Rookie Brad Keselowski (Chevy No 09) won his first ever Sprint Cup race at 19 years old in a very spectacular way.
Indeed, a few feet from the finish line, he got into Carl Edwards (Ford No 99) who had come from the back of the back to take the lead of the Aaron's 499 at the 2.6-mile Talladega Superspeedway and who tried to block Keselowski.
Edwards spun, flew up in the air and hit Ryan Newman (Chevy no 39) in the process. Ironically, Edwards finished the race by running on foot to the finish line.
Dale Earnhardt Jr (Chevy No 88), Keselowski's mentor, ended up second. Newman was still credited with the third place as Marcos Ambrose (Camry No 47) came in fourth and Scott Speed (Camry No 82) in fifth.
Points leader Jeff Gordon (Chevy No 24) got wrecked in the first major pile-up (eight laps into the race) that also eliminated last week's winner Mark Martin (Chevy No 5).
Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48) could have taken the lead in the championship but he got wrecked in the second major incident a few laps from the end.
Consequently, Kurt Busch (Dodge No 2) who crossed the line sixth at Talladega, will be leading the Sprint Cup championship when the series returns to Richmond (3/4-mile short track) next Saturday evening.
Hey! That's Talladega!
Indeed, a few feet from the finish line, he got into Carl Edwards (Ford No 99) who had come from the back of the back to take the lead of the Aaron's 499 at the 2.6-mile Talladega Superspeedway and who tried to block Keselowski.
Edwards spun, flew up in the air and hit Ryan Newman (Chevy no 39) in the process. Ironically, Edwards finished the race by running on foot to the finish line.
Dale Earnhardt Jr (Chevy No 88), Keselowski's mentor, ended up second. Newman was still credited with the third place as Marcos Ambrose (Camry No 47) came in fourth and Scott Speed (Camry No 82) in fifth.
Points leader Jeff Gordon (Chevy No 24) got wrecked in the first major pile-up (eight laps into the race) that also eliminated last week's winner Mark Martin (Chevy No 5).
Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48) could have taken the lead in the championship but he got wrecked in the second major incident a few laps from the end.
Consequently, Kurt Busch (Dodge No 2) who crossed the line sixth at Talladega, will be leading the Sprint Cup championship when the series returns to Richmond (3/4-mile short track) next Saturday evening.
Hey! That's Talladega!