Talladega Winners and Losers

Winners

Brad Keselowski

No matter what happens for the rest of his racing career Brad can now say that he was been to Victory Lane on one of NASCAR's grandest stages, Talladega.

Needless to say Keselowski most likely gained a good number of fans for keeping those wheels straight as Carl Edwards came down to put the block on him.

Driving for James Finch in some equipment bought from Hendrick I would dare say Keselowski earned a few more starts in NASCAR's premier division this year.

Talladega finish: Winner

Points: 41st, 333, (966 behind Kurt Busch)

Ryan Newman

While yes he did have Edwards left rear tire flying at his face there at the end Newman was able to continue and bring home a solid third place finish.

Newman has been on a roll of late bringing home a string of solid finishes vaulting himself up the point standings and into chase contention.

Newman now looking forward to this weekend at Richmond where he does have a win and several runner up finishes.

Talladega finish: Third

Points: 13th, 1033, (266 behind Kurt Busch)

Joey Logano

What a weekend for this young rookie bringing home solid top ten finishes in both the Cup and Nationwide races held at Talladega.

Logano, whom has been facing scrutiny all season, gained himself a little separation between his No. 20 car and those outside the top 35 in owner points.

Logano will look to continue this momentum going into Saturday night at Richmond.

Talladega finish: Ninth

Points: 33rd, 753, (546 behind Kurt Busch)

Scott Speed

Another rookie on my list after Speed brought home a solid fifth place finish Sunday at the Super Speedway bringing his Red Bull Toyota a bit closer to a locked in spot in the top 35.

Speed has already DNQ'd for one race this season will be looking to vault himself into that top 35 to avoid anymore DNQ's and continue to contend for Rookie of the Year.

Talladega finish: Fifth

Points: 36th, 607, (692 behind Kurt Busch)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Facing a whole lot of scrutiny for being the only Hendrick driver still win-less in 2009 Junior proved on Sunday that he can still contend for wins.

After pushing Newman to the front and putting himself in prime position to compete for the win it had to hurt to watch the 99-09 train just fly by him on the outside.

Fortunately for Junior the wreck on the front stretch happened at the point where he was able to slip by the two demolished cTars and slip in to second place.

Junior now gets to return to Richmond a track where he has had much success over the years.

Talladega finish: Second

Points: 15th, 1018, (281 behind Kurt Busch)

Losers

Carl Edwards

Guess the spotter wasn't able to key his mic in time to say "car low" before Edwards decided it was time to put on the block and drive across Keselowski's nose sending him spinning and eventually flying through the air.

Sure it was for the win but Edwards is points racing and if he is going to make comments like he did after the race about NASCAR he should drive a bit more conservatively then he did on Sunday.

Talladega finish: 24th

Points: Seventh, 1119, (180 behind Kurt Busch)

Mark Martin

Caught up in that early wreck Martin's bad luck continues as he finishes dead last and loses five position in the standings dropping down to 18th.

Martin, who won a few weeks back at Phoenix, has had a run of bad luck this season and a few too many DNFs then he would like.

Hopefully Martin can find the consistency of the Mark Martin of old and make a run towards chase contention.

Talladega finish: 43rd

Points: 18th, 971, (328 behind Kurt Busch)

Jeff Gordon

After also being caught up in one of those typical Talladega big ones Gordon came home a disappointing 37th place finish dropping out of the lead in Cup points only five points behind new leader Kurt Busch.

Gordon, looking to contend for his fifth championship, will look to rebound this weekend at the short track in Virginia's capital.

Talladega finish: 37th

Points: Second, 1294, (5 behind Kurt Busch)

Jamie McMurray

While fighting for his life over there at Roush Fenway, whom has to cut one team at the end of the season per NASCAR rules, a 42nd place finish is not what McMurray wants to see.

McMurray has to be the leading candidate for the axe with David Ragan having the decent finishes he has been recently.

Talladega finish: 42nd

Points: 29th, 825, (474 behind Kurt Busch)

TRG Motorsports

After seeing Gilliland bring home their car 40th after being caught up in that early wreck and seeing the No. 82 car finish fifth the fight for top 35 just got harder for the No. 71 team.

Currently 37th 59 points behind current 35th place team of the No. 7 of Robby Gordon this team needs to put a lot of work towards their qualifying setup this weekend to try to gain on the No. 7 and No. 34 who may have trouble at the 3/4 mile.

Talladega finish: 40th

Points: 37th, 569, (730 behind Kurt Busch)