOT HIM. >> TO THE OUTSIDE. >> NO, HE'S GOT DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. >> I THINK BIFFLE GOT HIM. SEE RIGHT THERE. >> YEA THE APRON HERE AND THE GRASS, YES. >> BUT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE LIKE I SAID. USED TO BE GRASS DOWN THERE. >> MARK MARTIN WENT THROUGH A FENCE DOWN THERE ONE YEAR. DO YOU REMEMBER? >> I DO. >> FOURTH CAUTION PERIOD OF THE DAY. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT THAT ON THE ROAD BACK. >> LET'S GET SOME UPDATES FROM PIT ROAD. MARTY? >> ONE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS, GREG BIFFLE BACK IN THE GARAGE AREA. DAMAGE IS ACTUALLY VERY REPAIRABLE. LITTLE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT ON BIFFLE. HE'S ASKED FOR A MOMENT TO COOL DOWN. ALSO LEFT REAR DAMAGE FOR GREG BIFFLE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS DAMAGE. A WORD WITH HIM IN JUST A MOMENT. >> SO THESE GUYS GO BACK TO THE GARAGE TO WORK AS HARD AS THEY CAN TO GET BIFFLE BACK OUT ON THE TRACK. THAT'S THE 2 OF RUSTY WALLACE. ANOTHER CONTENDERSER IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL RACE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> SOME DAY FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. ACCIDENT. US THROUGH THE >> WATCH BACK THERE, GUYS. FIRST ACCIDENT, I GOT BUMP DRAFTED FROM BEHIND. GOT MY HAND UP TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. GOT ON THE BRAKES TRYING TO SLOW DOWN INTO TURN ONE AND 38 GOT TURNED AROUND. I DON'T THINK I GOT INTO HIM. IF I DID I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU GOT SOMEONE TUCKED UNDER YOU PUSHING. HAND WAS UP. I WAS ON THE BRAKES. >> TOUGH PLACE FOR YOU. >> IT CERTAINLY HAS. THIS ONE, I MEAN, IT'S SO EASY TO SIT ON YOUR COUCH AND POINT FINGERS AND SAY SO AND SO DID SOMETHING WRONG. HERE AT THIS SPEED AND THE NEAR-MISSES AND WHAT IS GOING ON, NOT WORTH FORMING AN OPINION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT ALL YOU CAN SAY IS IT'S TALLADEGA. >> HIS TEAM IS LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE TRYING TO GET HIS CAR BACK OUT TO SEE IF HE CAN EARN WHATEVER POINTS HE CAN. >> BILLECT HIS SHOUT THOUGHTS. YOUR PERSPECTIVE. >> RYAN NEWMAN SPUN THE 41 OUT. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S JUST WHAT EVERYBODY PAYS THE MONEY TO COME SEE RIGHT HERE. >> DAMAGE DOES LOOK VERY REPAIRABLE, THOUGH. >> YEAH, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE IN THE BACK. TRY TO GET AS MANY POINTS AS WE CAN AND HOPEFULLY NOT MORE WRECKS AND TAKE MORE PEOPLE OUT. >> DOUG RICH EARTH HAS CALLED FOR SEVERAL LARGE PIECES OF SHEET METAL TO PUT OVER THE HOLES. >> GREG BIFFLE OBVIOUSLY NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY RYAN NEWMAN WAS HANDLING ALL THIS. RYAN, OF COURSE, NOT PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME OF ALL THIS AND HERE WERE HIS COMMENTS ON THE RADIO FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. >> SORRY ABOUT THAT. I WAS HIT BUT HE WAS ALREADY SIDEWAYS. I WAS INTO HIM BEFORE I GOT TO IT. JUST AS W TRIAL HE STARTED YAWING OUT. I WAS ON HIM NOT PUSHING HIM AND TOOK HIM RIGHT AROUND. OBVIOUSLY I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT. >> SOMETIMES YOU GET GOING SO FAST AND LIKE YOU TALK ABOUT IT, THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU JUST -- >> YOU'RE EACH OTHER SO MUCH SO IN THE RACE. IF YOUR CAR GETS A LITTLE OUT OF SHAPE, LIKE YOU SAY YOU CRACK THE THROTTLE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY RIGHT BEHIND YOU. IT'S LIKE NONE OF THESE ARE INTENTIONAL BUT YOU'RE RACING SUCH TIGHT CORNERS THAT IT'S THE WRONG TIME. >> FROM A FLAGSTAND. >> AND IT'S HARD TO GIVE AN INCH ON THESE. >> ANOTHER MULTICAR WRECK HERE AT TALLADEGA. CAUTION IS OUT. >>> AS WE GET READY TO GO GREEN JEFF BURTON, WHAT HAPPENED FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? >> I THINK THE MERS. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF THEY DON'T CALM DOWN IT WON'T BE THE LAST ONE. EVERYONE IS DRIVING 20 FEET OVER THEIR HEAD AND DOING A LOT OF STUPID STUFF. THEY NEED TO -- EVERYBODY NEEDS TO CATCH THEIR BREATH. IF NOT IT WON'T BE THE LAST. >> WATCHING ON BOARD. SEEMS RACING HAS BEEN INTERNS FROM THE >> IT'S ALWAYS LIKE THAT WITH 20 TO GO. IT'S JUST IT STARTED AT THE GREEN FLAG AND YOU CANNOT -- EVERYBODY IS FIGHTING TO KEEP EVERYBODY -- NOBODY WANTS THE BOTTOM. YOU DON'T WANT THE MIDDLE OR THE TOP SO EVERYBODY IS SHOVING EACH OTHER TO KEEP IN THAT POSITION. IF YOU GET ON THE BOTTOM YOU'RE JUSTTHE BACK SO EVERYBODY WANTS THE MIDDLE OR THE TOP AND EVERYTHING IS JUST DRIVING -- PRETTY RIDICULOUS. THAT'S ALL. A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT BUT INTO PLACES YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO. IF IT DOESN'T CALM DOWN IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. >> GREEN FLAG BACK OUT. >> LAP 71 OF THE UAW-FORD 500. CRASH AND MIKE TO THE LEFT. I DON'T THINK HE WAS. I THINK HE WAS ABLE TO STOP BECAUSE LOOKING AT THE CAR NOW I DON'T SEE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO IT. >> IN THE SECOND SPOT, SCOTT RIGGS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE INFIELD >> SOME OF THE GUYS, THE DRIVERS IN THE GARAGE THIS MORNING WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY COULD FEEL THAT IT WAS A MORE THAN AVERAGE THE INTENSITY WAS ABOVE AVERAGE IN THE GARAGE AREA THIS MORNING FOR TALLADE YOU COME TO >> YEAH, WHERE YOU SENSE IT IS THE FINAL PRACTICE, THE LAST COUPLE OF PRACTICES, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE DRIVING IN THE PACKS, IF YOU SEE CARS SWINGING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND A LOT MORE TAKE THAN GIVE, THEN THERE'S A FEELING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY ON SUNDAY AS FAR CONCE. >> CHECK IN WITH MARTY WHILE WE WATCH THE RACE ON THE TRACK. >> BELIEVE IT OR NOT SCOTT RIGGS HAD JUST STARTED TO MOVE TO THE FRONT AFTER WAITING IN THE BACK OF THE PACK TRYING TO MISS. SCOTT, WHAT HAPPENED? >> YEAH, WELL, I MEAN I DON'T SEEMED LIKE SOMEONE GOT INTO THE 41 AND I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT THREE CAR LENGTHS BY HIM ANTICIPATE ALL OF A SUDDEN GOT HUNG AND CLIPPED IN THE REAR BY SOMETHING, TURNED ME IN THE WALL. AFTER THAT WENT UPSIDE DOWN. I WAS STILL BRACING MYSELF AND FELT SOMEBODY HIT ME AGAIN. I JUST HATE IT. THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST CAR WE'VE EVER HAD. A LOT OF GUYS WOULDN'T WORK WITH US. I WAS TRYING TO BE CAREFUL, BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. LET THOSE GUYS BEAT EACH OTHER UP AND IT WAS WORKING OUR WAY UNTIL WE GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT. JUST HATE ALL THE GUYS WITH CHECKERS AND VALUE LEAN AND THIS IS PROBABLY OUR BLESS SHOT TO GET A SHOT AT A WIN OR HAVE A GREAT FINISH AND I THOUGHT WE HAD A PRETTY STRONG CAR AND SEEMED LIKE IT WAS STRONG. JU A LITTLE HELP COULD HAVE DONE IT. TELL EVERYBODY BACK HOME I'M OKAY. >> SCOTT RIGGS JUST FINE. >> THERE'S BEEN 20 GUYS THAT FEEL THAT WAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THEY HAVE A GOOD RACE CAR AND THEY GOT A SHOT. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS RACING S WITH A SHOT AT THIS RACE. >> CHECK THIS OUT. EVERYONE WAS -- TALLADEGA WAS THE WILD CARD AND SO FAR, IT HAS PROVEN TO BE. >> GOT HALF OF THEM. >> WILD DAY FOR SURE. RUSTY WALLACE -- ONE. >> ALL RIGHT. MORE THAN HALF OF THEM. >> OH, YEAH. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD, GREG BIFFLE, CARL EDWARDS, MATT KENSETH AND KURT BUSCH WITH RACE CARS IN ONE PIECE. >> FOR NOW. >> FOR NOW. >> GUESS WHO -- YOU KNOW WHO IS IN FRONT? >> JAMIE McMURRAY. THESE ARE THE CARS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE MOST RECENT CRASH. WALLACE HAS BEEN ON AND OFF OF PIT ROAD. LEADERS DID PIT UNDER THE CAUTION. BACK TO MARTY. >> CASEY MEARS QUITE UPSET. YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT? >> I JUST HAD A RUN GO AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF 25 AND I WAS JUS JUST GOT A LITTLE TAP RIGHT IN THE CENTER RIGHT WHEN I THINK IT WAS THE 12 CAR. I DIDN'T SEE THE REPLAY YET BUT SPUN US AROUND. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH IF YOU HIT SOMEBODY JUST AT THE WRONG SPOT IT'LL KNOCK YOU OUT. SO UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT JUSTA BEEN GOING. EVERY TIME WE HAVE A GOOD RUN GOING WE HAVE A PROBLEM BUT REAL PROUD OF EVERYBODY, ALL THE GUYS IN THE SHOP AND ERNIE ELLIOTT HAD A REAL GOOD CAR. UNFORTUNATE, WE HAVE A GOOD CAR. SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. >> THANKS. >> JOE NEMECHEK, HE BROKE OUT OF THE PACK. HAD SOME PROBLEMS. HE'S COMING TO PIT LANE. >> LOST AN ENGINE. >> RIGHT FRONT. >> LAPPING YET BUT COMING APART. >> BACK IT DOWN. >> TIRES FLAT. WAY DOWN. YOU'LL BE FINE. >> MOTOR PROBLEM HERE YESTERDAY. >> RIGHT SIDE, RIGHT SIDE. RIGHT SIDE. ROAD. JOE IS FULLY DOWN THE FIELD CHARGES OFF OF TURN TWO AND DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH. >> JAMIE McMURRAY IS HAVING BY FAR THE BEST RUN OF THE 2000 SEASON -- 2005 SEASON FOR HIM.2. >> GOING FIRST, THE 22nd, 1.8 SECONDS. TATAKE A LOOK AT OUR PIZZA HUT SPEED OF THE LINE. >> YEAH, AND THIS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE ON TOP SPEED HERE AT TALLADEGA. THE DRAFT IS SO MUCH AND YOU CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK AND JUST GET A GOOD RUN BY 200 YARDS AND BECOME THE FASTEST GUY ON THAT LAP. DOES GIVE YOU THE IDE. THEY GO VERY FAST AND IT'S HARD TO STOP. THERE'S NEMECHEK BACK OUT ON THE TRACK. >> HE'S GOING TO BE A LAP DOWN. STILL TRYING TO GET HIS CAR BACK UP. >> RUSTY WALLACE IS BACK ON. MATT? >> HASN'T BEEN THIS HIGH IN THE POINTS SINCE 2001, FEBRUARY, NOT GOING TO HAVE A GREAT DAY TODAY. >> THE 5 CAR. >> KYLE BUSCH IN THE WALL. CAUTION IS OUT. >> INSIDE. >> HE WILL MAKE IT TO PIT LANE. >> SEE THE REAR TIRE IS FLAT. W. >> OKAY. >> HE GOES RIGHT TO THE GARAGE OR ACTUALLY STOPS RIGHT AT THAT OPENING TO THE GARAGE. >> TELLING HIM TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE PIT AREA. MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK ON IT THERE. >> 5 CAR OF KYLE. TRAVIS KVAPIL RIGHT BEH >> THAT'S SOME NICE DRIVING RIGHT THERE. >> THAT WAS A FANTASTIC JOB OF DRIVING. >> MARTY? >> WELL, JEFF GORDON IS SURVEYING THE DAMAGE TO THE 24 CAR AND MANY DRIVERS HAVE COME FROM THE INFIELD CARE CENTER SEEMED IT SEEMED YEAH, IT DEFIN. I SAW A LOT OF BUMP DRAFTING IN THE TRIAL IN THE CORNERS AND GUYS JUST SLAMMING GUYS FOR NO REASON AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED CARS ARE SO EQUAL DRIVING GOOD HERE AT TALLADEGA YOU GOT A LOT OF GUYS THAT ARE JUST TO. I MEAN, YOU GOT TO BLOCK YOUR POSITION BECAUSE THAT IS PREVENTING GUYS FROM COMING UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE AND STUFF SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET THAT GOING ON YOU JUST GOT TO GET A LOT OF GUYS MIRROR DRIVING WHICH WE ALL DO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO IT. IT'S INCONTROL. THE BUMP DRAFT IS RIDICULOUS AND I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LEARN A LESSON FROM THINGS LIKE THIS BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE DO. >> IS THERE A SOLUTION TO THIS, JEFF? >> YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID I THINK IT'S IN THE DRIVERS' HANDS. WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT CA BUM DRIVING IN THE BACK BUMPER IN THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. ONE THING TO DO IT ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY. IT'S A WHOLE'NOTHER THING TO DO IT THROUGH THE CORNER OR TRIAL RUN. IT'S GETTING OUT OF CONTROL ON THE STRAIGHTAWAYS, SO I MEAN THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE MY FRONT BUMPER WAS PINNED TO A GUY IN FRONT OF ME AND THE GUY B REALLY WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE CAR ANYMORE AND THAT'S PRETTY SCARY FEEL, 190 SOME MILES AN HOUR. >> MATT? >> AND THE 97 OF KURT BUSCH MAKING HIS WAY TO HIS PIT STALL. THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT TODAY. NO CHANGES ON THIS STOP. DAVE? >> AND RYAN NEWMAN COMING IN RIGHT NOW. IT'S GOING TO BE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE FOR RYAN. