Kyle Busch Wins at 'Dega but JR Nation rocks the Stands

Eastern Alabama was rocked by the crowds going wild as Dale Earnhardt JR took the lead from Denny Hamlin at Talladega Superspeedway. JR Nation, a moniker given to Dale Earnhardt JR fans, were on their feet as the driver of the number 88 Amp Chevrolet made the pass to take the lead on lap 39. Forty-three racecars pumping out nearly 800 horsepower each could not mask the sound of JR Nation rocking the grandstands at Talladega. However, the delight was short lived with 17 lead changes following Dale Earnhardt JR’s pass for the lead.

With just 15 laps to go, a ping-pong match incurs as cars bounce off of each other. Bobby Labonte is turned sideways by a loose Dale Earnhardt JR and then collects an array of others in his path. Tony Stewart, Martin Truex JR, Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch were the unlucky bystanders left in the aftermath of the contact of Labonte and Earnhardt JR.

The white flag flies and havoc ensues. Michael McDowell spun out of the front stretch by himself staying down low and on the apron. In the back of the field, Jamie McMurray shoots up the track, possibly from damage caused by his earlier accident just 14 laps before on lap 173. Jimmie Johnson, Regan Smith, Kasey Kahne, Joe Nemecheck, and David Stremme are among the others that were collected by McMurray.

Kyle Busch led Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing to Victory Lane under caution after spending part of the Aaron’s 499 a lap down. The Talladega victory is the second for Busch this season and a third for both Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The top five in the standings after Talladega are Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt JR, Denny Hamlin, and Jimmie Johnson with only 102 point separating 5th place Jimmie Johnson from the leader.

By: Ryanick Paige
Published: 05/06/08