THE business end of the NASCAR Cup Series heads to a true wildcard event this weekend, with the final three races of the Chase led by Talladega, with seven drivers within one race worth of points to leader Kyle Larson.
The reigning champion had a shocking last start at Phoenix, with Christopher Bell now only 5 points adrift, with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin hot on his heels.
With stage points on the line and a race format that limits reliance on fuel saving, a mixed Talladega result will likely set the tone for the run home.
Shane van Gisbergen, meanwhile, will be looking to capitalise on potential madness.
The Kiwi remains 17th in the points standings, and while he scored well at drafting races at Atlanta, he will look to improve on his 11th-place result at the corresponding Talladega event last year.
When asked about the enjoyment of racing at Talladega, van Gisbergen gave mixed reviews.
“Yes and no,” he said.
“When it’s fuel saving, it’s pretty boring. But when it’s flat-out racing, and you’re jockeying for position and pushing a lot, it’s pretty full-on.
“When it’s actual racing, it’s really cool.
“I’m still learning and trying to make friends, I guess.
“People leave you for no reason, or you do something wrong and lose the trust of people.
“It takes a while to understand how to put your car in the right place.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better at it, but my results haven’t been great yet.
“It’s hard to finish these races; it’s just so unpredictable.”
This weekend’s schedule includes no practice before qualifying.
It also celebrates the 20th anniversary of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with a special event called ‘DEGA-CON’, featuring a Guinness World Record attempt for the most people dressed as Ricky Bobby.
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