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'RE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE 12 CAR. >> MARTY? >> JAMIE McMURRAY COMING OFF PIT ROAD TOP OF YOUR SCREEN. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE MAYBE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE FENDER. CHANGED FOUR ON THE CHANGES, D THE FRONT GRILL. >> AND A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES DOWN THERE. >> OH, BOY, I'LL TELL YOU. TWO TIRE, FOUR TIRES, NO TIRES. IT'S AMAZING. >> AND A LOT OF THAT WAS ALL FUEL ONLY FOR THOSE GUYS. MIKE WALLACEBALLPARK LUCKY DOG AWARD, FIRST CAR TO SCORE AN OFF THE LEAD LAP SO MIKE BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. >> WELL, UNDER CAUTION AT TALLADEGA. . WORKING OUR FIFTH CAUTION OF THE DAY AT TALLADEGA. HERE ARE THE LOOK AT THE STANDINGS IN THE BUSCH THIS WEE. MARTIN TRUEX JR. 26 AHEAD OF CLINT BOWYER. HIT THE TRACK NEXT SATURDAY AT KANSAS. >> SEE THAT ON NBC. >> TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU WATCH NASCAR, NBC AND SONY-HDTV PRESE THE HIGH DEFINITION. >> ALL RIGHT. PACE CAR OFF. WE ARE GOING BACK TO GREEN FLAG RACING. >> 200 MILES INTO THIS 500-MILE RACE. AND I THINK IT'S -- NEXT 300 MILES. >> YOU'RE CLEAR. >> KEVIN HARVICK THE RACE LEADER, GREEN BACK OUT AT TALLADEGA. >> A LOT OF SHUFFLING RIGHT NOW. CARS IN POSITION BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT PIT STRATEGIES. >> YOU KNOW, JEFF GORDON TALKED ABOUT WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO STOP THIS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE VERY TOP OF THE SHOW. WALKING THROUGH THE GARAGE AREA AND SEEING ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THESE CARS HAVE BEHIND THE FRONE BACK OF SOMEONE. TAKE THAT SUPPORT OUT. TAKE ALL THAT COW CATCHER ON A TRAIN, TAKE THAT OUT. >> I AGREE. BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GO UP AND SLAM SOMEBODY YOU'LL TAKE HALF THE WRECKS OUT OF THE EQUATION. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> MADE THE FRONT SO STRONG. >> DO THAT. IT'S ALMOST EXPECTED OF YOU TO GO UP AND BUMP DRAFT EACH OTHER AND THAT DOES HELP YOU. I MEAN, IT GIVES YOU SPEED BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE A MISTAKE. YOU CAN'T TOUCH ANYBODY UNLESS THAT STEERING WHEEL IS DEAD STRAIGHT IN YOUR HANOUT OF THE GARAGE. HE IS 61 LAPS DOWN. >> ELLIOTT SADLER IS GOING BACK OUT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO FINISH 11th IN NASCAR'S NEXTEL CUP POINTS FOR 2005. IT'S AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLAR BONUS AND GET ON STAGE AND GET . >> $400,000 BONUS FOR THAT 11th SPOT. THAT'S THE HIGHEST POSITION HE CAN GET. TOP TEN GUYS ALREADY LOCKED IN. >> START SEEING THESE GUYSE JAR TRUEX IN THE -- HE HAS A GOOD CAR. BIGGEST PROBLEM HE HAS IS THAT YELLOW STRIPE ON THE BUMPER. >> TELLS ALL THE OTHER COMPETITORS, NO, I DON'T WANT TO DRAFT WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A ROOKIE. >> ELIMINATED THE CLEVELAND INDIANS IN THE WILD CAR RACE AND THAT LOCKS IN THE BOSTON RED SOX. >> WE HATE TO SAY THAT. >> HE'S CRYING. LOOK AT HIM. >> I'M SORRY. >> RED SOX GET THE WILD CARD AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES ARE THE DIVISION CHAMPIONS. >> JUST LIKE A LOT OF THESE DRIVERS OUT HERE. AND NOW ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE WE ARE GETTING AF RAIN ON HERE IN TALLADEGA. >> THERE'S RAINDROPS ON OUR WINDOW. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. >> ONE CLOUD RIGHT HERE. >> THAT ONE IN THE SKY. >> OVER THIS RACETRACK. >> OVER THIS TRACK TODAY FOR SURE. >> WELL, HE'S MAYBE -- 9 >> TO THE BACK. >> HE WAS WAY BACK THERE BEFORE. >> BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID ON THEIR PIT STOP. I THINK HE GOT UP THERE. >> HE LED THEM TO THE GREEN. SL. MATT KENSETH, WHY DON'T WE CHECK WITH MATT YOCUM? >> ZIPPY, YOU'VE BEEN ON PIT ROAD SEVERAL TIME, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? >> NOT SURE. JUST WATER TEMPERATURE GETS UP TO THAT 255 RANGE. WE CAN GET IT DOWN BUTING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PUT MORE WATER IN IT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE AIR BUBBLES IN THE SYSTEM. PUT STOP LEAK IN THERE. EVERY CHANCE WE GET WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON IT SO WE CAN MAKE IT TO THE END THERE. >> I KNOW YOUR DRIVER IS CONCERNED. DOESN'T WANT TO COOK THE MOTOR. >> WE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT FINISHING. HAVE TO KEEP IT UP THERE. DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING IT HOME. >> RIGHT NOW RUNNING IN THE 25th POSITION. GUYS? >> THAT IS THE LAST CAR ON THE LEAD LAP ON BOARD WITH TONY STEWART. TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AS WE RUN HERE AT TALLADEGA. SEVEN RACES REMAIN AFTER A GOOD ON RUSTY WALLACE. STEWART, 57 BACK. JOHNSON, 61. KENSETH, OF THE. MAN, IS IT CLOSE. >> WALLACE HAS HAD TROUBLE. STEWART, JOHNSON, BIFFLE IS COMING BACK ON THE TRACK. MARK MARTIN'S A DAY ISEREMY MAY THERE AND KURT BUSCH APPARENTLY WHERE HE IS HAS GAINED A LOT OF POINTS. >> NUMBER 29 CAR KEVIN HARVICK CURRENTLY IN 11th AND SADLER, 64 POINTS BEHIND HIM. >> McMURRAY IS RACE. >> MOVED HIS WAY UP TO TENTH. >> THAT'S WHAT CARL TOLD ME THIS MORNING SOMEHOW SOME WAY HE TODAY. EVERYONE DID BUT HE WAS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT THAT. OUT HERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. TROUBLE WILL FIND YOU AT THIS RACETRACK. >> THERE'S GREG BIFFLE. FOR CARL EDWARDS, A DIFFERENT STORY, NOT A LOT OF EXPERIENTRA. HE CERTAINLY -- CONSIDERED HIS THREE TOUGHEST RACES ONCE THIS ONE IS OVER. LET'S CHECK WITH MARTY. >> WELL, MATT KENSETH OUT FRONT BY VIRTUE OF TAKING FUEL ON THAT LAST STOP. LOVES THE CAR. REMEMBER WE TOLD YO RUNS BETTER FRONT. HE SAID ABSOLUTELY I LOVE BEING OUT IN FRONT MUCH BETTER AND LIKE MY TEAMMATE NUMBER 97 RIGHT BEHIND ME. >> TWO TIRES ON THE LAST STOP FOR 97. THEIR GARAGE THIS MORNING I NOTICED ON THE NOSE IT WAS BEAT IN. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? OUR TEAMMATE THE 17 IN PRACTICE AND B.P., THEY HAVE THREE BARS AND BOILERPLATE WELDED TOGETHER TO STIFFEN UP THAT NOSE. >> 12 CAR, RYAN NEWMAN IN THAT OUTSIDE FILE STILL TRYING TO LEAD AT LEAST ONE LAP HERE TO GET THOSE FIVE BONUS THE OUTSID LINE. TEMPERATURES GOING BACK TO NORMLE. LAST PIT STOP NO CHANGE ON THE CHASSIS. 12 CAR AS GOOD AS IT'S BEEN ALL DAY. >> RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 12. HOW ABOUT THAT 97 FRONT >> WELL, THEY'RE GETTING -- ONE REASON THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE FRONT ENDS SO STRONG IF THEY BEND THEM YOU DESTROY THE AIRFLOW GOING OVER THE BUMPER, THE CAR STARTS OVERHEATING BUT IF THEY KNEW THAT THEY TOUCH SOMEONE THE CAR WOULD OVERHEAT I THINK THEY AND PUSH AS MUCH AS THEY DO. >> 100 TO GO HERE AT TALLADEGA. @ >>> UNDER CAUTION THE DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION KURT BUSCH ON PIT ROAD. A CUT RIGHT FRONT TIRE. A LOT OF COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. CREW MEMBERS HAVING TO KNOCK THAT OUT TO IMPROVE THE AERODYNAMICS BEFORE THEY PUT THAT TIRE BACK ON BUT ISSUES CONTINUE TODAY FOR THE CHASE DRIVERS. BUSCH AGAIN. >> KURT BUSCH, MARK MARTIN, JIMMIE JOHNSON, GREG BIFFLE, RUSTY WALLACE, TONY STEWART, ALL WITH PROBLEMS TODAY. STEWART THE ONLY ONE STILL RUNNING ON THE LEAD LAP. SEE WHERE BUSCH COMES OUT. HE WAS LEADING LAST TIME BY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. >> LOOKST TIRE SIMPLY WENT FLAT ON THE 97 CAR. >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK. >> THERE YOU SEE HIM OUT FRONT. >> THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. UNLESS THIS HAPPENS. >> THERE IT GOES. >> RIGHT AWAY THE CAR LOSES THE RIGHT FRONT AND IS ABLE TO MAKE IT ONTO PIT ROAD, THE FIRST TIME BY. SO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ALSO BLOWS OUT. SEE NASCAR HAS SENT OUT THE BLOWERS S RACETRACK BECAUSE MAYBE THERE IS SOME DEBRIS AROUND THERE THAT HAS PUNCTURED THE TIRE ON THE 97. >> THE FIELD HEADS FOR PIT ROAD. MARTY? >> WELL, BILL, EVERYTHING GOING WELL FOR THE 17 CAR OF MATT KENSETH SO FAR TOP OF YOUR SCREEN, CAR HANDLING EXCELLENTLY, ASKED FOR A FOUR TIRES AND NO CHANGES ON THE CHASSIS, DAVE. >> I BELIEVE RN NEWMAN WILL TRY THE TWO-TIRE CHANGE THIS TIME. NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS FOR HIM. AS WE REPORTED CAR RUNNING WELL. ONLY TWO FOR HIM. HE STALLS TRYING TO LEAVE PIT ROAD. GETS IT>> 20 OF STEWART PULLED WELL, 9.5 SECONDS. RIGHT SIDE TIRES FOR THE 2002 CHAMP. HIS ISSUES CONTINUE, THOUGH, BUT HE'S NOT HAVING AS BAD A DAY AS SOME OF THE CHASE CARS. RIGHT NOW 21st IN THE SCORING RUNDOWN. >> GOOD >> UNDER CAUTION HERE AT TALLADEGA. A VARIETY OF PIT STRATEGIES PLAYING OUT. CREW CAM AND THE TONY STEWART PIT. >>> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACING BROUGHT TO YOU BY STATE FARM, GREAT SERVICE, GREAT RATES. THAT'S WHY 40 MILLIO FARM. BY SONY, TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU WATCH RACING WITH SONY, THE WORLD'S GREATEST HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION. BY WRANGLER, MAKER OF WRANGLER JEANS COMPANY, A NEW GENERATION OF WRANGLER. BY YAUM MA ATVs, NOTHING TOUGHE CROCK POT CLASSICS. MORE OF WHAT YOU WANT. IS IT STILL WORKING THE SIXTH CAUTION OF THE DAY AT TALLADEGA. HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW THE COKE FAMILY OF DRIVERS ARE PERFORMING. >> BIG ONE RIGHT THERE,11th. KURT BUSCH JUST BROUGHT OUT THE CAUTION. THESE GUYS NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY. >> NO, THEY AREN'T. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP OUT EARLY. >> IN SPECTACULAR FASHION. COUPLE TIMES DOWN IN TURN ONE -- >> RICKY RUDD CAME IN EIGHTH. 