NASCAR Cup

This wasn’t the storybook finish that fans of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. coveted. Earnhardt came into Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 needing a victory to advance to the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. As a six-time winner at Talladega Superspeedway, it was very much within the realm of possibility and something he sensed.

The effective end of Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway came moments after Kevin Harvick’s Chevrolet clipped Trevor Bayne’s Ford and ignited a multicar wreck in the tri-oval during the one attempt at a green-white-checkered-flag finish.

Joey Logano collected his third straight win to sweep all three races of the “Contender Round” of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in a wild controversial finish in Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

In last year’s first season of the elimination format in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Brad Keselowski came to Talladega with a singular purpose.He needed to win the race to advance to the Eliminator Round—and he did.

In what will likely be his last-ever start in a restrictor –plate race, Jeff Gordon will lead the field to the green flag for the 81st time in his career as he scored his second straight Talladega Speedway pole in Saturday’s qualifying sessions for Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500.

Joey Logano’s pants may not be on fire, but his ears might be burning after Matt Kenseth accused the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford of being less than forthcoming in his assessment of last Sunday’s fateful wreck at Kansas Speedway.

Most drivers dread going to Talladega Superspeedway when they’re in need of a high finish. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. isn’t most drivers.

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Wednesday they have signed driver Kurt Busch to a multi-year contract extension and will bring on Monster Energy as co-primary sponsor on Busch’s No. 41 Chevrolet SS.

Matt Kenseth appeared to be on his way to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory on Sunday, as he had led 153 laps at Kansas Speedway. But Joey Logano had other ideas.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. used to own Talladega Superspeedway. After a disappointing run at Kansas Speedway in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, he’ll need to re-ascend to the throne next Sunday if he is to keep his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship hopes intact.