Pick 'em: Talladega

It's all Gordon, Junior and Johnson this week

By NASCAR.COM
October 4, 2008
04:36 PM EDT

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Each week the staff at NASCAR.COM will pick a race winner, a dark horse for the checkers and the ain't-got-a-chance driver (no scrubs; someone with a Q score).

Our scoring system: Experts receive as many points as the "winner" pick gets in the race.

Amp Energy 500

Writer	Winner	Here's why	Dark Horse	No Chance	Points

Josh Pate	Jeff Gordon	The streak has to end sometime, and this is no better place for it to end. In 2007 he swept both races, and he's led at least one lap in 25 of his 31 starts.	Brian Vickers	Greg Biffle	4,347
Duane Cross	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	He gets back on the beam in a big way.	Ryan Newman	Carl Edwards	4,296
Raygan Swan	Jeff Gordon	He is about to come out of his slump; he is the most successful driver at Talladega with six wins and last season he swept both races.	Juan Montoya	Kyle Busch	4,250
Bill Kimm	Jeff Gordon	Look, he's not going winless this season, it's just not happening. Gordon knows how to win at 'Dega and after his gutsy performance at Kansas, it's time for him to end this charade and get back in Victory Lane.	Bobby Labonte	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	4,242
Joe Menzer	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	He hasn't won at 'Dega since 2004, but he hasn't forgotten how to get around the place and he's one of the few who actually enjoys restrictor-plate racing. Too many others will just be trying to survive; he'll go for the win.	Juan Montoay	Kasey Kahne	4,079
Dave Rodman	Jimmie Johnson	When you're on a roll, you're rolling.	Brian Vickers	Clint Bowyer	4,069
David Caraviello	Jeff Gordon	He may struggle on the intermediate tracks, but he can still win with a restrictor plate. Two wins at Talladega last year, six overall -- and it's just time. It's past time, actually.	Jamie McMurray	Greg Biffle	4,025
Jarrod Breeze	Jimmie Johnson	When the sun has rose in the East and set in the West every day for nearly 40 years in a certain someone's life, you come to expect it. Same goes for Jimmie Johnson winning Chase races, and as if I or you needed any further proof, I present Kansas.	Brian Vickers	Tony Stewart	3,661
Mark Aumann	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Forget the blown engine and the wreck on Friday. When it comes to "go time," Junior will be in the thick of things, like he always is at Talladega.	David Reutimann	Tony Stewart	3,653

Talladega
• Amp Energy 500: Lineup | Practice 1 | Practice 2

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Official Standings

Pos.	+/-	Driver	Points	Behind

1.	+1	Jimmie Johnson	5575	--
2.	-1	Carl Edwards	5565	-10
3.	--	Greg Biffle	5545	-30
4.	--	Jeff Burton	5454	-121
5.	--	Kevin Harvick	5439	-136
6.	+2	Jeff Gordon	5432	-143
7.	-1	Clint Bowyer	5411	-164
8.	+1	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	5385	-190
9.	+1	Matt Kenseth	5383	-192
10.	+1	Denny Hamlin	5332	-243
11.	-4	Tony Stewart	5320	-255
12.	--	Kyle Busch	5264	-311