17th DIFFERENT LEADER OF THE DAY. >> CASEY CAME RIGHT BEHIND HIM. >> HALFWAY. LET'S GET BACK. SECOND HALF. >> STERLING MARLIN SITS STERLING USED TO ALWAYS BE UP FRONT ON THESE RESTRICTOR PLATE RACES. >> HERE ARE THE DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THE CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. JIMMIE JOHNSON IS 28 LAPS DOWN RIGHT NOW. BEEN INVOLVED IN A COUPLE OF CRASHES. RIGHT NOW, FOUR LAPS DOWN. >> HE WAS IN SECOND PLACE WHEN WE STARTED THE DAY. >> RYAN NEWMAN, CURRENTLY LEADS THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AND RUNS IN THE TOP FIVE. MARK MARTIN, OUT OF THE RACE EARLY IN THAT MULTICAR CRASH. TONY TODAY, IS ON THE LEAD LAP RIGHT NOW RUNNING 11th LAST TIME BY. >> GREG BIFFLE, YOU SEE JIMMIE JOHNSON TRYING TO COME BACK ON THE RACETRACK. HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE 65 LAP CRASH. HE'S BACK ON THE TRACK CURRENTLY IN THE 29th POSITION. JEREMY MAYFIELD HAS LED A LAP. HE'S STILL ON THE RACETRACK. CARL EDWARDS HAS HAD A QUIET DAY. HAS RUN UP IN THE TOP TEN. MATT KENSETH HAS RUN AT THE FRONT BUSCH JUST BROUGHT OUT THE CAUTION AFTER CUTTING A TIRE. >> THESE LAST THREE RACES FOR KURT BUSCH HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. HE CRASHED UP IN LOUDON, LAST WEEK, SHORT PITTED. CAUTIO A FLAT TIRE. GOT CAUGHT SPEEDING. AND TODAY THE LEFT FRONT TIRE GOES FLAT. >> BUSCH STILL ON THE LEAD LAP. AND THE 25th POSITION, MORE MOR? >> B.P., THERE'S A LOT MORE. I SPIKE WITH JIMMY, HE SAID SOMETHING HAS BENT THE LOWER A FRAME. SOMETHING IS BENT ON THE CAR HOPING TO KEEP IT UP AT MINIMUM SPEED AND GET THE BEST THEY CAN OUT OF THIS BAD DAY. >> HOW ABOUT THAT? WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE A LOT OF CHANGES. UNLESS JUNIOR IS IN IT. ONLY CHANGE WHEN HE TAKES IT. >> YEAH. >> OUT IN FRONT. >> STERLING MARLIN. >> I THINK NEWMAN HAS BEEN TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY BACK UP THERE BUT HASN'T HAD ANY DRAFTING TO HELP ON THE BOTTOM SO HE MOVED UP TO THE TOP. >> MATT KENSETH ONETH WITH NO F NOW. ONE RIGHT HERE. >> 42 SQUEEZES DOWN UNDERNEATH KASEY KAHNE AND THE 9, NOW THE 42 IS DOWN ON THE BOTTOM. LIKES THAT RACE CAR, RIDES IT UP ON THE HIGH SIDE. >> BRIAN VICKERS IN THE 25. THERE'S THE 12, NEWMAN. THERE ARE 25 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. FROM FIRST TO 24th, 2.9 SECONDS. >> TAKE A BREAK. WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE FIELD AT TALLADEGA. >>> STILL UNDER GREEN HERE AT TALLADEGA. MATT KENSETH TRYING TO PULL HIS LINE TO THE FRONT. HERE'S THE TEAM TYLENOL SAFETY SOFT, FLAME RESISTANT BLADDER FILLED WITH FOAM TO REDUCE FUEL SLOSHING AND THE CHANCE OF AN EXPLOSION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THEY HAVE DONE THEIR JOB TODAY. >> YES, THEY HAVE. A JOB WELL DONE BY THE FUEL CELLS. >> GUYS CAN STOP TESTING THAT ANY TIME. WHOA. >> CAREFUL, CAREFUL. >> HAD TO GO THROUGH THE FIELD PRESENTED BY SPEEDPASS FROM EXXON AND MOBIL AND HERE AT TALLADEGA IT'S MORE LIKE AROUND THE FIELD. >> RYAN NEWMAN FINALLY LEADING LAPS AND GAINI THIS MORNING LUCK STARTED EARLY WHEN IN THE INSPECTION LINE ALEX FOUND A VERY SMALL CUT IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF THEIR CAR JUST DOING HIS JOB. HE POINTED IT OUT TO NASCAR OFFICIALS AND AGREED THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE TIRE BEFORE THE RACE. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN WHAT SMALL CUTS CAN RACETRACK. >> COMING IN TODAY MATT KENSETH WAS NINTH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP TRAILING BY 124. HE IS VERY AWARE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND HIM HAVING PROBLEMS OR AHEAD OF HIM IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AND MADE NO CHANGES ON THE LAST STOP. MATT LOVES THE KARLOFFS IT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S OUT HIS TEAMMATE CARM EDWARDS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB BOBBY IS SAYING, CARL, YOU'RE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB, BUDDY. WANTS TO WORK TO THE MIDDLE LANE. WHEN THEY'RE IN TRAFFIC WANTS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. >> BRIANMMIE JOHNSON CAR, TEAMMATE REBODIED AND REPAINTED IT AS 25. BEEN HAVING GOOD SUCCESS ON ONLY TAKING RIGHT SIDE TIRES. >> JARRETT, SECOND DROP BACK IN THE FIELD MOSTLY IN THE TROUBLE AVOIDANCE SAYING HE HAS A VERY THINKS HE CAN WIN. JUST NEEDS TO BE THERE AT THE FINISH. RICKY RUDD TOOK ONLY FUEL ON HIS LAST STOP TO GET HIMSELF TRACK POSITION. LED FOR AWHILE. HIS CREW CHIEF SAID IF THE DAY GETS HOT THE TRACK GETS SLICK THAT WILL PLAY TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. IT'S PRETTY WARM. THE SEVEN POSITION WON HERE TWICE, FINAL RACE WORKING WITH TONY GLOVER. SO MUCH SUCCESS ON THE PLAY TRACKS THROUGH THE YEARS, TWO TIRES ON THE LAST STOP. MEANWHILE, CHASE DRIVER TONY STEWART HAS WORKED HIS WAY BACK UP TO 8th. OVERCOME A LOT OF PROBLEMS TODA THE POINT. MARTY? >> THAT A BIT OF SMALL CONCERN FOR JAMIE McMURRAY'S TEAM. SAW SMOKE EARLIER WHEN HE CAME OFF TURN TWO. THEY THINK THEY HAVE A PLASTIC BAG OF SOME SORT STUCK UP UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR WHERE THE SMOKE IS JAMIE, VERY COMMITTED TO THE HIGH LINE DROPPED BACK EARLIER, GAVE UP ABOUT 15 POSITIONS SO HE COULD GET IN POSITION ON THE TOP LINE. CANNOT STAND THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK. >> GOOD RUNNING FOR KASEY KAHNE AND HIS FORD STAR AT TALLADEGA. ALL DAY LONG THE NOTES ON HIS O CHANGES. RUNS THIS THAT SECOND PAM. >> SCOTT WIMMER IS DOING A TERRIFIC JOB. REMEMBER HE FINISHED THIRD IN ONE OF HIS FIRST RESTRICTOR PLATE RACES AT DAYTONA. SAID WE HAD TWO CLOSE CALLS AND MISSED BOTH OF THEM. HAMMING.HE MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS EARLIER TODAY. >> RESTARTED 19th. NOW UP TO 12th. EARLIER HE SAID THE COCKPIT WAS FILLING UP WITH SMOKE. WASN'T SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. THAT'S GONE AWAY. THEN HE FELT LIKE HE HAD A RIGHT FRONT TIRE GOING DOWN. TURNS OUT HE HAD A SLOW LEAK IN MEANWHILE, JOE NEMECHEK FINISHED 13th, 31st AND 15th IN THE PLATE RACES THIS YEAR IS HAVING A SOLID RUN TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY BACK UP TO THE FRONT. >> MARTIN TRUEX JR. NEEDS STRATEGY AND A DECENT RACE CAR TO GET UP TO, HEY RUNNING UP FRS FUN OUT HERE. LONG PIT STOP LAST TIME, THOUGH, OVERHEATING. WANTED TO GET THE CAR COOLED DOWN. >> TRAVIS KVAPIL HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. FLAT SIDED THE RIGHT SIDE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WALL UNDER THE SECOND CAUTION. THE DONE A GOOD JOB OF GETTING HIM BACK UP TO THE FIELD HANDLING WELL. KEN SCHRADER FINISHED TOP TEN WHEN WE WERE HERE BACK IN MAY. THE SEAT FOR SCHRADER NOT DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB. SINCE THEN THE WATER HAS GOTTEN TOO HOT FSIDE. NOW WHICH CAR, JEFF GREEN, RIGHT FRONT DAMAGE, HOW ABOUT THIS. THEY GOT DAMAGE EARLIER. REPAIRED IT AND THE CAR HAS COME BACK UP THROUGH THE FIELD RUNNING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW, ALLEN. >> JUST A FEW LAPS AGO KEVIN HARVICK'S SPOTTER CALLED HIM ON THE RADIO AND SAID SOME PASSING YOU HAVE WRECK DAMAGE. ANYTHING WRONG? >> KEVIN SAID HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED TODAY? THESE GUYS DON'T REALIZE HOW MANY LAPS THERE ARE LEFT IN THIS THING. >> JEREMY MAYFIELD CREW WORKED ON THE LEFT FIELD DAMAGE. SEPARATED FROM THE OUTSIDE FENDER SO THEY HAD TO DO TAPING . THEY'VE HAD TO ADJUST THE CHASSIS TO REACT TO IT AND SAID HE HAD TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IS. >> MIKE WALLACE HAS BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BUDDY LAZIER 20,E LAST STOP. HE WAS TIGHT. >> SOLDIERED ON THROUGH A COUPLE OF CONTACT INCIDENTS ON THE RACETRACK. EARLIER WRECKS, HE IS HANGING ON THE LEAD HE'S IN 22nd. CAR STILL DRIVING WELL. >> ANOTHER GUY HAPPENING OUT AT THE BACK, 32 OF BOBBY HAMILTON JR. WITH THE 7 AND 97 OF BUSCH. >> ROBBY GORDON TRYING TO SOLDIEROBLEMS STARTED EARLY IN CAR. HE SAID ONE OF THE FENDER BRACES THAT HOLE UP THE WIFRNDZ SHIELD, RIVETS STARTED COMING OUT. THEY WERE GOING TO BOLT THEM BACK IN AND DECIDED NOT TO AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE RACE CAR. IT WILL NOT TURN ALL AFTERNOON LONG. NOW, NOTHING RECENT BY THAT RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. HE'S JUST TRYING TO HOLD ON LIKE SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS JUST TRY TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS DAY. HIS BROTHER, THE 5 RIGHT BEHIND HIM. >> AND HIS BROTHER IN THE LAPS . >> WHOA. >> JAMIE McMURRAY WAS -- >> YEAH. >> I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS GETTING PUSHED BY BLANEY OR WHAT BUT HE HAD THAT TAIL HANGING OUT. >> CAUTION FOR DEBRIS ON THE BACKSTRETCH. CAUTION IS OUT. >> YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THESE TIRES TODAY. THAT'S WHY. THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF DEBRIS. >> YOU GOT A LOT OF RACE CARS TAPED TOGETHER. AT THIS SPEED IT BLOWS THE TAPE OFF AND BLOWS THE BODY WORK OFF. >> 108 ARE COMPLETE. >> D.J. RAN OVER IT. >> THE LAST TIME BY, THREE OF THE CHASERS, RYAN NEWMAN, MATT KENSETH AND CARL EDWARDS RIGHT THERE RUNNING ONE, TWO AND THREE.EIGHTH. JEREMY MAYFIELD, 17th. KURT BUSCH, 25th, THE LAST CAR ON THE LEAD LAP. >> PIT ROAD IS CLOSED THIS TIME. >> CARS ON PIT ROAD. MARTY SNIDER. >> BILL, 17 TEAM HAS NOT MADE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE CAR SINCE THE FIRST STOP OF THE DAY. THEY WILL MAKE NONE ON THIS STOP. FOUR TIRE, MATT. >> TONY STEWART SAID THEY'LL GO LEFT SIDE TIRES ON THIS STOP. NO CHANGES. SAID THE WATER HAD LEVELED OUT AND -- >> 12 CAR WILL TAKE ON FOUR TIRES. SLIGHT CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. LITTLE TAPE ON THE CAR. LITTLE TIGHT. ALLEN? >> MIDDLE ON THE TRIPLE BLOCK, DALE JARRETT GOING TO TAKE ON FOUR TIRES RUNNING AT FIFTH AT THE TIME OF THE CAUTION. HAPPY WITH THE BALANCE OF HIS RACE CAR, WILL KEEP IT THAT WAY BY TAKING ON FOUR FRESH TIRES. >> THERE'S THE RACE YOU CAN SEEG PLAN OF PIT ROAD STRATEGY. >>> HERE'S OUR WRANGLER FIVE-STAR FINI AGO DALE EARNHARDT JR. TRYING TO HOLD OFF EVERYBODY FOR THE WIN. MULTICAR CRCRASH COMING OUT OF TURN TWO BUT THE RACE STAYED GREEN. JUNIOR TAKES THE CHECKERED FLAG. ELLIOTT SADLER GOES FOR THE WILD RIDE. IT WAS THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR ELLIOTT FLIPPED FIFTH WIN FOR DALE EARNHARDT JUNIOR. FOR MORE LOGON TO NASCAR.COM. >> STILL UNDER CAUTION. TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LITTLE DEBBIE LAP LEADERS. THAT'S FIVE BONUS POINTS.VE JAMIE McMURRAY, THE MOST LAPS LED TODAY. 26. LITTLE DEBBIE LAP LEADERS. >> AND McMURRAY IN THAT 42 CAR IS BACK IN FRONT ONCE AGAIN. >> WITH A TWO-TIRE STO >> TONY STEWART AND MATT KENSETH. JAMIE McMURRAY. