[Don]

Talladega: 1:00 PM ET, 4/25

* 500 miles/188 laps
* 2.66 miles
* 33 degree in corners
* Most caution flags: 11 in 2004
* " lead changes: 75 in 1984

" The green-yellow-green-yellow-green-white-checkered finish. The Aaron's 312 and Aaron's 499 will mark the first Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at NASCAR's most treacherous track since a rule mandating three tries at a green-white checkered was instituted this season. The maximum number of attempts hasn't been reached in either circuit, but the mammoth 2.66-mile oval might represent the best opportunity for testing its limits. "

" Keep these numbers handy: The record for fewest cars running at the end in a Talladega Cup race is 14 (26 cars were sidelined by crashes or mechanical failures in the 500-miler July 27, 1986). The fewest for Nationwide is 17 on April 25, 1998 (and there have been at least five more instances in which more than half the field was out by the checkered flag "

" The spoiler, in its fourth race since replacing the wing, will be issued by NASCAR at the track (teams bolt them on before arriving at other tracks) and was reduced by an inch. NASCAR also is using a smaller restrictor plate after the closing rates were too high during drafting practice at a test last month. "