Jerry Bonkowski Previews Sunday’s Chase-clincher At Talladega

Earnhardt noted Sunday that there’s no other track than Talladega that he’d rather be at this week facing elimination.

“It’s insane. It’s a white-knuckle experience”.

Talladega is a volatile track where anything can happen, but the Hendrick cars have been pretty consistent on them this season.

“It can make for fantastic moments and highlights”, Gordon said. More recently it has become known for “The Big One” as the restrictor plates have led to tight fields and bump drafting.

Logano has said he didn’t deliberately wreck Kenseth, but that it was also part of racing and nothing for which he would apologize. If there’s a caution in the two-lap overtime period, the running order will be frozen, with the leader being declared the victor.

Although Dillon walked away unhurt, there were several fans who were struck by flying debris. In fact, the last time we’ve seen it may have been with Earnhardt Jr. during his Dale Earnhardt Inc. days, when he won five of seven races at Talladega (2001-2004), and his entire team – which included Michael Waltrip winning the only races of his career – had a decided advantage.

He said in RJ Kraft’s NASCAR.com story, “I have never thought it was good to have it in the Chase, especially with this format”. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Drivers went through a pair of practice sessions Friday. They will return for pole qualifying on Saturday.

The CampingWorld.com 500 was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, covering 188 miles on the 2.66-mile track.

The last lap of the day probably will determine which eight drivers advance to the Chase’s Eliminator round, which includes the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November. 8.

Denny Hamlin, second to Logano, leads ninth-place Kyle Busch by 18 points. In the most recent restrictor plate race at the Daytona global Speedway, Austin Dillon’s Chevy was sent into the catch fence at the start-finish line due to a dispute over real estate at the checkered flag. Logano will have everything to lose as the Chase hits the homestretch, while Kenseth – assuming he doesn’t win at Talladega to keep his own title hopes alive – will be the one who has nothing to lose.

What was your take of how Logano got past Matt Kenseth to win at Kansas?

“Yeah, a few day he might mature a little bit”.

“Following extensive dialogue with the industry, we have chose to make a procedural change at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend”, NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell said.

NASCAR chairman Brian France sided with Logano, calling the move “quintessential NASCAR” during an interview on SiriusXM radio.

Meanwhile Penske’s Brad Keselowski was fastest in the later practice when he posted a best time of 48.752s (196.423mph) to put himself ahead of fellow Ford contender Ryan Blaney in the Wood Brothers #21 part-time entry, which has a technical affiliation with the Penske team. Following was Danica Patrick in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet (200.624 mph) and Justin Allayer’s No. 51 HScott Motorsports Chevrolet (200.574 mph).