NASCAR Cup

Talladega II: GM teams race notes

Brian Vickers First Career Win is 31st Victory for Chevy at Talladega Superspeedway Jeff Burton Retains Lead in NASCAR Nextel Chase for the Cup Talladega, AL - Brian Vickers, No. 25 GMAC Monte Carlo SS scored his career-first NASCAR Nextel Cup ...

Published: Oct 9, 2006, 4:16 PM

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Brian Vickers First Career Win is 31st Victory for Chevy at Talladega Superspeedway

Jeff Burton Retains Lead in NASCAR Nextel Chase for the Cup

Talladega, AL - Brian Vickers, No. 25 GMAC Monte Carlo SS scored his career-first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in a wild finish at Talladega Superspeedway. Vickers was third in a three-car draft at the white flag, tucked in behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Monte Carlo as both drivers were in hot pursuit of race leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

The three cars had broken away slightly from the remainder of the field. Johnson waited until turn three to make his move to the inside of Earnhardt, Jr. with Vickers in tow. Incidental contact sent both Johnson and Earnhardt spinning down to the apron and Vickers was declared the winner as the race was scored at the scoring loop where he was when the caution flag was thrown.

Vickers' victory in the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is the 19th NNCS win for Monte Carlo SS this season. Chevy drivers have won all four of the Chase to the NEXTEL Cup races.

"It is pretty exciting to get our first win in the GMAC Chevy," said Vickers. "I said I wanted to get a win for Ricky (Hendrick) in this car so I would like to dedicate this win to Ricky. Not quite exactly how I planned it but Jimmie (Johnson) had a heck of a run and I was pushing him and then when he turned down I got off of him. Then when he turned down to pass the No. 8, the No. 8 kept pushing down and when he jerked to avoid the No. 8 trying to block him, I just got into him. I apologize, that is the last thing I want to do is to get in to Jimmie but when the No. 8 chopped him and JImmie swerved, I just got him.

"It is not how I wanted to win it, but it is nice to get a win for this No. 25 car, it has been a long time."

Jeff Burton, No, 31 Cingular Wireless Monte Carlo SS, continued to lead in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. He posted a disappointing 27th place finish as a result of flat tire that forced him to pit under green flag conditions with less than 10 lap to go while running fifth. Burton is now six points ahead of Matt Kenseth (Ford) with six races remaining in the Chase and the season.

"We did a good job today with the Cingular Chevrolet," said Burton. "Everybody did a good job, had great pit stops, we are sitting there running fifth with 10 to go and cut a tire. Nothing you can do about it. Everybody has had a little bad luck in the Chase, we had some today.

"Again, I am proud of everything we did today, we did everything we needed to do we had just a little bit of stuff not go our way. It is hard to feel lucky when you are running fifth with 10 to go and finish 27th. But we will take our points lead, keep going forward and keep a good attitude, as it should be, and see what happens."

Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Reese's Monte Carlo SS moved to fourth in the Chase standings just 33 points behind his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Burton, with a solid sixth place finish in today's 188-lap race.

With a 21st place finish today, Raybestos Rookie contender, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Express Monte Carlo SS, dropped from second to fifth in the Chase, 51 points behind leader Burton.

The last-lap accident relegated Earnhardt, Jr. and Johnson to the 23rd and 24th finishing positions respectively. Earnhardt, Jr. is sixth in the standings, 106 points out of the lead while Johnson remained in eighth, 156 points down.

Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Monte Carlo SS, fell to seventh in the standings as a result of finishing 36th, 21 laps down. Gordon was among the leaders until he was involved in a multi-car accident on lap 137. He now stands 147 points behind the leader.

Kyle Busch, No. 5 Kellogg's Monte Carlo SS, sits in a ninth/10th place tie with Kasey Kahne (Dodge), pulling to 185 points of the leader with an 11th place finish today.

Chevrolet has already clinched the 2006 Manufacturers' Cup title in NNCS competition.

The series travels to Lowe's Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC on October 14, 2006 for round five of the Chase and race 31of the 36-race season.

Current NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Manufacturer's Standings:
Chevrolet 231 points (19 wins)
Dodge 170 points (6 wins)
Ford 169 points (5 wins)

-credit: gm racing

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