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE JEFF BURTON OUT THERE AT TALLADEGA DRIVING THAT? >> ONE THING, HE'S NOT GOING TO BE DOING ANY BUMP DRAFTING ON THAT CAR, IS HE? BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE BUMPER. HE IS 15 LAPS BEHIND THE NEXT CAR HE WOULD HAVE TO CATCH AND THAT'S JIMMIE JOHNSON WHO IS STILL IN THE RACE. GRANTED 29 LAPS DOWN. >> ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. JAMIE McMURRAY. POPULAR PICK IN THE GARAGE THIS MORNING AND SO IS THAT 20 CARRT. MATT SAID THERE ARE PROBLEMS MAYBE HISTORY. WE'LL FIND OUT. BACK TO GREEN AT TALLADEGA. >> TAKES THESE CARS ABOUT AN ENTIRE LAP TO GET UP TO FULL SPEED. >> THE HOUSTON ASTROS HAVE CLINCHED THE NATIONAL CUBS, 6-4. SO THE RED SOX AND THE ASTROS. INTO THE MAJOR PLAYOFFS. TEN-RACE CHASE FOR THE N CHAMPIONSHIP. TALLADEGA. THOSE GUYS WOULD LOVE TO STAY LIKE THAT. >> TRY TO STAY SINGLE FILE AND YOU HOPE TO BRAKE AWAY FROM THE GUYS IN YOUR GOING TO GET GREEDY AND WANT TO LEAD OR RUN FOURTH OR RUN FIFTH AND POSITION IN FRONT OF THEM. >> AS SOON AS YOU PULL OUT OR ANOTHER CAR PULLS OUT IT'S LIKE A BIG PARACHUTE AND THOSE CARS BEHIND YOU WILL CATCH YOU IN A HURRY. >> MARTY SNIDER ON JAMIE McMURRAY UP FRONT WITH THE 42. LIKES TO BE MOSTLY FRONT TODAY. WHETHER TWO OR FOUR ON THAT STOP. JAMIE WANTED TO TAKE FOUR SO THEY COULD POSSIBLY TAKE TWO TIRES LATER IN THE RACE BY DONNIE WINGO SAID THET'S TAKE O. NOW THEY'RE OUT FRONT WHERE THEY'VE BEEN MOST OF THE DAY. >> THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA ARE HAPPY BECAUSE McMURRAY PACE 10 DOZEN FOR EVERY LAP HE LEADS. THIS YEAR 2005 HAS BEEN A VERY DISMAL YEAR BUTEING SOME BUCKS THIS YEAR. FOR THE SECOND POSITION. >> KENSETH DOWN ON THE BOTTOM. NEWMAN RIGHT BEHIND MATT KENSETH. YOU SAID THEY'RE GETTING PAID. WELL, OF COURSE, THEY ARE. >> LIKE YOU SAID THE REST OF THEM AS THESE CARS GO SIDE BY SIDE. RICKY RUDD GETS TONY A SHOT IN THE BACK BUMPER. >> SEE HOW MUCH THAT SHOT TONY STEWART, PAST THE GUYS HE WAS RACING. JUST LIKE HE GRABBED ANOTHER GEAR. THAT'S WHY THE BUMPHERE. >> JAMIE McMURRAY IS IN THE LAST PLACE YOU WANT TO BE, THE MIDDLE. >> GO DOWN LOW. STERLING MARLIN, IF MARLIN CAN GET UP THERE AND BUMP DRAFT HIM BEFORE THEY GET TO THE CORNER, HE'S TRYING. >>FRONT. SEE, JUST SHOOTS HIM RIGHT BACK OUT. >> THREE WIDE BEHIND STEWART. MATT? >> BILL, THIS PARTICULAR CAR SMOKE FROM THE 17. THIS PARTICULAR CAR FOR STEWART LOVES TO BERACES, LED 290 LAPS. HE FINALLY LAST THAT FRESH AIR HE WANTED EARLIER BUT, BOY, WHAT A RACE BEHIND HIM AS HE DECIDES WHICH WAY HE WANTS TO GO TO. NOW IT'S TO THE BOTTOM. >> CARL EDWARDS MADE THAT DIVE ON THEBACKSTRETCH. IT WAS LIKE PICKED UP A SPOT OR TWO. WHAT'S HE SAYING? >> TRYING TO MAKE UP A LITTLE BIT, B.P. FOR HIS PIT STOP. CAME IN, OVERSHOT HIS PITS THEN COULDN'T GET THE CAR UP ALL THE WAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE SO JACKOR BUMPS AND TOLD CARL FORGET ABOUT IT. HAS A TEAM HE WORKED WELL WITH IN THE 17 CAR, STICK WITH HIM. LET'S FINISH THIS RACE. >> STILL THREE WIDE. FIVEOVING THIS. HE'S OUT BY HIMSELF. AS LONG AS THESE GUYS RUN THREE WIDE THEY CAN'T CATCH HIM. >> HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. SINGLE FILE OR TWO BY TWO THEY CAN HAVE A RUN ON HIM AND HE COULD LOSE TEN SPOTS IN ONE LAP. SO HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET OUTFA. ALLEN? >> RICKY RUDD IN HIS 58th TALLADEGA RACE HERE, BILL, HE'S NEVER WON HERE. HIS CAR, HE SAID, JUST BEFORE THE LAST PIT STOP THE BEST IT'S BEEN ALL DAY TOOK FIRE TIRES, FEELING A LITTLE RACY. ABOUT TO LOSE A SPOT TO STERLING MARLIN. >> WE SAW THAT CAR JEFF BURTON OUT ON THE TRACK. IT'S BACK IN THE GARAGE NOW. >> I WOULD THINK SO. >> HERE AT TALLADEGA. >>> TONY STEWART THE RACE LEADER COMING AROUND TO COMPLETE LAP 121 OF 188 HERE IN TALLADEGA. C. 2.8 SECONDS FROM 1st TO 24th. STEWART, JAMIE McMURRAY, RYAN NEWMAN, STERLING MARLIN. >> EVERY TIME THAT 17 CAR THAT FRONT TIRE RUBS THE FENDER. A LOT OF SMOKE. >> BEEN A TOUGH DAY FOR SEVERAL DRIVERS HERE AT TALLADEGA. A BIG ONE, GOT A COUPLE OF THEM. NATURALLY WHEN YOU RACE HERE SOME GUYS LOVE IT AND SOME GUYS DO REACTIONS FROM GUYS THAT ARE, WELL, BASICALLY OUT OF THE PICTURE TODAY. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING. THE FANS ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. NO ONE ELSE CAN. THE DRIVERS CAN'T. THE OWNERS CAN'T. AND NASCAR IS NOT ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO, YOU KNOW, I DOUBT IF THE FANS CAN EITHER BUT THEY CAN SURE TRY. >> IT'S IN THE DRIVERS' HANDS. WE'RE THE OPENLY ONES THAT CAN STOP THIS. >> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. IF THEY DON'T CALM DOWN THAT EVERYONE IS DRIVING 20 FEITH OVER THEIR HEAD AND DOING A LOT OF STUPID STUFF AND THEY NEED TO -- EVERYBODY NEEDS TO CATCH THEIR BREATH. IF NOT IT WON'T BE THE LAST ONE. >> RULES PUT THE DRIVERS IN THIS SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO RUN AROUND HERE IN A HUGE PACK. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REACTIONS >> THE RESTRICTOR PLATE YOU SHOWED THE FANS IN THE PRERACE SHOW TODAY, BILL, IT PRODUCES THE HORSEPOWER. IT CUTS THE HORSEPOWER AND 800 TO AROUND 450 HORSEPOWER. SO NO ONE CAN GET AWAY FROM ANYBODY. YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE. IF YOU TOOK THAT RESTRICTOR PLATE OFF THEY WOULD RUN FASTER. MARK MARTIN SAID THE FANS ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE FANS RA CHANGE THE RULES OR THEY'LL QUIT BUYING TICKETS. I THINK THE FANS LOVE THIS KIND OF RACING. >> I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. THE FANS DO LIKE IT. IT'S EXCITING RACING BUT I LIKE WHAT JEFF GORDON SAID. IT'S IN THE DRIVERS' HANDS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRI YOU CAN AVOID TROUBLE IF YOU USE YOUR HEAD. A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAPPENED TODAY STARTED WAY TOO EARLY. NORMALLY THIS HAPPENS BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO YOU UNTIL YOU START RACING FOR POSITIONS AND GETS TOWARDS THE END OF THE RACE. THIS HAS BEEN SINCE THE GREEN FLAG DROPPED. >> YOU THINK GG TO HOW MUCH WORK THEY'VE DONE ON THE FRONT END TO STRENGTHEN THEM AS WELL? >> I THINK SO. >> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. HE -- B.P. BROUGHT UP THE POINT EARLIER, TAKE THOSE BUMPERS AWAY FRONT AND BACK THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE POUNDING ON EACH OTHER. THE WAY THIS RACING IS SET UP. YOU HAVE TO. YOU HAVE TO BE -- YOU HAVE TO MIRROR DRIVE AND BEAT THE GUY'S BUMPER IN FRONT OF YOU TO GET ANYWHERE AND IT GETS UGLY. MARTY? >> WELL, YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT REINFORCING THE FRONT BUMPERS. U MATT KENSETH. A BIG BAR HERE IN THE FRONT. THEY PUT AN EXTRA -- THIS PIECE OF STEEL GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE BUMPER TO PROTECT THE FRONT BUMPER IN CASE THEY MAKE CONTACT WITH ANYONE. THAT IS REINFORCING THE BUMPER. A BIG PIECE OF STEEL THEY HAVE IN THE FRONT. >> A BEHIND THAT, MARTY. I MEAN THAT'S JUST SOME OF IT BUT THE REALLY STRONG BRACE PIECES ARE ON THE CAR SUCH AS THE BACK OF GREG BIFFLE'S CAR. >> THIS BUMPER, THIS PIECE OF STEEL ON THE BACK, THAT'S FOR THE REAR BUMPER ON THE 16 BUT THEY HAVE SOMETHING NOT THAT STRONG BUT SOMETHE FRONT BUMPER THEY CAN GO UP AND HIT SOMEONE AND NOT DAMAGE THE FRONT BUMPER. >> TONY STEWART'S FRONT BUMPER IS IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AT TALLADEGA. >>> NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RACING FROM TALLADEGA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP. WE'LL GIVE YOU AN EDGE. BY CHEVY, THE RACING, AN AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BY PIZZA HUT HOME OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE PAN PIZZA. GATHER AROUND THE GOOD STUFF. BY COCA-COLA. MAKE IT REAL AND BY U.P.S., THE OFFICIAL EXPRESS DELIVERY COMPANY OF NASCAR. U.P.S., WE'RE GOING TO RACE THE TRUCK. PEOPLE LOVE THE TRUCK. >> MANY GOT TICKETS FOR ALL THOSE FOLKS.LINE. JUST KIDDING. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION. DEBRIS IN TURN THREE. A SIMPLE DEBRIS CAUTION. >> YEAH. >> AND THEY'RE COMING TO PIT ROAD. >> NO BIG CRASH. NOW THEN, WHAT THEY DO THIS PIT STOP REALLY SETS IT UP BECAUSE ONLY HAVE TO MAKE ONE MORE TOP AFTER THIS. >> I WOULD SAY FOUR. >> I'D SAY MOST CARS WILL CHANGE FOUR AND THEN LAST STOP DEFINITELY TWO TIRES. >> YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THE NEXT STOP IS GOING TO COME UNDER GREEN SO YOU WANT TO DO AS MUCH WORK AS YOU CAN UNDER CAUTION. , COMING IN UNDER GREEN FOR THE LAST PIT STOP. >> ALL RIGHT. MARTY. >> BILL, THAT'S EXACTLY THE STRATEGY FOR JAMIE McMURRAY'S TEAM TAKE FOUR TIRES NOW SO THAT LATER IN THE RACE BECAUSE THAT PIT STOP COULD BE UNDER GREEN WILL TAKE TWO TIRES AT THAT POINT. SAID HIS CAR IS GOOD. JUST NOT AS GOOD AS TONY STEWART'S CAR, A LITTLE TOO LOOSE. TAKE A HALF POUND OUT OFR TIRE. THAT'S IT. >> STEWART USING THE PIT BOX, LEFT SIDE TIRE, FUEL OF FUEL AND AWAY. DAVE? >> NEWMAN WILL TAKE TWO TIRES, NO ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CAR. WAS PRETTY SLICK THAT TIME. HE SAID IN A GOOD WAY. A.B.? >> DALE JARRETT SAID HE FELL LOST THE NOSE FOR A MINUTE THEN GOT IT BACK. SAID THE CAR IS REALLY PRETTY GOOD. THEY'LL TAKE FOUR TIRES. HE SAID I'M STILL JUST RIDING. I'M SURPRISED AT SOME OF THAT STRATEGY. >> YEAH. I AM, TOO. OF THESE GUYS DID NOT CHANGE FOUR. >> DALE JARRETT IS GOING TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. RIGHT NOW HE'S DRIVING HIS FORD TRYING TO GET TO THE FRONT AT TALLADEGA. >>> 130 LAPS COMPLETE AT TALLADEGA. FOR THE GUYS IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP, IT GOT OFF TO A ROUGH START. JIMMIE JOHNSON INTO THE BACK ELLIOTT SADLER, JOHNSON, MARK MARTIN, WILD RIDE FOR MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> THAT'S WALTRIP IN THE 15 CAR AND THERE'S MARK MARTIN'S DAY WAS OVER. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON FIRST CRASH THEN CUT A LEFT REAR TIRE AND GREG BIFFLE, RUSTY WALLACE IN THIS MULTICAR CRASH. AND THAT'S SCOTT RIGGS IN THE 10 CAR WITH A VERY WILD RIDE. JOHNSON OUT OF THE CAR. THEY HAVE'S WORKED ON IT. PUT HIM BACK OUT THERE. THERE'S KURT BUSCH DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION, ANOTHER GUY IN THE CHASE. CUT A TIRE. PUT HIM INTO THE WALL. WE GOT CHASERS THREE, WITH A LOT OF GUYS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED. 19 LEADERS. CAUTION PERIODS, NINE CARS OUT OF THE RACE. OH, AND 43 LEAD CHANGES. >> GREEN. >> IT HAS BEEN A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. ALL RIGHT. TONY STEWART IN THAT TWO-TIRE STOP WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE LEAD. >> STEWART, KENSETH, TIRES, RICKY RUDD IN THE 21 CAR, FUEL ONLY. ON THEIR PIT STOPS. TAKE AS A LAP OR SO FOR THESE CARS TO GET UP TO FULL SPEED. >> AND JAMIE McMURRAY WITH THOSE FOUR-TIRE STOP CAME OUT EIGHTH POSITION. YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS GASH LIKE THIS AFLAC QUESTION, DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME -- WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALL DAY. OH, WE GOT A BATTLE FOR THE LEA MATT KENSETH. >> LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE TEAMING UP ON POOR OLD DEFENSELESS TONY. >> KNOW HOW STRONG THAT CAR IS NOW. THEY'LL HELP THAT GUY ALL DAY BECAUSE HE'S SO STRONG BUT NOT AT THE END. MARTY? >> THE 17 CAR VERY GOOD AND FOR THE FIRSTRUN SO WHEN THEY CAME IN THEY ONLY MADE TWO TO TOOK TWO TIRES AND TOOK OUT A HALF POUND OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FOR MATT KENSETH TRYING TO MAKE THE CAR BETTER. ALSO MADE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT AND, AGAIN, IT LOVES THAT FRONT AND THE CLEAN AIR, LOVES THE T. LOOKS LIKE NEWMAN HAS SOMETHING HAPPENING OUT IN THE LEFT REAR RIGHT BEHIND THE LEFT REAR TIRE. CAN'T SEE WHAT IT IS. >> SOMETHING IS FLAPPING OUT THERE. PUT OUR BEST GUYS ON IT. >> PART OF THE BODY WORK, I GUESS. >> BOY, THAT -- >> THAT'S A PARACHUTE, ISN'T IT? >> YEP. >> EVERY LITTLE BIT MATTERS ON THE BODY. DAVE? >> LISTENING RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THIS YET, BUT, IT ON CAMERA FOR A FEW MORE LAPS, THEY WILL BE. >> NEWMAN IN A DODGE. THAT'S DODGE OF STERLING MARLIN RIGHT BEHIND KENSETH IN RAY FORD AND THE 17 CAR. >> TONY STEWART AND THAT INSIDE LINE, BACK KENSETH. I DON'T KNOW IF IT MEANS THE 12 CAR ISN'T FAST ENOUGH TO PUSH THE 17 OR EXACTLY WHAT IT DOES MEAN BUT HERE COMES McMURRAY, THAT 42. >> DARRYL JARRETT ON FOUR TIRES IN THE 8. FOUR FRESH TIRES. >> DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR IT TO GET BACK UP TO THE FRONT OF THE BACK. >> BENNY, DON'T BEAT AROUND THE BUSH. >> COME ON, FOLKS. CUE THE DUCK. