2008 AMP Energy 500

The 2008 AMP Energy 500, was race number thirty of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and the fourth event of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. It was held on October 5 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, and marked the only race in the Championship Chase to utilize restrictor plates on the convert|2.66|mi|km track. ABC telecast the 188-lap, convert|500.8|mi|km race beginning at 1 PM US EDT and MRN along with Sirius Satellite Radio had radio coverage starting at 1:15 PM US EDT. This marked the last time the race will be run in an early October spot, as in 2009, the race will be held in the slot formerly occupied by the Atlanta Motor Speedway event.

Pre-Race news

*Paul Menard is leaving Dale Earnhardt, Inc. after the season for Yates Racing and he'll bring his family's Menards sponsorship along for the troubled Yates team, which has had to do with week-to-week deals in the sluggish economy.
*Joey Logano will not drive the #96 Hall of Fame Toyota for the rest of the season. It it expected that the 18-year driver will have extra rides in the #02 Joe Gibbs Racing machine at two or three more races.
*JTG Daugherty Racing announced a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing and will field Toyotas in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose behind the wheel.

Qualifying

Talladega is known for its' surprise pole sitters, and this time, Travis Kvapil on the front row.

Race Recap

Two periods of red flags which saw a total of 20 cars eliminated or seriously wrecked including many of the Chase contenders. When the race was extended due to the green-white-checker finish rule, it appeared that Regan Smith had won the race. However, he passed Tony Stewart below the yellow line, illegal at restrictor plate tracks Talladega and Daytona, and NASCAR awarded Stewart the win, his first in 43 races, and his first win in 20 attempts at Talladega. Smith was placed 18th, last on the lead lap. In addition, the lead changed hands a new series record 64 times officially among 28 drivers, and many more times unofficially during each lap.

Failed to qualify: Sam Hornish, Jr. (#77), Patrick Carpentier (#10). "Notes: 1. Boris Said (#08) withdrew earlier in the week. 2. Race extended two laps due to green-white-checker finish rule."