The Freds 250 was bizarre in that everyone ran single file for the first two segments then suddenly figured out how to push-draft and thus began hammering for the lead. Parker Kligerman stormed into the fray, having won here in 2012 - his only other Truck Series win. The continuing idiocy of NASCAR's yellow line rule showed in Kligerman's late pass and the fact it was even debated as to whether there was any justification for a penalty. Kligerman fought off a last-lap challenge before Noah Gragson swerved into the top five and the result was the race-ending melee. The win was especially enjoyable given the Charlie Henderson #75 is one of the smaller teams, finally able to give the finger to the larger outfits. It was also enjoyable seeing Grant Enfinger in the Curb-backed #98 slugging it out.
The Diehard 500 showcased the downside to segment racing and the overall Chase concept - teams were more concerned with outstrategizing each other - and the scheduled segment yellows - as opposed to going for the lead. Brad Keselowski was able to steal Segment One and then stole the race win.
Cody Coughlin's crash.
Over 75% of the field crashed out of the Alabama 500 - yet no crash was inevitable; they were all caused by certain foolish moves by drivers; Chase Elliott won the Ernie Irvan Dimbulb Of The Race award and raised more questions about whether he's really capable of winning.
The race also showed anew the weakness of NASCAR's suppression of push-drafting at the Cup level, as passing the leader was almost impossible and the need for the push-draft was glaring all race.
Interesting as well is this weekend came after Tommy Joe Martins' interesting treatise on team economics in the context of NASCAR's TV deal. The issue of costs would be less burdensome by smarter team spending and application by the sanctioning body of TV deal money.
But the standout issue is how hard passing was - all the result of NASCAR's crackdown on push-drafting. It was far less an issue in the Trucks as the drivers finally started getting serious about it, and it showed why racing needs push-drafting, by far the strongest power to pass conceivable in motorsports.
With so many darkhorses in contention note is worth being given to Aric Almirola's fifth place, this despite struggling all race to where the #43 seemed not up to pulling up to anyone or pushing anyone; the melees were the proverbial Red Sea parting. His third top-five in a plate race this season is a needed balm for the Petty team preparing for 2018; it is worth noting presumptive 2018 driver Darrell Wallace ran stout in his one plate start in the #43 in July.
So ends the Talladega weekend and the sport's latest surge into Talladega's Twilight Zone.
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