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US THIS WEEK?ON. THE ONLY DRIVER TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500 AND BOTH TALLADEGA RACES IN THE SAME SEASON? >> BOTH TALLADEGA RACES? >> I BET YOU GOT TO GO BACK A LONG WAY FOR THIS ONE. >> BUDDY BAKER? I DON'T KNOW. PENSE IS JUST -- THERE YOU GO, PETE HAMILTON THE FIRST YEAR THEY HAD TWO RACES HERE. >> I KNEW HE WON THE DAYTONA 500 IN ONE OF THESE. >> DRIVING FOR -- >> RICHARD PETTY. >> PETTY INTERPRICES. AFLAC TRI. >> THAT WAS A GOOD ONE. >> NEWMAN IS DOWN ON THE LOW SIDE WITH NO FRIENDS TO HELP HIM. HE'S GOING TO LOSE A SPOT AFTER SPOT UNTIL SOMEBODY DOES GET UP ON HIS BUMPER. >> HERE COMES THE CAVALRY. >> THEY THE LOW SIDE. THEY WANT TO JUST PASS HIM. THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO HELP HIM BUT NOW KASEY KAHNE HAS GOT NOPLACE TO GO SO HE'S FORCED TO GET ON THE BUMPER AND HELP THE 12 CAR. >> I GUESS I'LL HELP YOU. >> NOT FOR LONG. >> NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. >> NOPE. >> THECAR, DALE JARRETT HAS FALLEN WAY BACK. >> I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S FALLEN BACK OR DECIDED TO JUST DROP ON BACK. HOW ABOUT IT, ALLEN? >> USE THE PHRASE DROP ON BACK THERE. I THINK YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD. HE'S JUST NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING UP IN THEYET. STILL TOO MANY LAPS TO GO AND HE'S THAT CONFIDENT IN THE STRENGTH OF THIS CAR TO CHARGE TO THE FRONT AT THE END. >> I THINK HE GOT THE FOUR TIRES AND RAN A LAP TO SEE HOW GOOD IT WOULD BE AND DECIDED TO WAIT BACK HERE FOR AWHILE. >> THEIR STRATEGY ALL DAY HAS BEEN TO STAY UP FRONT IF YOU C IT GO. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. >> AND ONCE AGAIN, THE 88 CAR HAS AN ENGINE IN THERE TODAY THAT IN FACT DOES HAVE A LITTLE MORE HORSEPOWER THAN THE 17, 99 CAR, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET READY FOR THE SO THEY CAN -- MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELIABLE BUT IT DOES PRODUCE MORE HORSEPOWER. >> ALL THOSE ENGINES COME OUT OF THE SAME SHOP, THE YATES ROUSH ENGINE SHOP. SO BASICALLY THE 8 AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER CARS EXPERIMENTING . >> WHAT A PERFECT PLACE TO DO IT. BIG 500-MILE RACE IN TALLADEGA. >> YEAH. >> WELL, TONY STEWART FORMER SERIES CHAMPION IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP IN '05. >>> TUESDAYS ON NBC THE STORY OF A MAN NAMED EARL. HE'S DONE THINGS HE'S NOT PROUD OF BUT ON A QUEST TO REPAIR EVERYTHING FIND OUT WHICH BAD DEED HE TACKLES NEXT "MOY NAME IS EARL" TUESDAYS ON NBC. ARE YOU RELATED TO HIM? >> NOT ABOUT ME. >> TOP NINE CARS TRIED TO BREAK AWAY. THOSE GUYS IIN. >> THOSE PESKY RASCALS HELPED THEM AGAIN. JAMIE McMURRAY, 2, HE REALLY WANTS TO GET ON THE OUTSIDE OF TONY STEWART BUT JUST CAN'T QUITE GET IT WORKED OUT. >> LET'S GO IN AND AROUND THE FIELD STARTING WITH MATT ON THE 20. >> AND, BMA, TONY STEWART FOUND A FLAG DOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO. HANGING ON THEIR PIT BOX SINCE SONOMA. HAVE HAD GREAT RUNS, SAID THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES, KEEP IT UP TO REMIND THEMSELVES WHERE THE SEASON WAS BEFORE THE STREAK BEGAN. WATER TEMPERATURE AROUND 210, IT'S GOOD AND THE CAR VERY FAST. >> MATT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT COMING INTO TODAY JAMIE McMURRAY LED ONLY ONE LAP THIS ENTIRE SEASON. TODAY HE'S LED 30. YOU THINK HE'S WON IN 104 RACEE HE FIRST STARTED BACK AT CHARLOTTE. CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID IT'S THE BEST SHOT WE'VE HAD TO WIN ALL YEAR LONG. LET'S KEEP THIS CAR UP FRONT. MATT KENSETH, THOUGH, THINKS THE 20 CAR IS THE ONE TO BEAT AND SAID THE STIFF HE CAN DO BY HIMSELF KENSETH'S CAR VERY GOOD. HE FINISHED 11th AND 9th IN HIS LAST TWO PLATE RACES. >> STERLING MARLIN HASN'T WON SINCE DARLINGTON BACK IN 2002. 123 RACES AGO, TWO TIRES IN THE LAST STOP. HE IS JUST RIDING SHOT AT A TAL VICTORY. >> BOB TOLD ME ABOUT THE CHASE RACES HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT. NEW HAMPSHIRE, DOVER AND TALLADEGA, AND UNFORTUNATELY THOSE ARE THE FIRST THREE RACES IN THE CHASE FOR CARL EDWARDS. CLEARED THE FIRST TWO HURDLES CLEARING THIS SO FAR HAVING FIV. >> NASCAR BUSCH SERIES CHAMPION MARTIN TRUEX JR. RUNNING THIS RACE TO LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO WORK ON TO COMPETE WHEN THEY GO FULL TIME RACING NEXT YEAR. I'D SAY SIXTH PLACE IS COMPETING WELL. RICKY RUDD TOOK ONLY HIS CREW CHIEF SAID STILL GOT TO MAKE ONE MORE STOP. TOLD THE RADIO GUY, KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS. >> CAR RUNNING WARM. FOUR TIRES IN THE LAST STOP. HE TOO JUST RIDING ALONG. VERY QUIET ON THE RADIO WHILE K QUIET. HE'S BEEN TALKING FOR QUITE A WHILE. SAYS I HAVE A DRAFTING MACHINE. DUDE, THIS IS AWESOME. THEY PITTED TWICE TO TRY TO SET THE TOW EARLIERY THE WALL. NOW THE CAR VERY GOOD. >> THEY HAVE TOLD RYAN NEWMAN ABOUT THAT LE BREEZE AND HAS A HOLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT AREA OF THE CAR. IT MAY BE SLOWING THE CAR DOWN, MAYBE NOT. HE POKED HIS CAR OUT A COUPLE LAPS AGO AND PASSED ABOUT FOUR CARS ON HIS OWN. MATT? >> ONLY REAL ISSUE, BLANEY, CAR LAPS TO FOUR LAPS TO GET UP TO SPEED. NEUTRAL, NO CHANGES ON THEIR LAST STOP. >> JUST TALKED TO BRIAN VICKERS' CREW CHIEF. TOLD ME THEY WORKED SOME OF THE TIGHTNESS OUT AND EXPECT BRIAN TO MAKE A CHARGE TOWARDS THE FRONT BEFORE THIS IS OVERONT. BOBBY LABONTE HAVING A VERY SOLID RUN, AS WELL. NOW HE SAID THE CAR EARLIER WAS TIGHT. GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TWO TIRES ON THE RIGHT, TWO TIRES ON THE LEFT. NOTHING LATELY. ALLEN? >> I JUST TALKED TO DALE JARRETT'S CREW CHIEF. VERY SMART. THEIR CAR IS STRONG AND THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. DOESN'T SEEM VERY WORRIED. >> KASEY KAHNE HAD ONE OF THOSE UNUSUAL STRATEGIES, TWO LEFT SIDE TIRES ONLY. CREW CHIEF TOMMY BALDWIN TOLD US IT WAS SO BAD ON THE FINAL STOP WE CAN CHANGE TWO TIRES AND THE. DID IT FOR TRACK POSITION. >> KEVIN HARVICK'S TEAM SAYS THEY HAVE A GREAT RACE CAR BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GET UP FRONT. I TALKED TO BOTH RICHARD CHILDRESS AND TODAY'S CREW CHIEF GIL MARTIN WITH VERY RELAXED SMILES THEY TOLD ME NOT WORRIED. LONG WAY TO HAVING A SOLID DAY WIMMER, IN THE 17th POSITION. NO CHANGES TO THE CHASSIS SINCE THE FIRST STOP OF THE DAY. WIMMER LOVES THE WAY THE CAR DRIVES AND LIKES IT ON THE TOP AND SAID IF WE GET INTO A TWO-WIDE SITUATION LATE IN THE RACE, HELP ME GET UP THERE. I DO NOT LIKE THE BOTTOM RACETRACK. KEN SCHRADER TRYING TO FOLLOW UP HIS TOP TEN RUNNING 18th SAYING THE CAR IS HARD TO HOLD ON BUT STILL DOESN'T HAVE THE SPEED I WOULD LIKE TO. >> SAME STORY ON SPEED FOR THE 19 CAR OF JEREMY MAYFIELD. MADE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE ON THE LAST STO ADJUSTMENT LACKING A LITTLE BIT OF FORWARD MOTION. >> DAVE, TALKING ABOUT THE 32 CAR, BOBBY HAMILTON JR. ROUNDING OUT YOUR TOP 20, WHAT A WEEKEND THEY'VE HAD TRYING TO SECURE THE RIDE TO GET INTO THE RACE. ON THE NEUTRAL SIDE HAPPENING IN THE ANKS, GUYS. TOP 20 AT TALLADEGA. MIKE WALLACE, JEFF GREEN, KYLE PETTY, TRAVIS KVAPIL. TONY RAINES AND ROBBY GORDON ALSO ON THE LEAD LAP ALL CHASING TONY STEWART AT TALLADEGA. >>> STRANGE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER TALLADEGA AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. GET READY BECAUSE ON MONDAY SOMETHING IS COMING TO THE SURFACE. "SUR 7:00 CENTRAL ON NBC. TONY STEWART OUT FRONT. WITH 151 OF 160 LAPS AT DAYTONA IN JULY. GOT HIS FIRST PLATE WIN, FOUR SECOND PLACE FINISHES HERE. >> EVEN WITH THE TROUBLES THAT HE'S HAD TODAY AND TONY HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING AND MY OFF TO GREG AND HISTIME IN THE PIT AREA TO GET IT FIXED PUTTING WATER IN THE CAR, IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING TO LEAD THE MOST LAPS IF HE KEEPS GOING. >> YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. >> MORE POINTS. >> BUT I THINK NOW IS WHEN THE DEAL-MAKING JUST GETS STARTED. MURRAY AND KENSETH AND STERLING MARLIN ON WHO IS GOING WITH WHO AND WHEN AND WHERE. >> JAMIE McMURRAY HAD LED ONE LAP BEFORE TODAY. THAT WAS UNDER CAUTION. TODAY HE HAS 30. SO A GOOD DAY FOR McMURRAY IN MATT? >> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS 20 TEAM AND HOW THEY HAVE WORKED THE CAUTIONS AND THIS OVERHEATING ISSUE THAT THE 20 CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING MOST OF THE DAY, NOW THE WATER IS HAS LEVELED OFF AT ABOUT 200 TO 210 DEGREES. RESTRICTOR PLATE RACING, SURVIVABILITY IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. LAST SEVEN PLATE RACES HE HAS FINISHED EVERY SINGLE LAP. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. >> SURE IS. >> WOW! SEVEN, FINISHEDLAP? THAT SEEMS TO BE -- WHEN YOU -- WHEN WE STARTED THE RACE WE TALKED ABOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON. HE'S NEVER FINISHED A RACE HERE AT TALLADEGA. >> 34th AND 37th TWICE FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, RUNS 33rd RIGHT NOW. MARTY? >> WELL, FOR MOST OF THE DAY JAMIE McMURRAY'S CAR HAS BEEN TIGHT BUT EARLIER STERLING MARLIN'S TEAMMATE BUMP DRAFTED HIM, ONE OF THE HARDEST HITS HE EVER TOOK. WHAT WE THINK HAPPENED THAT MAY HAVE BENT THE REAR END OF OF A SUDDEN IT'S LOOSE. NEXT STOP TALKING ABOUT TAKING A POUND OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TO TRY TO INDICTEN THE CAR UP. HERE'S THE REPLAY OF HIM HITTING JAMIE. SEE THE BOOST BUT IT HAPPENED TO JIMMIE JOHNSON YESTERDAY IN HAPPY HOUR. MAYBE TOO MUCH OF A BOOST AND THE CAR. THEY WILL TAKE TWO TIRES ON THE LAST STOP IN NINE LAPS. >> MARTY, THESE CARS HAVE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN HITE IN THE REAR OF THESE CARS AND NASCAR TOLD THEM THIS MORNING, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOUR CAR GETS HIT FROM BEHIND AND KNOCKED Y TO GET -- HAVE IT RIGHT HEIGHTH WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE INSPECTION AREA TONIGHT. >> SO, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAVE TO FIX IT NOW. CAN'T DO IT AFTER THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> GOT TO FIX IT NOW. >> THAT'S THE 20 PIT. GOT? >> MIKE BRILL, THE CAR CHIEF ON THE 42 OF McMURRAY DOWN TALKING TO ZIPPY ABOUT WHAT LAP THEY WOULD LIKE TO PIT ON. RIGHT NOW LAP 161 TO 162. >> WE'VE BEEN GREEN SINCE LAP 132 SO THAT'S 22 LAPS. STRETCH GREEN FLAG RACING TODAY AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GO 35 OR SO. >> HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY WHEN HE STOPPED EARLIER, 128? >> 132 WHEN WE WENT TO GREEN. >> SO SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE STOPPING OR SHORT-PITTING. THEY COULD 170. ALLEN, WHAT'S ON YOUR END? >> WHAT ABOUT TAKING THE NUMBER OF LAPS LEFT AND DIVIDE IT IN TWO AND MAKE YOUR PIT STOP THEN. THAT'S WHY THESE GUYS ARE STOPPING A LITTLE SHYER OF WHEN THEY