An unlikely winner

TALLADEGA, Ala. – NASCAR demanded drivers be on their best behavior in the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting sanitized what’s usually one of the most spectacular races of the season.

In the end, chaos reigned, just like always.

After 450 miles of what resembled a slow Sunday drive, the action picked up and the outcome was much of what everyone has come to expect out of Talladega: An unlikely winner, two spectacular crashes and an army of drivers frustrated about the unpredictability of restrictor-plate racing.

“I think we all know that’s what’s going to happen when we come to Talladega,” said Jeff Gordon, who first ran out of gas and then wrecked – all in a five-lap span.

Jamie McMurray was the surprise winner, snapping an 86-race winless streak by leading 32 late laps and holding on in a race that ended under caution. Jimmie Johnson, meanwhile, ended up sixth, likely wrapping up his NASCAR-record fourth-consecutive championship because of all the late action.

“I made the comment ... it’s just going to be luck,” McMurray said, “whoever can get in the right row and make the moves.”

The 43-car field spent much of Sunday in a single-file parade lap that almost looked to be a conscious thumbing of the nose at NASCAR.

“I think everyone was just content to log laps,” said Denny Hamlin, who was sidelined with an engine problem before the finish.

“Where is the middle ground between the new NASCAR rule and racing? Let us race. They gave us a car to race, now let the drivers handle it.”

They did when it counted, and as always, it got dicey when the racing picked up with about 20 laps remaining.

Ryan Newman’s harrowing crash with five laps to go left him upside down in the grass, and NASCAR needed a stoppage of almost 13 minutes to cut him from the car. Outspoken in the wake of Edwards’ April crash, he was none too pleased to have spent almost 15 minutes trapped inside his car.

“It’s probably the closest thing to being stuck in a tomb and not being able to get out – all my body weight was pressed up against my head,” he said. “I respect NASCAR. I just wish they respected me.”