Here are the Talladega Superspeedway’s 4-Wide Notes:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
• After Sunday’s race at Phoenix, the four drivers who will compete for the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup have been determined.
• Kevin Harvick won Sunday’s final race of the Eliminator Round, guaranteeing him a shot at the title this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway where a first-time Sprint Cup champion will be crowned.
• Joining Harvick in the final (Championship) Round of the Chase is Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman.
• Newman made a last-ditch effort with a pass off the final corner of the final lap to finish 11th. As a result, he finished one point ahead of Jeff Gordon, solidifying his spot in the quartet of title contenders.
• Gordon, who finished second Sunday, along with Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards, were eliminated from championship contention.
• Of the four drivers who have a shot at the crown, Hamlin has two victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The top finisher this weekend of the foursome wins the title.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
• Brad Keselowski won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday at Phoenix.
• Chase Elliott, son of 1988 NASCAR Sprint CUP Series Champion Bill Elliott, secured the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship with a fifth-place finish this past weekend.
• Chase, 18, is the first Rookie and youngest driver to ever win the Nationwide Series championship.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
• Erik Jones won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday at Phoenix.
• Matt Crafton leads the Truck Series standings by 25 points over Ryan Blaney with only one race remaining in the 2014 season – Friday at Homestead. Crafton is seeking to become the first back-to-back champion in the series history. He needs to finish 21st or better to claim the title. Mobile, Ala, native Darrell Wallace, Jr., sits third, 46 points out of the lead.
From Homestead: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN. NASCAR Nationwide Series, Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. CT on FOX Sports 1. All three races will be carried LIVE on the radio by the Motor Racing Network (MRN).
NASCAR returns back for the traditional May weekend in 2015 May 1-3 for the Talladega 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Winn-Dixie 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series event. NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), with the circuit’s steepest banking (33 degrees) and longest distance (2.66 miles), is also the most fun and fan-friendly, offering up hundreds of acres of free camping, amazing kids ticket prices and special offers for military members and college students. Talladega Superspeedway is NASCAR’s “Party Capital” thanks to the track’s infamous infield and world renowned Talladega Blvd. Log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 877-Go2-DEGA for more information.
This is more than a race, this is Talladega!
(Interested in opportunities, contact Gwen DeRu www.thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com and www.gwenderu@yahoo.com .)
Gwen Deru, Vice President
The Lewis Group
(205) 251-1666
thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com
