Race Report - Aaron's 499 at Talladega

STP/Cheerios Dodge
Schwan’s Home Service Dodge
Aaron’s 499
May 1, 2006; Talladega, Alabama
2.66-mile, Talladega Superspeedway

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
2. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
3. Brian Vickers, Chevrolet
4. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet
5. Jamie McMurray, Dodge
18. Kyle Petty, #45 Schwan’s Home Service Dodge
29. Bobby Labonte, #43 STP/Cheerios Dodge

OVERVIEW:

After rain postponed the start of the Aaron’s 499 at the 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superpseedway, teams returned to the track Monday afternoon for the second superspeedway event of the season. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures greeted fans and drivers Monday, but it didn’t take long before things turned ugly on the track. A twelve car wreck erupted on lap eight that defined what restrictor plate racing is all about. Large packs, drafting inches apart at 200 miles per hour, make the race one of the most unpredictable of the season. It is also why Talladega Superspeedway is one of the most exciting tracks on the Nextel Cup circuit.

After the carnage was cleared, it was defending Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson who showed his strength. Johnson, along with his teammates Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon, held the top spot in the lead pack throughout the afternoon. Matt Kenseth looked strong as did Jamie McMurray and Tony Stewart. At the end, however, Johnson won his second consecutive restrictor plate by holding off Tony Stewart on the last lap. Vickers settled for third. There were 21 cars in the lead draft at the end of the race.

Bobby Labonte and the #43 STP/Cheerios Dodge team didn’t have the same luck. Labonte, sporting the famed STP paint scheme, looked dazzling early. Labonte used tremendous driving skill to race through the early accident. The car suffered only minor cosmetic damage, but crew chief Todd Parrott radioed to Labonte that he still had a “racy” Dodge. Labonte used that information to race in the lead draft, but was also smart enough to let the laps unwind before making his final charge. Unfortunately that chance never came. Labonte developed mechanical problems with 30 laps remaining that eventually ended the team’s day. Labonte finished 29th after completing 163 laps.

“We lost a cylinder and then the engine let go,” said Labonte. “We were just waiting to make our move. We were up there, but just didn’t have the chance to finish it today.”

The Nextel Cup Series now heads to the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway for Saturday night’s Crown Royal 400.