0 – Laps led by Richard Childress Racing at Talladega – once one of the strongest restrictor-plate programs.
1 – Lap led by Kurt Busch Sunday, his lowest total since Phoenix back in March.
2 – Top-five finishes this year for Martin Truex Jr. (fifth at ‘Dega). That doubles his total from the entire 2014 season.
3 – Poles for Jeff Gordon this season, leading the Sprint Cup Series. However, Gordon’s average finish in those three races is a lowly 27.3.
4 – Teams of two cars to make the Chase through 10 races. They are Stewart-Haas Racing (Kevin Harvick & Kyle Busch), Hendrick Motorsports (Jimmie Johnson & Dale Earnhardt Jr.), Team Penske (Brad Keselowski & Joey Logano) and Joe Gibbs Racing (Denny Hamlin & Matt Kenseth).
5 – Drivers who posted their best finishes of 2015 Sunday: Sam Hornish Jr. (sixth), Josh Wise (10th), Cole Whitt (13th), JJ Yeley (14th) and Alex Bowman (16th).
6 – Cautions Sunday and only one for a major wreck. Other than the lone Big One, the other five cautions involved crashes that claimed a total of just four cars.
10 – Years in between Earnhardt Jr.’s Sprint Cup victories at Talladega. Earnhardt, who once won four races in a row here hadn’t scored a trophy at the 2.66-mile track since the fall of 2004.
27 – Lead changes Sunday at Talladega. It’s the fewest for a Sprint Cup event there since the spring of 2002 (also a race Earnhardt Jr. won).
$127,645 – Money Hamlin won at Talladega for finishing ninth.
$129,515 – Money Joe Gibbs Racing teammate David Ragan won at ‘Dega for crashing and winding up 38th.
About the author
The author of Bowles-Eye View (Mondays) and Did You Notice? (Wednesdays) Tom spends his time overseeing Frontstretch’s 30 staff members as its majority owner. Based in Philadelphia, Bowles is a two-time Emmy winner in NASCAR television and has worked in racing production with FOX, TNT, and ESPN while appearing on-air for SIRIUS XM Radio and FOX Sports 1's former show, the Crowd Goes Wild.
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