Talladega Superspeedway Posts -- FanHouse

Latest Talladega Superspeedway Stories

Ryan Newman Calls Talladega Crash 'Worst Hit I've Ever Had'

Posted: Nov 6th 2009 4:46PM by Holly Cain (author feed)
Filed under: Ryan Newman, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR Crashes

2 COMMENTS

For two mornings this week, Ryan Newman struggled just to lift his head off the pillow to get out of bed, his neck muscles still sore from a frightening airborne smash-and-roll wreck at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last Sunday.

Even as he suited up Friday to practice for Race 8 of NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Championship at Texas Motor Speedway, he was still aching from the crash, and bristling that it even happened.

Newman had been outspoken about NASCAR's immediate need to keep the race cars from launching into the air during accidents -- only to take that scary ride himself Sunday afternoon.

Continue Reading Ryan Newman Calls Talladega Crash 'Worst Hit I've Ever Had'

Different Day, Same Talladega

Posted: Nov 2nd 2009 4:25PM by Holly Cain (author feed)
Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR Crashes

15 COMMENTS

Before Ryan Newman's horrific Talladega flip-roll-smash-and-slide on Sunday, there was Carl Edwards' car somersaulting into the front stretch fencing.

The late Dale Earnhardt had one of his most frightening accidents at Talladega Superspeedway, barrel-rolling through the tri-oval. Before that it was Ricky Craven and Bill Elliott on E-ticket rides. In 1993, driver Jimmy Horton's car flipped over the Turn 1 wall and landed outside the track.

Rusty Wallace's Talladega crash footage -- pick a year -- used to be standard play before any NASCAR restrictor plate race.

The point is -- while there is a justifiable outcry at the scary accident involving Newman this weekend -- spectacular, highlight-reel wrecks here aren't news. They are old news.

Continue Reading Different Day, Same Talladega

Johnson's Fourth Title in Full View

Posted: Nov 1st 2009 7:36PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Talladega Superspeedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup

41 COMMENTS

Jimmie Johnson Talladega 2009 Sprint Cup Chase Hendrick Motorsports

A car length here, a lane change there and one incredible pit call.

No matter what it was, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team seemed to do it right on a mild then wild Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway -- even when it looked like holding par in the point standings wasn't going to happen as the laps clicked off and the drama kept rising around the 2.66-mile wildcard.

But when the cars stopped flipping and the smoke stopped rising, Johnson -- to the chagrin of plenty -- stood alone in his pursuit of the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup with what amounts to be an insurmountable lead with an unstoppable team.

Continue Reading Johnson's Fourth Title in Full View

Inside 'The Chase' With Ryan Newman: On NASCAR Safety, More

Posted: Oct 10th 2009 1:44PM by Holly Cain (author feed)
Filed under: Ryan Newman, Talladega Superspeedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup

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In this week's edition of Inside the Chase, FanHouse's Holly Cain visits with Ryan Newman, the driver of the U.S. Army-sponsored No. 39 Chevrolet, to talk Talladega safety improvements, a rough qualifying lap at California Speedway, reading to school kids, a vacation to Jackson Hole and the benefits of earning his college degree.

Ryan Newman is currently ranked ninth among the 12 drivers vying for the Sprint Cup title as the series stops at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California for the fourth of the 10-race Chase for the Championship.

Newman was a vocal proponent of having NASCAR make safety modifications in light of a horrific airborne crash at the spring Talladega 500-miler. In the midst of a multi-car accident at the front of the field, Newman's car launched Carl Edwards' car into the front stretch catchfence. Debris injured seven people in the grandstands.

Continue Reading Inside 'The Chase' With Ryan Newman: On NASCAR Safety, More

Mark Martin Staying Full-Time in 2010

Posted: May 6th 2009 1:12PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Mark Martin, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

29 COMMENTS

For one driver, getting older in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series just means getting better.

50-year-old Mark Martin will drive the full 2010 schedule in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 car, according to the Associated Press. Martin returned to full time competition in 2009 with a two year deal at Hendrick after running partial schedules since 2007, and it was originally expected that 2010 would be another partial schedule for the driver.

While the news may be good for Martin fans, surprise Talladega winner Brad Keselowski is now somewhat on the outside looking in for 2010 if he wants to pursue racing in NASCAR's top division.

Continue Reading Mark Martin Staying Full-Time in 2010

Wheel2Wheel: From 'Dega to Richmond

Posted: Apr 30th 2009 11:59AM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel

76 COMMENTS

Jump in as FanHouse writers Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller try to put a cap on the weekend that was Talladega and look ahead to the always exciting spring race in Richmond with a little thing we like to call Wheel2Wheel.

NASCAR Feuds

While Carl Edwards' wreck stole the show at Talladega, two of NASCAR's biggest stars will be thrust into the spotlight Saturday. Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. traded paint at both of last year's Richmond races. Click through to see their two dustups and other top feuds.

Getty Images

Race: Crown Royal presents Dan Lowry 400 Date: May 3, 2008
Feud: Kyle Busch spins out leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. with three laps to go.
Memorable Quote: Kyle Busch: "The deal with Jr. ... man, it was racing."

Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

Race: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Date: Sept. 7, 2008
Feud: Dale Earnhardt spins out leader Kyle Busch on lap 212.
Memorable Quote: Dale Jr.: "I really ain

Shawn Chamberlin, AP

Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed with 11 laps to go after he and Casey Mears made contact. Earnhardt then spun Mears on the cool-down lap and Mears retaliated by bumping into the back of Earnhardt's car on pit road.
Memorable Quote: Mears: "I guess he was a little bent out of shape about it, because he spun me out after the checkered flag."

LEFT: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images RIGHT: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Feud: Robby Gordon, left, gets upset with Michael Waltrip after contact with Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota sends Gordon into the Phoenix International Speedway wall.
Memorable Quote: Gordon: "I

Getty Images

Race: Daytona 500
Feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr's clip of Brian Vickers triggers a 9-car accident
Memorable Quote: Earnhardt: "What the hell am I supposed to do? ... If he wasn't so damn reckless, we would have never had that problem."

Getty Images (2)

Race: Gatorade Duel 150 Date: Feb. 12, 2009
Feud: Ryan Newman wrecked by David Reutimann
Memorable Quote: Newman: "Reutimann is a good name for him -- because he rooted a man right out of there and sent me up into the wall."

Steve Johnson, Orlando Sentinel / MCT

Race: Amp Energy 500 Date: Oct. 7, 2008
Feud: Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick clash four days after race
Memorable Quote: Harvick after race: "I know that [Edwards'] fans won't be very proud of him sitting back there riding around like a pansy."

Race: CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 (Nationwide) Date: May 24, 2008
Feud: Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski mix it up under a caution
Memorable Quote: Hamlin: "If he throws a rock, I'll throw a concrete block back."

Jason Smith, Getty Images

Race: Food City 500 Date: March 17, 2008
Feud: Kevin Harvick wrecks Tony Stewart with two laps left
Memorable Quote: Stewart: "I thought I left him plenty of room. I was far enough ahead of him that I didn't see where he hit me or when he hit me. But I'm sure, somehow, it's my fault."

Jason Smith, Getty Images

Q: What was your first reaction to all of the events and drama that Talladega produced this weekend?

Holly Cain: The accident began only a few yards below my seat in the Talladega press box. At most tracks, the press box is an elevator-ride atop the grandstands, but at Talladega it sits only about 15 rows up.

The last lap was sensory-overload, but that's what you expect at Talladega.

Continue Reading Wheel2Wheel: From 'Dega to Richmond

Injured Fan, 17, Leaves Alabama Hospital

Posted: Apr 29th 2009 9:32PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR Fans, Sprint Cup

14 COMMENTS

For Blake Bobbitt, 187 laps of last Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway were pretty much the same as the rest of the 142,000 fans on hand -- fast and exciting. Then, on the lap 188, Carl Edwards' No. 99 flew into the catch fence in front of her, ripping apart and spewing a chunk of metal into her face and shattering her jaw.

Talk about a bad experience at your first NASCAR race.

Continue Reading Injured Fan, 17, Leaves Alabama Hospital

Numbers: Keselowski's 'Dega Shocker

Posted: Apr 29th 2009 2:48PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Talladega Superspeedway, Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup Numbers

1 COMMENT

Takin' a glance at Brad Keselowski's upset win in last Sunday's action at Talladega Superspeedway:

0.175 - Seconds Keselowski finished ahead of second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr.

1 - Total number of laps led by Keselowski in his Sprint Cup career

1 - Number of Miss Sprint Cup girls doused with champagne in victory lane by Keselowski

Continue Reading Numbers: Keselowski's 'Dega Shocker

Blame NASCAR for Edwards' Scary Ride

Posted: Apr 26th 2009 9:19PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup

74 COMMENTS

Let's face it: NASCAR's own rules nearly killed multiple spectators Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway.

The scary last-lap crash in the Aaron's 499 involving Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and first-time winner Brad Keselowski is just the concoction NASCAR has cooked up with their set of rules governing the cans and cannots of racing at restrictor plate tracks.

At issue, primarily, is the much discussed yellow line rule that prohibits a driver from going below to advance a position.

More Coverage: Drivers Irate | Keselowski Capitalizes

Continue Reading Blame NASCAR for Edwards' Scary Ride

Paging Matt Kenseth: Where's He Been?

Posted: Apr 23rd 2009 11:38AM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Matt Kenseth, Roush Fenway Racing, Sprint Cup

0 COMMENTS

Just weeks ago, the name Matt Kenseth was the only available substitute for '2009 Sprint Cup winner'.

The Roush Fenway Racing driver picked up the Harley J. Earl Trophy for winning the rain-soaked Daytona 500 and followed it up a week later with a 'W' in the season's second race at Auto Club Speedway.

Since then, however, Kenseth has fallen through the standings at a clip rivaling a Ryan Newman qualifying lap.

Continue Reading Paging Matt Kenseth: Where's He Been?