The unparalleled excitement returns to Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday when the NASCAR XFINITY Series Winn-Dixie 300 race takes place at the biggest, baddest and most competitive track on the circuit.
Race time for the Winn-Dixie 300 is set for 2 p.m. CST.
Elliott Sadler won this race last year, nipping Chris Buescher by 0.124 seconds. That was a typical Talladega Superspeedway conclusion, where fantastic finishes have become customary over the years.
“Talladega is always a fun race to watch as a fan, because you never know how the race will end. You can never predict what will happen,” Sadler said. “Last year we ran up front, bouncing back and forth in the top-five positions all afternoon. And in the closing laps I was able to hold off the field and cross the finish line first. It was such an awesome weekend.”
The current XFINITY point standings are just as tightly packed as a Talladega race. Sadler is one of nine drivers within 53 points of series leader Ty Dillon. This group includes Chase Elliott – son of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott – and Mobile native Darrell Wallace Jr.
Dillon said Talladega Superspeedway is special to him for several reasons. Not only did he win the 2011 ARCA Series race here by 0.038 seconds over Frank Kimmel at the age of 19, but he is the grandson of team owner Richard Childress, whose drivers have won 12 Sprint Cup Series events at Talladega. In addition, Dillon said the high-speed action that takes place at Talladega Superspeedway perfectly suits his approach to racing.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been an aggressive-style racer, and this place really fits my style,” Dillon said. “As soon as the green flag drops, I like to go as hard as I can go and get as many positions as possible. That style has suited me really well at this track, where I can be aggressive with the moves I make and get myself to the front.
“That’s my mentality when I race every weekend, but it really seems to play out well here. This place is definitely special to us. Every time we come to this track, I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to run well and win.”
Qualifying for the Winn-Dixie 300 will begin at 10 a.m. CST Saturday. Nine drivers who have made NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts this season will attempt to qualify for the 43-car NASCAR XFINITY Series field, including Kasey Kahne and Joey Logano.
New NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying format met with enthusiasm: There will rarely be a lull in the action when qualifying begins at noon CST Saturday to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s running of the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
This year’s new qualifying format features two rounds. Every driver will take one timed lap around the 2.66-mile tri-oval during the first round, and then the drivers with the 12 fastest lap speeds will advance to the second round. The top 12 starting positions for Sunday’s race will be determined by the fastest lap speed in the second round, while positions 13 and beyond will be established off the first-round speeds.
The biggest difference between this format and the traditional single-car qualifying at Talladega is that NASCAR officials will send cars onto the track at predetermined intervals, resulting in a constant flow of drivers making qualifying runs. So the action on the track will never stop, except for the 10-minute break between rounds.
Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick was one of several drivers who expressed enthusiasm Friday about the new qualifying format.
“I feel really good about what qualifying has evolved into. I think all the competitors feel that way,” said Harvick, who won the 2010 GEICO 500 at Talladega. “I think the sped-up, single-car process with one lap will make the process that much better. Our qualifying change has been probably one of the better changes that we have had in our sport in a while.”
Danica Patrick said the new format should give an accurate assessment of which cars will have the most power on a track known for high speeds.
“I’m glad the qualifying has changed,” said Patrick, who started seventh in this race last year. “For teams that have a fast car on the speedway, it’s an opportunity to display their talents and their abilities as car builders and the positions that they’ve earned at great teams.”
Talladega’s weekend kicked off today with practice sessions for the GEICO 500 (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series) and Winn-Dixie 300 (NASCAR XFINITY Series), as well as practice, qualifying and green flag for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards event. The evening concludes with “The Big One on the Blvd” Mardi Gras-style parade, which will feature NASCAR drivers and fan competitions on the track’s infield Talladega Blvd.
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