Jeff Gordon Wins At Talladega
Jeff Gordon led only one lap on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, the one that counted, the last lap. The UAW-Ford 500 started out like a ballet but ended up like a heavyweight boxing match.

Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and others hung back to the rear of the field to stay out of the "Big One" that they knew was surely coming. It was a strategy that was out of the normal for the ones holding back and Gordon said it was one of the hardest things that he's ever had to do. After the final caution and a restart with nine laps to go, Ryan Newman led his teammate Kurt Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya to the line. Johnson didn't take the lead until there was five laps to go, and Johnson had Jeff Gordon pushing him to the front. It looked like it was going to finish with Johnson in first and Gordon in second but on the last lap, Tony Stewart made a hard charge to the outside line and Gordon jumped up in front of Stewart. Stewart probably didn't like it but he had no choice but to push Gordon past Johnson.

It is the fifth victory for Gordon in 2007 and his sixth win at Talladega. It is Gordon's 12th restrictor plate victory and the 80th career win for the four-time champion. Gordon leaves Talladega nine points in the lead in the Nextel Cup standings over Johnson. A few beer cans were thrown at Gordon's car but it was nothing compared to earlier in the year when bottles and cans rained down on this car after breaking Dale Earnhardt's career win total.

The "Big One" came on lap 144 and involved thirteen cars including two cars in the Chase for the Championship, those of Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. Busch's car was nearly destroyed and the Kenseth machine was heavily damaged but Kenseth was able to return to the track, many laps down. Denny Hamlin had minor damage and after a series of stops to repair the car, continued. Johnson held on for second while Toyota driver Dave Blaney finished third. Denny Hamlin pulled his Chevrolet to the fourth spot and Ryan Newman was fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Casey Mears, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Tony Raines and Reed Sorenson. The Nextel Cup Series moves to Lowe's Motor Speedway next Saturday night for the Bank of America 500. This is the 31st race of a 36 race schedule and the event is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
To read the full article...     (Insider Racing News)
For full final race results...     (Insider Racing News)
For top-40 Nextel Cup drivers points...     (Insider Racing News)

Richie Gilmore Ailing
Richie Gilmore, the director of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., returned to his North Carolina home after being hospitalized in Birmingham, Ala., with an aneurysm discovered Thursday at Talladega. Max Siegel, the president of global operations at DEI, said Gilmore is resting comfortably and will undergo more tests Monday in Charlotte.

"He apparently was having bad migraines," Siegel said. "He went to the infield care center, and they took him to the hospital in Birmingham for tests. He did not have a stroke."

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who qualified 26th for DEI, sent his best wishes to Gilmore.

"Hopefully, that qualifying lap didn't give him another one," he said with a laugh. "He's going to be just fine. He's getting up there [in age,] and he needs to watch his health and take care of himself as good as he can."(espn.go.com)

Jarrett To Reveal Plans On Thursday
Former NASCAR Cup series champion Dale Jarrett appears to be taking his first steps toward retirement. Jarrett, who has been mulling his racing future and a potential television career with ESPN, said Saturday after qualifying he intends to "race some" next year. Jarrett, who said he will remain with Michael Waltrip Racing, said he will reveal his plans on Thursday and a formal announcement is expected Friday.

"I made my decision, [and] I'll tell you the rest Thursday before qualifying [at Lowe's Motor Speedway]," Jarrett said. "Can you hang on for five days? I don't think it's anything that will change the world or anything."

Waltrip, pole-sitter for Sunday's UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, is the owner of the three-car team but said he could not offer more regarding Jarrett's decision.

"We'll just have to see," Waltrip said. "I want him to do whatever he wants. He's a legend, he's a champion. I want him to be happy, so whatever it takes to do that. I know we've got something scheduled Friday, [but] we don't know all we're going to say yet. I know I own [the team], but I don't know anything to tell you right now."

Jarrett said last week at Kansas Speedway that he approached officials from his primary sponsor, UPS, about two months ago and suggested they together explore a variety of scenarios regarding his future. He made clear that television would not play a role in making his decision.(espn.go.com)

Ricky Rudd Expects To Return Next Week
Ricky Rudd, who has missed the last four races and is on the sidelines again this week, said Friday he hopes to be back in Robert Yates Racing's No. 88 Ford at Lowe's Motor Speedway next weekend. Rudd separated his left shoulder in a grinding crash at California Speedway on Sept. 2.

"It's getting better," Rudd said. "I've got a few weak areas I'm working on with therapy, trying to get some strength back. I'd hate to sit here and say, 'Yeah, 100 percent, I'll back at Charlotte.' But I'll be real disappointed if I don't make it back at Charlotte, I'll put it that way."

Rudd would still need approval from NASCAR to return to action.

"The biggest thing is somewhere along the way, I've got to get a release," Rudd said. "I've got to go back to the doctor. I've pretty much been in the hands of one of the sports medicine trainers. That's who I go see, about an hour-and-a-half every day. The workouts get long and longer, so I'll probably know about 12:30 on Monday what's going to happen for Charlotte."(scenedaily.com)