COULD S FUEL NUMBER TO. >> SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. BUT THERE AGAIN, WHAT DOES TONY DO ON THE FINAL STOP? WE SEE THE JOE NEMECHEK CREW TALKING TO ZIPPY. >> THEY WANT TO COME IN WITH LED WITH THE LEADER SO THEY DON'T LOSE A DRAFT AND HAVE EIGHT CARS IN AND NOT COME IN BECAUSE YOU'LL LOSE THE DRAFT IF YOU PIT BY YOURSELF. THAT'S THE THING THESE GUYS WORRY ABOUT. ALL FRIENDLY NOW. WHEN THE DEALS WILL BE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, WITH F TO GO. >> TONY STEWART HAS LED 47 LAPS TODAY. WANTS TO LEAD THE LAST ONE AT TALLADEGA. PULL OFF A DAYTONA/TALLADEGA SUMMER SWEEP. >>> UNDER GREEN TONY STEWART LEADS. GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS. KEVIN HARVICK ON PIT ROAD. >> TWO TIRES. >> HIS TEAMMATE IS DOWN THERE. TOO. >> DAVE BLANEY SMOKED HIM. A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE FOR BLANEY. ALLEN? >> RIGHT SIDES ONLY FOR KEVIN HARVICK. CREW CHIEF ADMONISHING KEVIN DON'T SLIDE THE FRONT TIRES WHEN YOU COME ON TO PIT ROAD. >> THAT'S WHY THE 07 CAR HAD TO CHANGE FOUR TIRES, LOCKED THEM UP >> WILL LOSE THE DRAFT NOW PRETTY MUCH. >> BECAUSE THESE GUYS WHEN YOU COME DOWN PIT ROAD THE GOAL IS TO LEAVE PIT ROAD TOGETHER. >> GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO RUN WITH. >> DALE JARRETT IS IN. >> KEN SCHRADER. WAY DOWN PIT ROAD AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND SOMETHING WE GOT TO WATCH FOR, THESE GUYS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ONTO PIT ROAD SLOWING DOWN TO 55 MILES PER HOUR FROM 180. WAITING TO SEE IF TODD PARROTT CALLS FOR A FOUR OR TWOSIDE. HAVE A SECOND SET OF TIRES UP ON THE WALL. BUT I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN A HURRY TO GO FOR THEM. RIGHT SIDE TIRES FOR DALE JARRETT. >> BUT HE LEAVES WITH NOBODY AND HE IS A SITTING DUCK BECAUSE HE'S THE ONLY CAR THAT LEFT PIT LANE. NOBODY TO WITH. >> ALL BY HIMSELF. >> TONY RAINES AND KEN SCHRADER ARE COMING OFF PIT ROAD NOW BUT THEY ARE WAY BACK THERE. AND HERE COME THE FAST GUYS. RYAN NEWMAN AND GREG BIFFLE. PASS THROUGH PENALTY FOR KEN SCHRADER. TOO FAST ON PIT ROAD. DAVE BURNS? >> WOW. A BIG-TIME -- THAT WAS INTERESTING BETWEEN THE 16 AND STOPS BUT TWO LEFT SIDE TIRES FOR THE 12. TOOK RIGHT SIDES LAST TIME. SEE IF THE 19 AS WELL WILL TAKE TWO. THE 9 CAR AND 19 BOTH IN. LOOKS LIKE KASEY KAHNE MAY BE THE PARTNER THAT THE 12 KAREN NEWMAN NEEDS. >> LMOST HAS TO WAIT FOR KASEY KAHNE TO GET TO HIM. HERE'S WHERE -- HERE'S WHERE IT GETS TRICKY. HAVE TO STAY IN -- OH. McMURRAY, ALMOST RAN IN THE BACK OF THE 20 CAR. MARTY? >> OH, MAN, BILL,IT ROAD. JAMIE McMURRAY SAID HOW LONG BEFORE WE PIT? I NEED TIRES AND I'M LOOSE. THEY'LL TAKE TWO TIRES. THIS IS WHY THEY TOOK THE FOUR EARLIER. A POUND OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FOR McMURRAY AND LEAVES PIT ROAD AND STEWART IS ALREADY DOWN AND AWAY. A SLIGHT WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. LEFT SIDEY'RE ONLY TAKING TWO ON THE 42. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOM BETWEEN HIM AND THE SPIRIT WALL. >> COULDN'T EVEN GET THE JACK IN THERE MUCH LESS THE HANDLE. >> MATT KENSETH ON PIT ROAD THIRD IN LINE BEHIND STEWART AND McMURRAY. >> THESE GUYS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE ALL LEAVING TOGETHER AND MARTY? >> THERE WAS A LOT OF DEAL-MAKING TO MAKE SURE THE 17 WAS INCLUDED IN THIS PLAN AS WELL AS CARL EDWARDS' TEAMMATE BEHIND MATT'S CAR, TOO TIGHT HALF POUND IN THE RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR TIRE FOR THE 17 BUNCH. A PIT ROAD. THEY'RE MAKE FOUR, TWO TIRES THEY DECIDED FINALLY. CARL WANTED FOUR SAID I'M SLIDING THROUGH THE CORNERS, GUYS. IF YOU GIVE ME FOUR THAT WOULD HELP. IF WE TAKE FOUR WE'LL BE THE ONLY ONES AND DECIDED ON TWO. >> TWO ALSO FOR BRIAN VICKERS IN THE 25. THE CAR WILLTO THE CORNER. THEY WILL MAKE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT FOR BRIAN VICKERS. MATT? >> DAVE, 97 BUSCH IS AWAY. TWO TIRES FOR THE ROUSH TEAM. >> HE FOLLOWS VICKERS OFF OF PIT ROAD. THERE'S EDWARDS IN FRONT OF HIM. >> KURT BUSCH MADE BRUSHING THE WALL AFTER TURN 4 WHEN A RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. >> BLACK FLAG. GREG BIFFLE FOR PASSING ON THE LEFT ON PIT ROAD. DAVE? >> BILL, THAT'S THE REACTION I HAD WHEN COMING DOWN COMING DOWN PIT ROAD THE 12 WAR WAS DEFINITELY -- BIFFLE WANTED TO SORT OF PRESSURE HIM BECAUSE PIT STALLS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. AS HE GOT BY THE REAR END OF THE 12S THAT'S HOW IT WAS INCURRED. >> LOOKED LIKE HE WAS BLOCKING HIM. >> IT WAS WEIRD WITHPACE. >> REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION WITH GREG BIFFLE THE INTERVIEW AFTER HE WAS IN HIS CAR. >> I'M GOING TO COME NEXT LAP. BLAMED THE 12 FOR HIM BEING IN THAT POSITION. THAT WAS JUST HIS WAY OF SOMEHOW TELLING THE 12 CAR, I REMEMBER. >> GREG BIFFLE DOESN'TFORGET. STEWART LEADS. >> HERE, WATCH BIFFLE. HE'LL PULL TO THE LEFT OF THE 12 CAR. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THIS ON PIT LANE. PULLS UP TO HIM AND GETS NESPEE. YOU HAVE TO COME IN IN SINGLE FILE. >> YEAH. >> I MEAN RIGHT TO THE DOOR, PAST THE DOOR. >> FILE THAT ONE AWAY. SAID THA JUST A MESSAGE BEING SENT. >> THE MESSAGE WAS DELIVERED. SO STEWART AND THESE GUYS HAVE GOT TO -- THEY'VE GOT A GAP PIT. EITHER SOMEBODY GOT -- DIDN'T GET IN AS WELL OR GET OFF THE PIT LANE AS WELL OR HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PITS BUT THOSE FOUR DID IT PERFECT SO THESE GUYS NEED TO GET IN LINE GET CARL EDWARDS IN FRONT OF THEM AND GO CATCH THE >> GET TIRES READY, GUYS. >> SINGLE FILE. >> NO, GO AROUND. KEEP GOING. >> THEY WILL NOT CATCH THAT FRONT GROUP. >> THAT WAS BIFFLE DOING HIS PASS-THROUGH PENALTY. FOR PASSING ON THE LEFT ON PIT ROAD. THIS IS THE GROUP THAT NEEDS TO . LONGER THE LINE THE FASTER YOU GO. DAVE BURNS. >> YOU MENTION THE 12 CAR OF RYAN NEWMAN HAVING TO SORT OF WAIT IF HE WANTED TO FOR KASEY KAHNE BUT HE COULDN'T DO THAT SO ESSENTIALLY LEFT PIT ROAD BY HIMSELF.TIN TRUEX JR. GET BEHIN WE CAN CATCH THAT BACK IN FRONT OF US. LOOKS LIKE CARL EDWARDS IS LETTING THEM CATCH UP TO HIM AND THAT PACK IS THE ONE TO CATCH. >> THANKS, DAVE. CARL EDWARDS DID LEAD A LAP. GOT FIVE BONUS POINTS. OUR LASTK. WE'LL COME BACK TO TALLADEGA. >>> IT'S WWE PREMIERE NIGHT. SEE THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN WWE WRESTLE ON "RAW EXPOSED." TOMORROW THE BIGGEST HOMECOMING IN WRESTLING. UNPRECEDENTED LINEUP OF SUPERSTARS IN THE WRESTLING PREMIERE OF "RAW." >> A MOUTHFUL. >> IT IS. >> HECK OF A SHOW. >> SEE THE SECOND GROUP HERE, THERE'S A SECOND AND THIRD GROUP AND IF THEY CAN GET HOOKED TOGETHER, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RURUN DOWN SEE THAT GAP IN BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, RIGHT REAR GOING DOWN POSSIBLY. >> MAYBE AN ENGINE IN THE ONE CAR. >> MARTIN TRUEX JR. >> MARTIN CALLED IN, SAID HE THOUGHT -- YOU'RE HEARING SOME OF THE ENGINE. >> OKAY. >> THAT WILL SEND HIM -- >> LOOKING PRETTY GOOD, TOO. SIXTH PLACE. >> TONY STEWART HAS CLINCHED LEADING THE MOST LAPS TODAY. TENTH RACE OF 2005 HE HAS LED THE MOST BONUS POINTS FOR TONY STEWART. SECOND GROUP IS COMING. >> YEP. NOW THEY HAVE JUST ABOUT GOTTEN ALL TOGETHER BUT THE SECOND GROUP WITH MORE CARS IS GOING A SECOND FASTER THAN THE FIRST GROUP. MATT? >> BILL, SECOND CAR IN LINE IN THE SECOND GROUP, BOBBY LABONTE, NOW HIS SPOTTER RICK TELLING HIM JUST STAY IN LINE. YOUR PACK IS CATCHING THE LEAD PACK. DON'T JUMP O THE 12 BECAUSE YOUE DROPPING BACK. WE'RE SITTING IN A PRETTY DECENT POSITION. >> TRUEX JR. TO THE GARAGE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPEEDS AT THE LINE THIS TIME BY, 172 UAW-FOR. >> I'D BE SURPRISED IF THE FASTEST LAP, FASTEST CAR DEPARTMENT COME OUT OF THAT SECOND GROUP. YEP. KURT BUSCH, 193 MILES PER HOUR VERSUS 190 FOR THE LEADER. >> MARTY. >> BILL, JAMIE McMURRAY SENSED THE SPEED IN THE SECOND PACK, THE CREW CHIEF SAID WITH TEN TO GO THEY SHOULD CATCH YOU. HE ALSO TOLD THE SPOTTER TO HELP HIM WITH HIS 17 CAR. HE SAID WHEN HE'S ON MY RIG I HAVE A BIG BLIND SPOT BACK THERE. IF HE GOES HIGH TRYING TO PASS ME, LET ME KNOW. >> THOSE FOUR GUYS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB BUT RYAN NEWMAN IN THE PARTY IS COMING. >> YEAH. >> AND DALE JARRETT WHO HAD NO HELP GETTING OFF OF PIT ROAD IS AT THE TAIL END OF THIS SECOND GROUP. >> AND JARRETT RIGHT NOW HAS GOT TO GET GOING. ONLY HAS 15 LAPS RIGHT NOW. GOT A LOT OF CARS TO PASS SO ONCE THESE CARS START FANNING OUT TRYING TO PASS EACH OTHER >> HIS SPOTTER CAME ON THE RADIO ABOUT FIVE LAPS AGO. BESIDES KEEPING D.J. APPRISED OF THEIR PROGRESS THEIR GROUP UP TOWARD THE FRONT FOUR, HE SAID TO HIM, IT'S GIDDY YAP TIME. WE GOT TO GO. >> AS LONG AS ALL THESE STAY IN THERE'S VERY LITTLE HE CAN DO. >> THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. >> YEAH, HE'S THE LAST CAR -- HERE WE GO. NOW WE'RE GETTING ANXIOUS. MATT KENSETH UNDER McMURRAY BUT NO HELP. >> YEAH, AND THE THING IS THESE GUYS WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IF THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT THE 20 CAR. YOU WANT TO FINISH SECOND, GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW TONY STEWART. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT HIM, THREE OR FOUR OF THESE CARS WILL HAVE TO HOOK UP AND GO BY. >> AND KENSETH BY DOING THAT HAS >> RYAN NEWMAN THINKING ABOUT COMING DOWN AND HELPING. THERE YOU SEE THE POINTS AS THEY RUN HERE IN THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP. AND A NUMBER OF DRIVERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS TODAY, JIMMIE JOHNSON, GREG BIFFLE. RUSTY WALLACE. CARL EDWARDS HAS HAD A GOOD DAY MOVING FORWARD. MARK MARTIN OUT EARLY. KURT BUSCH REBOUNDING FROM PROBLEMS EARLY IN THE RACE. >> NOW, McMURRAY HAS GOT TO KNOW WHAT NEMECHEK IS GOING TO DO. HE DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE A MOVE UNLESS HEHERE THESE GUYS ARE TALKING ON THE RADIO. A LOT OF CHATTER RIGHT NOW ON WHO IS GOING TO STAY AND WHO IS GOING TO GO WITH WHO. