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CUP: SPEED Crew Thunders Into Talladega
SPEED on-air personalities discuss the Chase and preview this weekend’s race at Talladega...
Talladega Superspeedway hosts Race No. 4 of the Chase. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
This weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway could make or break the championship hopes of several drivers. Call it the “wild card” or the “great equalizer,” but there is no doubt many teams roll into Talladega Friday holding their breath and hoping to leave with minimal damage in the point standings.
Below, the SPEED on-air personalities discuss the championship and this weekend’s race at Talladega:
Q: With seven races remaining in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, who do you think we can eliminate at this point?
“We have seven races to go. I don’t care about the math. I try to use a little common sense and see where these drivers are performing right now. Therefore, I think we have a three-to- five-man race heading into Talladega.”
--Larry McReynolds, SPEED analyst
“The Roush cars are out of it and I also think Kevin Harvick is. Martin Truex Jr. probably can’t win the title from where he is either. Talladega will be a big wild card but I’m not counting out the No. 24. The guy is on a mission.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
“It’s shaping up to be a four-man race for the championship between Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer. The problem for drivers deep in a points hole like Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon is that the frontrunners are finishing up front every week. The other guys can’t gain anything on them when they keep knocking off top-three finishes.”
--Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
Q: Should we expect to see different race strategies between the Chasers and non-Chasers this weekend at Talladega?
“Jimmie Johnson calls Talladega his biggest wild card. There are drivers gunning for the championship like Jimmie who will lag behind at Talladega, try to miss the wrecks and then race the last 30 laps. We’ll probably see another strategy from someone like Ryan Newman and Joey Logano who aren’t in the Chase. Why should they fall to the back and lag behind? They have nothing to gain with that approach. I’m expecting to see different strategies as soon as the green flag waves.”
--Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
Q: Assess the relationship/chemistry of Brad Keselowski and Paul Wolfe. Why are they so strong together?
“Think about the fact they’re going to be changing manufacturers and they lost their teammate (AJ Allmendinger, to suspension) at Daytona in July. They had some little problems at the beginning of the year but what impresses me about Brad Keselowski is he is totally focused. He knows what he needs to do in that race car, and with the leadership of Paul Wolfe, they have their cars lined up, they’ve got their strategy worked out, they work together flawlessly and they execute what needs to be done. Dover was a great example of what these two guys can accomplish each week in the Chase.”
--Jeff Hammond, SPEED analyst
“Brad’s secret weapon is his crew chief. I can only think of one little mistake made this year by Paul Wolfe -- it was at Indy. He is a master. He is the new Chad Knaus.”
--Kenny Wallace, SPEED analyst
“Those two just seem to mesh well. Brad marches to the beat of his own drum and likes to keep his mind working. He doesn’t simply accept what people tell him – he questions and challenges it. Brad’s approach as a driver is different than many, but I think Paul is somewhat similar in his thinking, which probably is why they’re working so well together.”
--Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
“This No. 2 team makes more out of nothing than any other team. We’ve talked about the No. 11 making mistakes. We talked about having to go through the No. 48 to win a championship, but we also have talked about Brad (Keselowski) overcoming mistakes. They had a pit issue at Dover. They overcame and that’s the hallmark of this team this year.”
--Kyle Petty, SPEED analyst
Below, the SPEED on-air personalities discuss the championship and this weekend’s race at Talladega:
Q: With seven races remaining in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, who do you think we can eliminate at this point?
“We have seven races to go. I don’t care about the math. I try to use a little common sense and see where these drivers are performing right now. Therefore, I think we have a three-to- five-man race heading into Talladega.”
--Larry McReynolds, SPEED analyst
“The Roush cars are out of it and I also think Kevin Harvick is. Martin Truex Jr. probably can’t win the title from where he is either. Talladega will be a big wild card but I’m not counting out the No. 24. The guy is on a mission.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
“It’s shaping up to be a four-man race for the championship between Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer. The problem for drivers deep in a points hole like Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon is that the frontrunners are finishing up front every week. The other guys can’t gain anything on them when they keep knocking off top-three finishes.”
--Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
Q: Should we expect to see different race strategies between the Chasers and non-Chasers this weekend at Talladega?
“Jimmie Johnson calls Talladega his biggest wild card. There are drivers gunning for the championship like Jimmie who will lag behind at Talladega, try to miss the wrecks and then race the last 30 laps. We’ll probably see another strategy from someone like Ryan Newman and Joey Logano who aren’t in the Chase. Why should they fall to the back and lag behind? They have nothing to gain with that approach. I’m expecting to see different strategies as soon as the green flag waves.”
--Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
Q: Assess the relationship/chemistry of Brad Keselowski and Paul Wolfe. Why are they so strong together?
“Think about the fact they’re going to be changing manufacturers and they lost their teammate (AJ Allmendinger, to suspension) at Daytona in July. They had some little problems at the beginning of the year but what impresses me about Brad Keselowski is he is totally focused. He knows what he needs to do in that race car, and with the leadership of Paul Wolfe, they have their cars lined up, they’ve got their strategy worked out, they work together flawlessly and they execute what needs to be done. Dover was a great example of what these two guys can accomplish each week in the Chase.”
--Jeff Hammond, SPEED analyst
“Brad’s secret weapon is his crew chief. I can only think of one little mistake made this year by Paul Wolfe -- it was at Indy. He is a master. He is the new Chad Knaus.”
--Kenny Wallace, SPEED analyst
“Those two just seem to mesh well. Brad marches to the beat of his own drum and likes to keep his mind working. He doesn’t simply accept what people tell him – he questions and challenges it. Brad’s approach as a driver is different than many, but I think Paul is somewhat similar in his thinking, which probably is why they’re working so well together.”
--Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
“This No. 2 team makes more out of nothing than any other team. We’ve talked about the No. 11 making mistakes. We talked about having to go through the No. 48 to win a championship, but we also have talked about Brad (Keselowski) overcoming mistakes. They had a pit issue at Dover. They overcame and that’s the hallmark of this team this year.”
--Kyle Petty, SPEED analyst
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