At stake: a place in the Geico 500, which will start at 1:02 p.m. ET Sunday. The Cup season’s 10th race is also its second restrictor-plate race, following the season-opener at Daytona.
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After weeks of failing to fill its 40-car field, NASCAR goes into a second race with 41 entries. Only the Daytona 500 had more. It has been years since Cup racing had failed to stage a race with field under the maximum.
Under the charter system installed this season, 36 teams are guaranteed starting places in each Cup race. The field was reduced by three, to 40, from previous seasons. The four remaining positions in each race are filled by so-called open teams.
Last week at Richmond, Cole Whitt was the odd driver out. Whitt, driving for Premium Motorsports, must try again this week at Talladega.
Practice begins Friday and qualifying will be at 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Tony Stewart will start the race but at some point early on be replaced by Ty Dillon. Stewart returned to Cup competition at Richmond, but he will not drive the full Talladega race to avoid likely reinjury of his surgically repaired back.
Talladega is known for his massive high-speed crashes, and Stewart can’t afford to get caught up in a big one. He broke his back on Jan. 31, had surgery three days later and cleared rehab last week.
Here are the entries for the Geico 500 at Talladega.
David Gilliland entered but did not qualify for the Daytona 500. He has yet to run a Sprint Cup race this season.
Bobby Labonte replaces Jeffrey Earnhardt. Labonte drove the No. 32 car at Daytona, started 33rd and finished 31st. It was Labonte’s only Cup race to date.
Michael Waltrip replaces Reed Sorenson in the No. 55 car. Watrip drove the No. 83 car at Daytona, started 36th and finished 30th. It was Waltrip’s only Cup race to date.
