NASCAR Sprint Cup: Notes from Qualification at Talladega

One line from the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama" gives about the most succinct description of the weather conditions seen at qualifying and expected on race day at Talladega Superspeedway:

"Sweet home Alabama, where the skies are so blue..."

Nary a cloud could be seen during the three hours of qualification. Sunshine bathed the track during the entire course of the proceedings.

The most dramatic event of the day happened during the last qualification run. Driver T.J. Bell made a valiant effort to get the No. 77 Ford Fusion into the race as a tribute to his fallen friend Dan Wheldon, who also drove a No. 77 car when he fatally crashed in Las Vegas.

It was not to be, and sadly, Bell's Ford will not be able to race at Talladega on Sunday.

This was good news, however, for Robby Gordon, Trevor Bayne and Penske Dodge Racing. Had Bell qualified, Gordon would have been sent home. Trevor Bayne noted that he was planning on running with Gordon in the No. 7, and that would have left Bayne alone on race day.

Also, Gordon's ride is the only other Dodge in the race besides Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski. They will have another friend in the race that could prove valuable at any given time for tandem drafting.

Overall, the day went well for Penske; both Keselowski and Busch qualified fairly high inside the top 15. Even better, their planned partner, Reagan Smith, will be just a few spots behind them and will certainly be able to hook up with either of them early in the race.

The most successful team of the day was Hendrick Motorsports. Mark Martin was able to grab the pole from teammate Jimmie Johnson, who held onto the pole for a long while and ended up second. Even better, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were able to nab the fifth and sixth positions.

They all may be able to hook up early and get ahead of the pack as a team. It is possible that Martin will get behind Jimmie Johnson right away to guarantee a point for Johnson after the first lap.

Rousch Fenway Racing probably had the most disappointing day as a team. Fellow partners Matt Kenseth and David Ragan qualified solidly in eighth and 11th. However, the fastest pair during practice, points leader Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, will start nine positions apart after Edwards finished ninth and Biffle could only manage an 18th-place effort.

Other Notable Items

Michael Waltrip was able to qualify in a tribute car to his brother Darrel Waltrip and could be able to help his employees, Martin Truex Jr. and David Reutimann, should they get separated.

Both Reutimann and Truex Jr.'s cars were forced to change windshields because they did not adhere to NASCAR standards. This tandem was the fastest in the second practice round, however, their qualification runs put them in 36th and 37th place. Fortunately, they are very close and can hook up quickly.

Finally, one other item of interest that has nothing to do with racing, but more with the culture of the track:

Some brave soul hoisted a Louisiana State University flag on the infield camping area, over the top of his camper. Given the huge BCS implications of the game scheduled in early November between Alabama and LSU, this was a bold move. It almost goes without saying that they are playing Auburn this weekend.

He would be wise to lower that flag when the sun goes down and the level of inebriation of race fans increases. I have nothing against LSU, I am just a little more worried about this individual's general well-being.

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity. Let's go racing, boys!