With just five laps to go in the Amp Energy 500 race, there were two wrecks that resulted in cars flipping. Ryan Newman and Mark Martin both flipped in two separate wrecks in the final laps of the race. Jamie McMurray was leading the race when both wrecks occurred and score his first victory in over two years.
The Talladega race is the seventh race of the ten races that make up the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship. The 2.66 mile superspeedway is known for having the big wreck. With only three races to go, it is important for the Chase drivers to avoid being caught up in the big wreck.
The drivers listened to the warning from NASCAR about bump-drafting. Before the race, NASCAR announced there would be no bump-drafting through any of the turns allowed.
For most of the race there was very little action. The first caution was on lap 5 for a wreck involving Paul Menard and Joe Nemechek.
The second caution was for Kurt Busch on lap 50. He had a flat tire that sent Busch spinning into the infield.
On lap 106 debris brought out the third caution. Denny Hamlin blew an engine bringing out the fourth caution on lap 138.
For the most of the race the leading contenders of the Chase had stayed out of trouble. Defending three time Champion and points leader, Jimmie Johnson hung around the back of the pack for the majority of the race to avoid the big wreck.
With about 15 laps to go he started trying to work his way up to the front of the pack. If Johnson could make it through Talladega with a decent finish, then he could be well on his way to a record four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships.
Then with five laps to go, the pack bunched up causing a chain reaction wreck in the middle of the pack. Several cars got into each other with Marcos Ambrose being one of them getting into the back of Ryan Newman's car.
This sent Newman's car from the outside lane all the way to the inside of the race track. While his car was sliding down in front of the rest of the field, Newman made contact with Kevin Harvick's car.
The impact from hitting Harvick caused Newman's car to spin around and lift up in the air and flip over. Newman's car fell flat down roof first and landed on the hood of Harvick's car.
Newman then slid up the racetrack on his roof. His car then spun on its roof back down the track and began flipping again resting on its roof.
The race was red flagged so the safety crew could gently flip Newman's car back over. The roof had caved in and they had to cut the roof off to get Newman out of the car.
Fortunately, Newman was not hurt in the wreck. Once the roof was removed from the car, he jumped out of the car on his own and walked to the ambulance.
The race was started back with a green-white-checker dash for the win. Jamie McMurray was leading as he had done the last part of the race.
Some of the cars started running out of gas and had to come onto pit road for gas. Chase contenders Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon were among those.
Martin and Gordon's pitting for gas put them behind Johnson on the track. With one lap to go the big wreck happened.
The pack was coming off turn and 13 cars wrecked just behind Johnson. Martin flipped and landed on his wheels. Gordon received heavy damage.
McMurray completed the final lap for his first victory since the Daytona race in July 2007. This win came at a good time for McMurray.
Due to NASCAR rules, Roush-Fenway Racing must size down to four teams after this season. McMurray's team is the one going away.
So as of his Talladega win, McMurray has not been named for a ride for 2010. There has been rumors that an announcement is expected to be announced this week that McMurray will drive the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing #1 car next season.
McMurray's win also gives Ford their third win of the season. Ford started off the season strong with two wins by McMurray's teammate Matt Kenseth, but had not won since.
Jimmy Johnson added to his points lead with a sixth place finish. As the result of their end of the race wreck, Martin finished 28th and Gordon finished 20th.
Johnson now has a 184 point lead over Martin and a 192 lead over Gordon. There are only three races left in the Chase. It appears Johnson is heading towards being a four time champion.
Newman's flip will be one that will be talked about for a while on the racing talk shows. McMurray's win at Talladega is a boost for him and Ford racing as the 2009 season is closing to an end.
Written by Denise Clay
Exclusive to HULIQ
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
