NASCAR: Who’s Hot And Who’s Not Heading Into Talladega

Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

NOT – Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. are currently tied in the points which would make you think that Earnhardt Nation would be ecstatic given the fact that Johnson is the defending NASCAR champion. Unfortunately,  their tie is for last place in the chase standings with only one race to go before the next elimination. The odds of both of these drivers making into the next round are slim while the odds of both of them not making it are quite high. If either of them plans on keeping their championship hopes alive they will most likely have to win this weekend at Talladega. The good news for them is that they have both won at Talladega in that past; Johnson holds two victories at the track while Earnhardt Jr. has won at Talladega an impressive five times. Like everyone else both drivers will be just as worried about the rest of the field as they will be about their own cars. Given the nature that is Talladega it is very possible for either of them to be taken out of the race by a mess that they did not cause and because of that every moment of the race will be a stressful one for both Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. on Sunday. If either of them is able to pull off a win it will put them right back into the thick of the championship hunt.