This weekend it is off to the great state of Alabama for the second superspeedway race of the 2009 season and the first of two events at Talladega. Known for its high speeds, tight packs and big wrecks, Talladega is a fan favorite and always full of action.

While the fans love the organized chaos of pack racing, for many of those on the bubble, one slip up could mean the difference between being locked in the show at Richmond or falling outside the top-35.

Thanks to a 21st-place finish last week at the Phoenix International Raceway, Joey Logano and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team jumped two spots in the owner standings to 33rd. With a thirty-three point cushion over 35th, the rookie is able to focus solely on the race and not have to worry about making the show.

With Logano’s solid finish, John Andretti and Robby Gordon both fell one spot in the standings. Andretti is currently 34th in the owner points, just twelve points ahead of Gordon.

Running his own operation, Gordon continues to show his tenacity and determination week-in and week-out. A 39th-place finish out in the desert is not what the owner/driver was looking for in last Saturday night’s race. Heading into Talladega, the driver of the No. 7 Toyota is locked into the show, but TRG Motorsports’ David Gilliland is knocking on the door and he wants in.

Rookie contender Scott Speed was able to move up one spot in the standings thanks to the No. 8 car ceasing operations. With three previous starts at the 2.66-mile track (one in the Truck Series and two in the ARCA RE/MAX Series), Speed will attempt to make his first Cup Series start this weekend. Currently 102 points outside the top-35, Speed will have to do so by making the show on time.

“It’s hard to take anything anyone says about Talladega and apply it,” rookie Scott Speed explained. “It’s something you have to experience,” Speed said. “It’s not something you can talk about. There are certain key things about the draft — how the air goes over the car and if you put your car in this place or that place — but other than that there’s so much that you learn just by experiencing and doing it.”

With forty-five cars on the entry list for this weekend’s Aaron’s 499, qualifying will be tight. Ten drivers will be competing for eight spots, with two teams making the trip back to the shop early.

Those go-or-go-home cars include: Eric McClure (4), Brad Keselowski (09), Max Papis (13), Scott Riggs (36), Jeremy Mayfield (41), Michael McDowell (66), David Gilliland (71), Regan Smith (78), Scott Speed (82) and Joe Nemechek (87).

Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com this weekend to see who makes the show and who heads home following Saturday morning’s qualifying session.

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