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, McMURRAY CAN'T DO IT ALONE. >> WHEREVER YOU GO 99 WILL BE ON YOUR TAIL. >> THAT'S MATT KENSETH'S RADIO TALKING A EDWARDS IN THE 99. THOSE TWO DRIVERS ARE ROUSH TEAMMATES AND ARE IN THE CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. MARTY? >> AND MATT CAME ON THE RADIO AFTER MAKING THAT MOVE TRYING TO PASS EVERYONE BY HIMSELF AND SAID I MADE IT BECAUSE THE TOP WAS GOING NOWHERE. LET'S HOOK UP WITH THE 99. WE CAN GO DOWN LOW. JAMIE McMURRAY TO THE LEAD NOW. CARS SCATTERING EVERYWHERE. >> THE RACE IS ON. >> THE RACE IS ON. AND JAMIE NOT ONL HE'S BACK ON WANTS TO BE. >> NEWMAN IN THE 12. GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE GAP HE'S GOT BETWEEN HIMSELF AND RYAN NEWMAN AND TONY STEWART RIGHT NOW. >> DAVE BURNS? >> RYAN NEWMAN GLAD TO BOTTOM S. EARLIER WHEN HE WENT DOWN THERE TO PASS CARS NO ONE WOULD GO WITH HIM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS EARLIER IN THE RACE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T RUN THAT LOW LINE. RYAN GLAD TO SEE IF HE GOES LOW TO PASS PERHAPS THE 42, MAYBE CARS CAN HANDLE IT WILL GO WITH HIM. >> THAT 42 CARSE. THAT'S A LOOSE RACE CAR. HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB HANGING ON TO THAT RACE CAR. >> CARL EDWARDS THINKING ABOUT GOING UNDER MATT KENSETH. MIGHT RUN OUT OF ROOM DOWN THERE. >> NO, HE SAID HE WOULD FOLLOW THE 17. >> SURE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS LOOKING UNDERNEATH HIM. >> TONY STEWART HAS DROPPEDIT, ? >> YES, SIR. >> IN A BATTLE WITH STERLING MARLIN FOR THAT SPOT. >> OOH. >> KURT BUSCH RIGHT ON HIS BUMPER. >> AND YOU SEE UP STERLING MARLIN. >> ALL THE VETERANS. >> MARTY? >> MATT KENSETH SPOTTER ON THE RADIO TO CARL EDWARDS' SPOTTER SAYING LISTEN, LET'S PULL AWAY FROM THE PACK BEHIND US IF WE CAN. WE'LL MAKE OUR TWO TO GO. GIVE YOU THE HAND SIGNAL AS TO WHICH WAY WE'LL GO. >> AND THAT PLAN WILL WORK IF THE GUYS BEHIND HIM KEEP RUNNING TWO AND THREE ABREAST. >> NOW, TONY AND D THE 20 CAR. WE KNOW -- WE FEEL LIKE THE 88 CAR IS FAST. >> DALE JARRETT TRYING TO CLOSE IN ON TONY STEWART. EDWARDS HAS GOT TO GET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO MATT KENSETH IN ORDER TO HELP HIM. DOESN'T REALLY DO MUCH GOOD. >> I WAS THINKING THERE WAS TEN IN TALLADEGA. STILL GOT ALL FOUR TIRE SFWLS THAT'S A GOOD THING. >> IF I COULD JUST FINISH NOW. >> JUST TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> RIGHT.URRAY HAS ONE CAREER WIN. >> HERE'S SOMETHING YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT. WHEN YOU'RE BACK YOU WANT TO GO WITH McMURRAY BECAUSE YOU'RE RACING NMAN FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP SO HERE'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO START MAKING DECISIONS ON, WELL, IF I'M GOING TO HELP SOMEBODY I'M GOING TO HELP SOMEBODY I'M NOT RACING WITH IN DALE JARRETT. HE'S COMING, ALLEN. HIS SPOTTER SOUNDS LIKE A PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN IN A HORSE RACING TRACK WALKING HIM AROUND THE SPEEDWAY TELL HIM WHO HE IS RACING WITH AND COACHING WHAT MOVES TO MAKE ANDNT ALL THE WAY GO, GO, GREAT JOB. >> YOU'RE JUST PUTTING YOUR FOOT THROUGH THE FLOOR IN THERE NOW, AREN'T YOU? >> YEAH, YOU'RE PUSHING HARD. YOU REALLY ARE. >> HE'S GOT A LAP OR TW STERLINP TO HIM SO HE CAN GET SOME HELP. >> THAT'S CARL EDWARDS IN FRONT OF HIM. EDWARDS RUNS FIFTH. JARRETT IN THE 88. STERLING MARLIN BEHIND HIM. >> STERLING HAD TO GET OUT OF THE THROTTLE ON THE 88, ALMOST HIM OVER. HAD TO BACK OFF THE THROTTLE. DOING THAT BY NOT HITTING DALE JARRETT HE LOST ABOUT THREE OR FOUR CAR LENGTHS ON THAT SPOT SO NOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO CATCH BACK UP. >> THESE GUYS TRYING TO WORK THARS OUT THERE. THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER. ELLIOTT SADLER WAS THE POLE SITTER. AT 38, HE'S 62 LANOW. HE MIGHT BE WAITING TO SEE IF HE CAN HELP HIS TEAMMATE IN THAT 88 CAR. >> OH. >> WOW. >> BOY, OH, BOY. >> RYAN NEWMAN THREADING THE NEEDLE THERE. >> OH, MAN. >> I DON'T KNOW H THEY DID. >> REALLY NOT HOW MANY TIMES -- IT'S HOW MANY TIMES THEY DON'T. >> MATT KENSETH RIGHT TO -- >> JAMIE McMURRAY PUTS THE BLOCK. SEE HOW LOOSE HE GOT RIGHT THERE. BUT THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS WERE BACK OF YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU RACE HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH THE MIRER AS MUCH AS YOU ARE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD ESPECIALLY WITH TEN LAPS TO GO. >> McMURRAY HAS A FAST CAR. THE 20 CAR IS EXTREMELY FAST. HERE HE COMES, THE 20. >> WITH RYAN NEWMAN THINKING ABOUT GOING ALONG FOR THE RIDE. NEWMAN TRYING TO MAKE UP HIS MIND. KENSETH OR FOR NOW. >> NOW D.J. BACK IN THE HUNT ON THE BACK OF THE 20 CAR. >> IF 88 GETS HELP HE'LL BE RIGHT THERE AT THE END. >> STERLING MARLIN IS LOOKING PRETTY STRONG IN THERE, AS THAE THE LEADER, JAMIE McMURRAY. >> THAT'S WHO McMURRAY IS LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW. WHERE IS STERLING? >> JAMIE McMURRAY MADE HIS DEBUT IN THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES IN THIS SERIES AT THIS TRACK SUBBING FOR STERLING MARLIN. >> WOW. >> GOOD MOVE. >> VICKERS IN INSIDE OF STEWART. >> HE JUST BULLIED HIS WAY THROUGH THERE. >> ANOTHER COUNTRY HEARD FROM. >> PICKED UP FIVE OR SIX SPOTS ON THAT LAP. >> MARTY? >> WALLY IS RIGHT. JAMIE McMURRAY HOLDING ON TO A VERY LOOSE RACE CAR ALL I CAN B GUYS BEHIND ME ARE EXTREMELY FAST. >> HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT. >> GO AHEAD. >> HE'S NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PASSING TONY STEWART. HE'S GOING TO PASS THEM ALL OR TRY TO. >> I THINK THAT'S GOOD NEWS I THINK THE 25 CAR WILL HANG WITH THE 42, DAVE. >> HIS CREW CHIEF SAID THEY'D MAKE ONE MORE RUN TO THE FRONT AND HERE COMES VICKERS. >> NO HELP RIGHT NOW. >> AND THAT'S SURPRISING, THE GUYS RUNNING FOR POINTS ARE RUNNING WITH EACH OTHER. GUY. >> OH. >> GOT VERY, VERY LOOSE GOING IN THE CORNER AND 17 DRIVES ON THE INSIDE. >> MATT KENSETH AND JAMIE McMURRAY SIDE BY SIDE. NEWMAN BEHIND KENSETH.OOH. >> DOOR TO DOOR. >> NO HELP. >> FOUR TO GO AND, YES, JAMIE, YOU HAVE NO HELP. >> YOU HELP THE FAST GUY UNTIL, AH, FOUR TO GO. >> YEAH. >> BILL, CHEVY HAS WON 13 STRAIGHT. RIGHT NOW THEIR HOPE IS ON THE 14 REST WITH 20. FOUR TO GO. TWO CARS IN FRONT. LET'S SEE IF HE CAN MAKE THAT MOVE AGAIN LIKE HE DID THREE LAPS AGO GOING INTO SO GOOD AL DAY. OVERCAME AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM. >> TROUBLE. >> SOMEBODY IS SPINNING. >> KEN SCHRADER IS AROUND. >> LEFT REAR. >> CAUTION IS OUT. >> LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. >> AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, DON'T YOU? Y, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOT TO HEAR. >> REAR TIRE BLEW. >> KEN SCHRADER RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW. >> HE KNEW ONE OF THOSE REAR TIRES BLEW. >> DEFINITELY GAVE HIM TROUBLE. >> SO THE RED BARON ALL WRINKLED UP. WATCH THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN ON THIS REPLAY. >> THERE HE IS, 49 CAR AND WITH THOSE TIRES GO FLAT YOU INSTANTLY LOSE CONTROL. AND THERE'S THE WALL. >> THE LEAD LAP. HERE CAN ANYTHING HELP YOU IF YOU STOP? NO. >> NO. >> NOING YOU HAVE TO STAY OUT. >> ALL RIGHT. UNDER CAUTION HERE AT TALLADEGA. A WILD FINISH TO A WILD DAY >>> GOING TO HAVE A FINISH IN. NEXT SUNDAY WE'RE IN KANSAS FOR THE BANQUET 400. COVERAGE BEGINS ON NBC AT 1:30 EASTERN TIME WITH THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN." UNDER CAUTION AFTER KEN SCHRADER BLEW A TIRE AND WRECKED. DOWN TO MARTY SNIDER WITH ROBBIE REISER. >> MATT KENSETH IS ON THE RADIO POLITICKING AS BEST HE CAN. HE SAYS HE IS A SITTING DUCK. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> WELL, RESTRICTOR PLATE IT'S AWFUL TOUGH TO HOLD HIM BACK. YOU HAVE TO WATCH THEY DON'T GET A RUN ON YOU AND I'D RATHER BE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION BUT THIS IS AT, SO SOMETHING TO BRING HER HOME. >> THERE IS CONCERN THE PEOPLE BEHIND WILL LAY BACK AND GET AN UNFAIR RUN AND ASKED NASCAR TO POLICE THAT A LITTLE BETTER. >> THOSE WORDS BRING IT HOME. CAME TO THE 12 CREW BY WAY OF THEIR CAR OWNER MOMENTS AGO. I KNOW THAT'S FIRST? >> WE'LL SEE. I MEAN, WE HAVE A SHOT BUT THERE'S ABOUT TEN GUYS BEHIND US THAT ALSO HAVE A SHOT AT IT AND THE GUY IN FRONT SO HE'LL DO THE BEST HE CAN AND HOPEFULLY WON'T BE WRECKED. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> YOU'RE BEHIND THE 17. IS IT JUST YOUR BEST HOPE TO STICK THERE. LINE WELL.EN >> HE'S BEEN REAL GOOD ALL DAY. DEFINITELY WE'LL TRY TO WIN THE THING. HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. PROBABLY GREEN WHITE CHECKERED SO WE'LL SEE. >> THEY HAVE FUEL TO GO THE DISTANCE AND A DRIVER WHO DEFINITELY WANTS TO WIN THE THING. MATT? >> AND ZIPPY TALKING TO SMOKE BACK AND FORTH ON THE RGETIC. WILL YOU HAVE THE 88, D.J., WORK WITH YOU? >> YOU KNOW, SMOKE IS ALWAYS ENERGETIC. THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT HIM. HATES LOSING AS MUCH AS THE REST. WE HAVE A GOOD CAR SO WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET IT BACK UP. I DON'T THINK IT'S OVER YET. >> TME AND FORTH. DALE JARRETT SAYS HE WILL GO WITH THE 20 IF THE 20 MAKES A MOVE. WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. >> FIELD GETTING THE ONE TO GO. A GREEN WHITE CHECKERED FINISH. AND TWO WEEKS, NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RETURNS TO NBC DANDY. ONE OF THE BEST MATCHUPS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, SOUTHERN CAL AND THE FIGHTING IRISH. USC CAME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT ARIZONA STATE AND THE IRISH TOOK CARE OF PURDUE. USC AND NOTRE DAME, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th. 3:30 C ON NBC. CHARLIE WEIS GETTING IT DONE UP THERE FOR THE IRISH. PETE CARROLL AND THOSE GUYS AT USC. >> BOTH THOSE TEAMS LOOKED AWFULLY GOOD YESTERDAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT TIME BY, GREEN FLAG. >> SO IF YOU'RE MATT KENSETH, FROM GANGING UP ON YOU HERE? >> START BLOCKING, BLOOD DI. NOTHING YOU CAN DO. YOU KNOW, ONE THING YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE ON THE RESTART YOU'RE LOOKING IN YOUR MIRROR AND NOT LETTING RYAN NEWMAN LAY BACK LIKE THAT. IF YOU SEE A GUY LAYING BACK YOU GOT TO SLOW DOWN BECA GAP LIKE THE RESTART OR THEY WILL SMOKE YOU COMING DOWN AFTER THE FIRST LAP SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING YOU GOT TO DO ON THE LEAD RIGHT NOW IS DON'T LET THEM HAVE A BIG GAP BEHIND YOU. >> ONE ATTEMPT AT A GREEN WHITE CHECKERED FINISH. IF THE CAUTION COMES OUT, THE RACE IS OVER. AND THE DRIVERS WILL BE SCORED BY THEIR POSITION ON THE TRACK. >> AND ON THIS RESTART YOU'LL SEE ALL THE CARS UP AGAINST THE OUTSIDE RETAINING WALL SO A CAR DOES NOT GET POSITION ON THEM ON THE OUTSIDE. >> YOU SEE JARRETT IS >> PACE CAR TO PIT ROAD. NASCAR WARNING THESE DRIVERS TO CLOSE IT UP ON THE RESTART. REMEMBER THE START/FINISH LINE IS AFTER THE PIT ROAD EXIT. VERY CLOSE TO TURN ONE. THE TRI. >> ALL RIGHT. >> HERE WE GO. >> NOW IS WHEN THEY START FANNING OUT. >> KENSETH GOT DOWNJARRETT ON T INSIDE LINE. NEWMAN, McMURRAY. CARL EDWARDS. SEE, NOW NEWMAN HAS A GOOD RUN IF HE CAN MAKE A MOVE ON THE 17 BUT THE 17 WILL BLOCK HIM. >> HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH? >> MATT DID EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO. GOOD RESTART AND HE ANTICIPATED THE PASS COMING OFF OF TURN TWO. >> HE WANTS TO SEE THEM BUNCH UP BEHIND HIM. GUYS DOWN.Y TWO >> NOW THE 17 JUST GOT A WORRY ABOUT KEEPING THE 12 CAR BEHIND HIM. >> LIKE I SAY, START BLOCKING WHEN THERE'S JUST ONE GUY STARTING TO PASS. TOUGH TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE THREE OR FOUR. >> TONY STEWART UP NEXT TO >>'S GOT TO RUN, TOO. >> BOY, IS HE EVER GOING TO RUN. >> LAST LAP. >> OOH. MAN, HERE COMES TONY STEWART. HE'S GOT THE LEAD IN TURN ONE. >> JUST THE TWO OF YOU.SIDE. COME ON. >> NOW JUST DEPENDS ON WHO GOES WITH WHO. >> AND HOW STRONG THAT 88 IS. WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO FIND OUT. >> OH. >> CRASH. >> KYLE PETTY. >> HARD CRASH. >> WE NOW THE CAUTION IS OUT. RACE IS OVER. 19 SCORING LOOPS AROUND THIS TRACK. >> THE 8 -- >> 88 MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN FRONT. >> NASCAR WILL USE THEIR LOOPS AND TELEVISION REPLAYS TO DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE CARS ON THE TRACK. YOU DO NOT RACE BACK TO THE YELLOW WITH NASCAR. AND IT WAS A WRECK DALE JARRETT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT BROUGHT ON THAT RULE.E'RE BACK ON THE MAP. >> CREW CHIEF TODD PARROTT. DALE RAN -- TALK ABOUT, YOU SAW HIM DROP TO THE BACK MOST OF THE RACE. THAT'S JUST A VETERAN MOVE. SMART RACING. >> A LOT OF WAVING GOING ON THERE. >> SURE IS. >> MOST OF IT APPEARS FRIENDLY. >> AND WE'RE ACTING LIKE HE WON. WE HEARD FROM NASCAR, IN FACT, THAT HE WON OR NOT? HERE WAITINN FINAL RESULTS. >> OKAY, VERY GOOD. >> DALE JARRETT IS THE RACE WINNER. HIS TEAMMATE ELLIOTT SADLER. >> NASCAR HAS CONFIRMED THAT DALE JARRETT IS THE RACE WINNER. THEY CAN CHECKING THE REST OF THE POSITIONS. DAVE BURNS. >> OFFICIAL FROM NASCAR. TALLAD. >> GREAT. DALE JARRETT IS BACK IN THIS FIRST TIME THAT A FORD HAS BEEN IN VICTORY LANE AT TALLADEGA SINCE 1998 AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME ME AND HIM DID IT. