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Everything bigger when NASCAR hits Talladega

Submitted by SHNS on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 14:41

In this day of "bigger is better," nothing gets any bigger -- at least on the NASCAR circuit -- than Talladega Superspeedway, where 43 drivers will tackle the most torturous, gut-wrenching race track in stock-car racing.Want some examples of how the "bigger" theme comes into play this weekend in north central Alabama? Here are a few:-- Bigger pre-race production.Can't get enough of NASCAR on FOX's pre-race show? Well, FOX is expanding its coverage by 30 minutes to 60 minutes total this Sunday, saying the "mega-track" is a track so "long it deserves a pre-race show to match." That means bigger segments, bigger interviews, bigger fanfare, bigger all-around bells and whistles. Some of the critics might say it will just be a bigger waste of time.-- Bigger test for Car of TomorrowLast year's COT debut at the two restrictor-plate tracks was at Talladega in October, and the reviews weren't good. Afterwards, two-time Cup champ Tony Stewart said, "I think we could just shorten the race to about 60 or 80 laps and cut all ... the middle where we're all riding around absolutely bored out of our skulls, and we could still put on a good show and everybody could get home earlier." Sunday will be a big test for NASCAR to prove its COT is better than six months ago.-- Bigger finish.Here are some former Talladega winners, Brickhouse, Pond, Marcis, Hylton, Bonnett, Bouchard, Brooks, Hillin, Gant, Phil Parsons and Spencer. Speaking of Stewart, his name isn't on that list. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver -- whom we learned this week may not be back with JGR next year -- needs a bigger finish: He has six Talladega runner-up showings.-- Which story is bigger, Danica Patrick or Talladega? Patrick, who won her first IndyCar Series race last week, has been the talk of motorsports. Bobby Labonte said Patrick's series has some momentum, but "if Dale Earnhardt Jr. is there, and we're putting 43 cars side-by-side, it's a tough product to beat. The fans at Talladega help define what passion is for NASCAR." Great job, Danica, in winning in your 50th start, but it's 'Dega's turn to grab the headlines.-- Bigger streaks.Six-time winner Jeff Gordon swept the races last year, though he won last year's fall event in an unusual manner -- leading just one lap, the final one under caution. Ryan Newman, meanwhile, admits he's not the favorite this weekend but hopes to build on his Daytona 500 winning formula. Something to watch for: Dodge Chargers finished in six of the top eight spots in the 500.-- Bigger moments. For whatever reason, Talladega produces some of the best slices of excitement, whether it be the final career wins of late racers like Dale Earnhardt and Bobby Hamilton, harrowing wrecks like Rusty Wallace's and Elliott Sadler's, or endings like Ron Bouchard's or Earnhardt's last-lap winning move with the help of Kenny Wallace in October of 2000.If a driver is contending for the win after a long day at the big track, fighting in a four-wide group off the final turn, he just needs to remember that the finish line is a few hundred yards past the tri-oval, unlike any other in NASCAR.Forgetting that could keep a driver from a big win.And everything is bigger at Talladega.(Bill Whitehead covers NASCAR for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. E-mail him at wwhitehe@ircc.net.)