Originally published October 31, 2009 at 7:17 PM | Page modified October 31, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
Share
Auto Racing | NASCAR stresses safety at Talladega track
Michael Waltrip pulled up to the back of Jimmie Johnson's car, settled in on his bumper and shoved him all the way around Talladega Superspeedway as the drivers worked on a strategy for NASCAR's fastest track.
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Michael Waltrip pulled up to the back of Jimmie Johnson's car, settled in on his bumper and shoved him all the way around Talladega Superspeedway as the drivers worked on a strategy for NASCAR's fastest track.
"We got hooked up and started flying," said Johnson.
But NASCAR doesn't want to see such aggressive drafting and when Waltrip didn't heed a warning to back off a bit Friday, he was yanked out of the final practice session leading into today's Amp Energy 500 Sprint Cup Series race.
Johnson, a three-time defending Cup champion, will start from the pole. Rain washed out qualifying Saturday and the field was set by points.
NASCAR is seeking to avoid a repeat of the last-lap accidents that marred the last two restrictor-plate races this season. Carl Edwards went airborne into the Talladega safety fence on the final lap of April's race, and Kyle Busch sailed hard into an outside wall in Daytona Beach, Fla., in July.
In Edwards' accident, flying debris injured seven fans in the grandstands. Track operator International Speedway Corp. has raised the fencing to 22 feet from 14 feet.
Note
• Busch used a generous bump from teammate Aric Almirola a few hundred yards from the finish to win the Mountain Dew 250 NASCAR Camping World Trucks race at Talladega.
Busch has won six races in the truck series this year.
NEW - 8:52 PM
Michigan high school wins first game after star player dies
NEW - 9:30 PM
NW Briefs: Eastern Washington dismisses Kirk Earlywine as men's basketball coach
'Gift' lifts Carl Edwards to title in Las Vegas
Iditarod mushers set out for Nome
More Other Sports headlines...
911 audio: Caseworker reports Josh Powell has locked children inside his home
911 audio: Caseworker reports Josh Powell's house on fire with children inside
911 audio: Sister of Josh Powell reports disturbing emails
Chuck Cox reacts to Powell home fire, death of his grandsons
Sheriff's update: Josh Powell spread gasoline in home fire, sent goodbye emails
Don Bateman, inventor of Ground Proximity Warning System
Pierce County sheriff reacts to Powell home fire
Price of Protection: A victim speaks out
Price of Protection: Inside the Special Commitment Center
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
Open Houses
|
Find all open houses.
|
nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature 434
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming 346
- Sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call 282
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising 235
- Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement 209
- Oregon live game thread 153
- Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game 140
- Lakewood cop accused of taking donations for slain officers' families 114
- Department of Justice owes the Seattle Police Department an apology 88
- Thursday morning links --- and a video!!! 72
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- UW opening incubator facility for startups
- Controversial principal at Lowell Elementary takes job in Tacoma
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
