Talladega Observations.

- What a race at the 2.66 mile superspeedway Sunday, and it proves just what team is the one to beat this season.

- There's no driver hotter than Kyle Busch at the moment, and it's surprising that there aren't very many people wearing M & M's gear in the stands yet. Sooner or later, this kid's gonna start winning some fans over as he continues his dominance.

- Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart once again had a car that could win at Talladega but failed to do so. He's now winless in 18 tries at the track, and finished 38th Sunday.

- It looked like Dale Earnhardt Jr. might finally break into the win column after 70 races, but he caught up in one of the late wrecks before salvaging a 10th place finish.

- At one point near the halfway mark in the race, third-place finisher Denny Hamlin radioed to crew chief Mike Ford that his right foot was aching so badly from having to keep it steadily glued to the floor on top of his gas pedal, that he was hoping for a caution so that he could give it a rest. Ford suggested he try using his left foot to give himself some relief. Hamlin did, but it provided only some help.

- Sam Hornish Jr.'s first-rate performance at the Daytona 500 made for the promise of an equally strong run Sunday. However, some questionable pit strategy and an engine that eventually was running on only seven cylinders stymied his afternoon. The rookie of the year candidate barely remains in the top 35 in points (33rd).

- I have no idea what Jamie McMurray was thinking on Lap 170 when he drove his Ford Fusion into the side of eventual race winner Busch. The result could have been a disaster, taking out much of the field.

Next weekend it's racing under the lights Richmond.

Aaron Larsen