NASCAR: Talladega Superspeedway Preview
Apr 26, 2008
Nine drivers have earned their first career Sprint Cup Series win at Talladega, including Alabama’s own Davey Allison in 1987 and the latest first-timer, Brian Vickers, in 2006.
SPEED analyst Phil Parsons picked up his first—and only—Cup win at the 2.66-mile track when he held off Bobby Allison to win the first restrictor-plate race there in May 1988.
“I thought I was going to be racing Geoff Bodine for the win, but Bobby ended up getting past him with about 10 laps to go, “ Parsons said. “Bobby had won the Daytona 500 earlier that year, so I knew I was going to have my hands full. I was probably looking in the mirror more than the windshield trying to anticipate what he was going to do.
“The draft really evens things out at Talladega. That’s why Dale Earnhardt could come from 18th to win in 2000. It’s all about putting yourself in position and staying out of trouble. “
So does Parsons still think a dark horse can sneak up and steal a win against the super teams in Sunday’s Aaron’s 499?
“Sure it’s possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s likely, “ he said. “How many true dark-horse teams are out there now? You can’t call Brian Vickers a dark horse because he was with Hendrick when he won. If I was looking at a first time winner, I would look at A. J. Allmendinger or David Reutimann. Toyota was really strong at Talladega last fall, and Reutimann was the best of the Michael Waltrip teams throughout the year. “