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE LAST LAP? HE WASN'T EXACTLY IN THE LEAD WHEN HE STARTED? >> GOT A G A BETTER START. DEAL STAY WITH TONY. DO WHATEVER HE DID AND THE 99 AND THEM GUY I GUESS GAVE THEM A BIG PUSH GOT TO THE OUTSIDE. THAT'S ALL HISTORY. U.P.S. FORD WAS GREAT TODAY. THE GUYS IN THE PITS, DALE JARRETT DID >> GOOD REUNION FOR YOU TWO AGAIN. >> I WAS SAYING HE WASN'T DONE. DESERVES WHAT MARK MARTIN AND RUSTY WALLACE ARE GETTING AND HE'S BACK. U.P.S. FORD. >> TODD PARROTT IS BACK WITH HIM. REMEMBER THAT JUST HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY GOT TODD PARROTT GOT ON THE BOX FOR DALE JARRETT. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE CHEERING FOR RIGHT NOW, THE 45 OR THE -- >> I THINK KYLE IS TRYING TO CROSS THE START/FINISH LINE. HE WANTS TO FINISH. >> HE'S GOING TO DO IT. >> THERE IT IS. ALL RIGHT. >> YOU GO THIS FAR, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ONE LAP SHORT. >> I THINK DALE JARRETT STOPPED TO SEE WHAT KYLE WAS DOING. FIRST WIN FOR JARRETT SINCE ROCKINGHAM IN FEBRUARY OF 2003. DALE JARRETT OUT OF HIS CAR. HE'S NOT GOING TO CLIMB >> SURELY. >> HE JUST WANTS THE FLAG. >> DALE JARRETT WILL TURN 49 YEARS OLD ON NOVEMBER 26th. HE'S THE 14th DIFFERENT WINNER THIS SEASON. HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY POPULAR DRIVER WITH THE FANS. OF COURSE, HIS DAD NED WON TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS. DALE, FORMER SERIES CHAMPION. THIS WIN MEANS A LOT TO HIM. AND TO BENNY, A LOT TO THE ENGI BUILDERS. >> EXACTLY. MY HATS OFF TO THOSE GUYS BECAUSE THEY COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND IT WENT FOR 500 MILES. >> DAVE? BREATH FROM CELEBRATING. ROBERT YATES, WELCOME BACK TO VICTORY LANE. >> THANK YOU. I DIDN'T THINK THEY MADE THESE ANYMORE. HOW ABOUT THAT? OH. WE NEEDED THAT. WHEW. YEAH. >> MAKING, ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE EARLY SUCCESS FOR THESE GUYS. >> TODD TOLD ME SUNDAY MORNING, NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU PUT ME BACK ON THAT I'LL WIN A RACE BEFORE THE YEAR IS OVER, 17 YEARS IN A ROW MY SON JUST REMINDED ME THAT WE WON EVERY YEAR AND HE'S BEEN ON M GOT TO GET BACK TO VICTORY LAY, SO, WOO, FOR DALE JARRETT, U.P.S., THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE IT, RIGHT CLOSE TO HOME OF U.P.S. SO COULDN'T BE A SWEETER DEAL. >> HAPPY CAR OWNER, ROBERT YATES. >> SMILES OVER BY THE 20 CAR. UNBELIEVABLE MOVES TONY, THIS T FOUGHT A LOT STARTED WITH THE OVERHEATING ISSUES. >> 275 AT ONE POINT IN THE RACE SO JUST HAD TO KIND OF REGROUP AND TAKE OUR LUMPS THERE AND GO TO THE BACK AND, YOU KNOW, AUGUST THE WRECKS CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND WE GOT TO WHERE WE COULD START FINALLY GOT THE TEMPERATURE BACK TO WHERE I COULD START RACING AND WORKED OUR WAY THROUGH THERE AND A GOOD FINISH, GOT A GOOD PUSH FROM D.J. IF WE COULDN'T WIN I'M GLAD TO SEE HIM WIN FOR SURE. WE NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE 17 AND THE 12. >> GOOD POINTS. >> WALK ME THROUGH THE LAST FINAL THROUGH INTENSE LAPS. >> WE HAD A GOOD CAR, FIRST OF ALL. I GOT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM PENSKE RACING. THE GUYS IN THE FAB SHOP, BODY SHOP. ENGINE SHOPJOB. GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ON A COUPLE OF SHOWS THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ON. GOOD EFFORT. JUST, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. SOL GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT TEAMING UP BEHIND US. LUCKILY 42 GAVE US A PUSH. GOT BACK TO THIRD BY THE TIME WE GOT TO TVE. WHAT WE NEEDED. >> MIDWAY THERE WAS CONTACT WITH THE 41 CAR. TELL ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE. >> I PUSHED THE 41 UP TO THE TRIAL AND A LITTLE IN THE TRIAL. I'M NOT SURE IF ME PUSHING HIM GOT HIM LOOSE, IF I ACTUALLY HIT HIM AND SPUN HIM OUT. I KNOW THE 25 BLOCKED HIMHIM UP LOOSE STUFF WHICH WE HASN'T BEEN IN MOST OF ALL DAY. VICTIM OF RESTRICTOR PLATE RACING. FEEL SORRY FOR CASEY AND RIGGS AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED. DIDN'T MEAN TO CRASH AND I HAVE RAEF BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END AS MUCH AS I'VE BEEN ON THE GIVING END SEEMS. I'M SORRY IF I WAS TO BLAME. >> AT FIRST A FIFTH AND THEN A THIRD. >> CARL EDWARDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT RACE? >> THAT WAS EXCITING. >> WHY? >> WELL, THERE WAS POINTS WHERE I WAS JUST CRUISING ALONG WE'RE ALL IN THE LINE AND EVERYTHING IN THE BACK OF MY MIND I KNEW THIS WILL GET HUGE AT THE END. I WISH WE COULD HAVE FINISHED THAT RACE, COME TO THE START/FINISH LINE. I'M SO PROUD FOR DALE TO WIN A UAW-FORD 500 AND AWESOME POINTS DAY AND THANKFUL RYAN NEWMAN DIDN'T CRASH THE WHOLE FIELD SO UNOFFICIALLY FIFTH IN THE STANDINGS. DAVE? >> MATT KENSETH IS BEING TOLD BY NASCAR OFFICIALS THAT HE FINISHED THIRD. MATT, I KNOW, CHECKING HIS ROOF FLAP THERE. I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU WANTED TO END UP LEADING THE RACE? >> YEAH, I WAS LEADING WITH TWO -- YOU ALWAYS WANTOO WINERYG WE COULD DO THERE. JUST FEEL BAD YOU COULDN'T PULL IT OFF. WASN'T STRONG ON RESTARTS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT TRANSMISSION RATIOS. LOSING TIME BUT I JUST FEEL BAD WE GOT PASSED BUT I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. I COULD WITHOUT WRECKING AND HAPPY TO COME HOME THIRD. >> DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT HELP AT THE RIGHT TIME BUT RAN A GREAT RACE AT THE END. TO ALLEN BESTWICK IN VICTORY LANE FOR A HAPPY YATES BUNCH. >> DALE JARRETT JUST DROVE HIS CAR IN HERE AND WILL NOW CLIMB OUT TO WHAT I'M SURE WILL BE A LARGE SHOWER. >> A LARGE SHOWER BUT ONE THAT HE IS MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE. CONGRATULATIONS FROM TODD PARROTT. LONGTIME CREW CHIEF NOW REUNITED. >> GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU. >> AND ROBERT YAT OWNER. WITH THE CONGRATULATORY HUG, AS WELL. D.J., FIRST OF ALL, TELL ME ABOUT THE LAST RESTART AND WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WINNING MOVE. >> YEAH, LET ME FIRST THANK THESE GUYS HERE, DOUG YATES AND TODD PARROTT AND EVERYBODY AT THE FAB SHOP. WHAT A GREAT RACE CAR. NEXT I THINK THE 380,000 U.P.S. EMPLOYEES FOR STICKING WITH US HERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG DRY SPELL AND PEOPLE ATCITI FPGS, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE, WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT BUT LAST PASS, LIKE I TOLD TODD GOT JAMMED UP ON THE RESTART THERE. ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS IN TROUBLE. WHEN TONY WENT TO THE OUTSIDE DOWN THE FRONTSTRETCH TO GET THE THEN HE DOVE AROUND SO IT OPENED UP A LANE THEN A GOT A PUSH FROM MATT KENSETH AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. >> YOU WERE A LONG WAY BACK FOR A LARGE PART OF THIS DAY. WERE YOU CONCERNED WHEN THE LAPS STARTED WINDING OUT YOU WERE TOO FAR BACK? >> NO, TAKING IT AND EVERYBODY CONTINUED TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER AND WRECK SO THOUGHT WE'D HANG OUT AND WAIT FOR IT TO COME TO US. SO GREAT DAY. KELLY AND THE KIDS, HATE YOU'RE NOT HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WITH ME. BUT I'LL BE HOME IN A LITTLE WHILE AND WE'LL DO SOME CELEBRATING. >> CONGRATULATIO TIME BUT DALE JARRETT IS BACK IN VICTORY LANE. >> CAUGHT UP WITH RUSTY WALLACE BACK IN THE GARAGE. YOU HAD A SOLID RUN THEN CAUGHT UP IN THE ONE WRECK AND WENT SOUTH FROM THERE. >> HAD A GREAT RUN GOING FROM DEAD LAST TO EIGHTH OR SEVENTH REAL QUICK I THINK UP TO FIFTH ONE TIME. EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GREAT STRAIGHTAWAY. ALL I SAW WAS THE 41 COMING OFF THE WALL ACROSS ME AND WIPED ME RIGHT OUT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TWO CHARACTERS GOT INTO IT AT THE START/FINISH LINE BUT IT RUINED OUR DAY. THE GOOD PART WE DID FINISH IN THE 20s AND WE GAINED SOME POINTS. AT LEAST WE DIDN'T FINISH 40th. NOTHING GOOD THAT CAME OUT OF TODAY. THE ONLY GOOD THING I DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS JOINT AGAIN. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS HERE. >> TO MARTY. >> WELL, MATT, KURT BUSCH HAD AN INCREDIBLE RECOVERY. GO YOU THINK YOU COULD GET BACK TO EIGHTH AFTER YOUTIRE? >> OUR CAR WAS DAMAGED PRETTY BAD. THE TOLL WAS KNOCKED OUT AN INCH AND A HALF AND LUCKILY GOT THE CAUTION. SOMETHING AGAINST US. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP PULLING THROUGH. TO GET A FLAT TIRE RECALL ON OUR OWN AND WRECK AND FINISH EIGHTH. GREAT DAY FOR US. GUYS TO FINISH EIGHTH. >> THANKS, MARTY. DALE JARRETT IS THE FIFTH OLDEST DRIVER TO WIN A RACE, 48 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AND 6 DAYS OLD HERE AGAIN BOBBY ALLISON, MORGAN SHEPHERD AND DALE EARNHARDT SR. WON RACES AT A LATER AGE THAN JARRETT. 49 NEXT MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND ROBERT YATES WHO DID A REMARKABLE JOB IN TRYINGCENT WEEKS, WANTED TO SEE RESULTS BY CHARLOTTE HE TOLD ME AND HE SAW THEM HERE. NOW, NASCAR IS STILL LOOKING AT SCORING LOOPS AND VIDEO SO HERE ARE THE RESULTS UNOFFICIAL. THESE ARE THE TOP TEN FINISHERS ALL UN NASCAR HAS HAD A TOTAL REVIEW. NOW THE TENTATIVE POINTS. >> VERY UNOFFICIAL. >> TONY STEWART, RYAN NEWMAN WOULD BE FOUR POINTS BACK. RUSTY NOW 76. >> LIKE WE SAID THIS IS UNOF PAPERS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THAT MIGHT CHANGE IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES, TOO. DON'T FORGET NASCAR RETURNS NEXT WEEKEND TO NBC. SATURDAY AT 2:00 EASTERN, NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RACING FROM KANSAS PRESENTED BY ENERGIZER AND SUNDAY THE CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP 400 AT 1:30 EASTERN COVERAGE BEGINS WITH THE "BANK OF AMERICA COUNTDOWN TO GREEN." COMING UP NEXT, EXCEPT ON THE WEST COAST YOUR LOCAL NEWS THEN STARTING AT 7:00, ALL NEW EPISODES OF "DATELINE NBC." "WEST WING." DALE JARRETT WINS. SEE YOU <font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC </font><font color="#00FFFF"> www.vitac.com </font> >>NDS. ♪ SWEET HOME ALABAMA ♪ >> WHEN IT COMES TIME TO BE UP FRONT THAT'S WHEN WE'LL BE THERE AND THAT'S AT THE END. >>

Channel: Dave W

Views: 8,519

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Id: 1wkG7x5PCDU

Length: 217min 9sec (13029 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 22 2021