Current Video: NASCAR on FOX: Tackling Talladega
Larry McReynolds says Talladega Superspeedway is the biggest, baddest track in NASCAR. Find out why.
Full Transcript (Automatically generated. May not be 100% accurate)
" So now we go from the shortest racetrack that half mile Martinsville Speedway. To the biggest of all the 22 racetracks we go to Talladega super speedway. He has definitely earned the reputation of the biggest the boldest. In the bad this is the biggest racetrack we go to even a little bit bigger. The Daytona -- and a lot of times fans and even the Packers. Relay Talladega today -- but they are absolutely. Completely different one thing that makes them different it's not the fact it is just almost two kids longer that's not very much at all. But Talladega is much one matters especially in the corners. At the corners are much more sweeping -- they're much more forgiving. But the one thing it really makes it different is -- fact just a few years ago -- gotta repay a and that just gave the -- a lot of real inspiration news they got rid of the dips and humps and bumps. And almost for the most part makes everybody's car -- good. I don't think you'll hear anybody him there whether it's the two practice sessions of the race on Sunday. Complaining about their car driving bad. But the big thing that makes Talladega signing. Is 31 four while racing in impacts of sometimes when he found out thirty cars to remember it's happening at well over. A 190 miles an hour. When you hear Darryl and mine -- Broadcast the race in the spring there we go there twice a year what's in the spring -- in the follow. You here are courses school and opted -- full I was trying to be found out flat and it's not look calls. They won't fit it's because of the speeds their running and one little mistake about one car. We obviously end up with the big race in the big -- and that's the big story there. It's not necessarily. We always have a big -- but. When will have the big -- and a lot of times it happens coming off turn two on the back straightaway in a lot of times it happens down and three and four. As -- of people left in the corner. You know who won at Talladega no limit for for years as a crew chief I was very fortunate to always go there with drivers that understood the draft. In with teams in the end. Engine departments that had really good carburetor restrictor plate packages there of course when you can go there. As we always say you've kind of got what you gap if you go there in your fast you're gonna stay fast if you go there in your slow. More than likely with the rules NASCAR hands. You're not gonna go there and make your car whole lot faster than when you unload and this is an impound race week Ian. This is where the teams go in there they have to practice sessions on Friday in all they do on Saturday is go to inspection. Qualified I think we have 44 cars in -- so only one car will not make this show. And once they qualifier on Saturday. NASCAR impounded the car they put him in the garage here they come from you can't work on -- and all you can do on Sunday morning race morning. -- error in the tariffs. Make a few chassis adjustments when the engine. But NASCAR will be watching every move that these things whom day. Because this is an impound race week in question becomes why don't we have. An impound race we can and we do it. And the two Talladega races in at the Daytona race and you we don't look for the day to -- because they're so long. And of course we have -- races but NASCAR did is not totally agree this is saying that to mean a lot of money. Because there's so many things you can do just to pick your speed open qualifier. Like wheel bearings light. Gears liked transmission fluid light motor -- I mean I'm always a crew chief before the days of the impanel. After qualifying for the race not including changes in you comes back the and we actually qualified and engines. We would change almost fifty things on that race car just after those two laps and qualified. The York are rated racing for every one of those things when we're changing trust me it was a tremendous experience for our owner. In the thing about the big wrecked there there's just no word -- A lot of teams have taken on the philosophy let me follow the back of the pack in Iraq there for three fourths -- fifths of the race. Prime example where that don't really work let's go back to the spring race with Carl Edwards and 99 car Carl filled the back. In race at the back of the pack for almost a 160 -- 16588. Laps that makes up about her mouth. The and he made -- run to the front. In near you saw and I don't think we'll we'll be talking about it for years the big red. Come into the tri oval before they got the -- were Carl Edwards almost went into the grandstands over. There's just heard how you can be at the front get in trouble you can be in the middle of the pack and that's probably the easiest place to get in trouble. Are you can get the packed back in the pack and even get in trouble. It is one of those races where as a crew chief. You feel like you control the smallest amount of your destiny of that outcome of the race you can have the best handling car. You can have the fastest teams in the fastest race car you can have great strategy make great pick columns have great pit stops. But honestly when you look at the last few races at Talladega super speedway. It almost comes down to the split decision. About a half of the half of the second. That your driver has to make a split decision what I learned -- Word of the possibly on the last lap may even the last in the coolers in the last laugh if he gets there with the right packed. In in the right position possibly you can come background in win this race there's no question. This race track here. He could really shake the points -- and I think -- Nancy Johnson 48 team. Went over harder -- 118 point lead before races ago they know if they dodge this bullet. And I know they wanna go down there and win the race checked announced never wants to go anywhere. Without having the possibility of a chance to win a race. But I think looking at the big picture. If you could give him a top eight top twelve finish -- they probably take -- and be more than happy. Two to walk away from that racetrack in his one of those places where there's absolutely. There's not a favorite. Everybody's face and the best example can give you man is let's just go back -- the spring race even though he was driving for James range. The the Phoenix racing the owner and car and Hendrick engine Hendrick car certainly a great package who would have ever believed. Who would have ever predicted that Brad -- Would win that race but it just goes to show you. How unpredictable that that race is we probably will not know who's gonna win that race. Till they absolutely have crossed the finish line you'll. You better sit there -- the crossed the finish line. And I even seen some action happen after they crossed the finish line."
CURRENT VIDEO SCENES