After the dust had settled, the doors had closed, and the post-race meeting by race officials had begun I'm sure smiles could been seen on the faces of those gathered in the NASCAR hauler.
What had just taken place was exactly what the doctor ordered. NASCAR and its fans were treated to the best race in four or five years and the drama that the sport so desperately needed was back.
Sunday's Aaron's 499 started off and ended with a bang. On lap 7 as many as 16 cars were involved in a wreck that started when Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon got together heading into turn 3. The contact triggered a chain reaction wreck that took out a handful of drivers in the top 12 in points.
It didn't stop there.
The racing stayed fast and furious and as the laps counted down the tension and pressure began to mount. Another late race caution set the stage for a four lap shootout and one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the Sprint Cup Series.
Using a technique that originated during last year's Aaron's 499, Dale Earnhardt, Jr locked his National Guard Chevy to the rear bumper of Ryan Newman on the restart and pushed the two out to a big lead as they headed down the backstretch. The only problem was that Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski had done the same and were running down the leaders at an impressive rate.
As Newman and Earnhardt, Jr took the white flag Edwards and Keselowski were there. Then they were gone. The front two had hooked up and were pulling away. As the 99 and 09 came out of 4 Newman and Junior were there but were not a factor. Keselowski then made a move below the 99 in the tri-oval, Edwards went to block, and the two got together. The contact sent Edwards car up in the air and in front of the 39 and 88. Newman and Edwards then got together with Newman punting Edwards airborne and into the catch fence.
When the smoke cleared Brad Keselowski had taken the checkered flag for his first Sprint Cup win in only his 5th start. In doing so he became the 8th driver to get his first win at Talladega.
The win also marked the first for long time NASCAR owner James Finch.
On a more somber note, seven fans were injured when Edwards car made contact with the tri-oval catch fence. Debris and parts of the fence went flying into the stands hitting those sitting in the lower rows of the grandstands. Fortunately no one was seriously injured as all but one was treated and released. One fan was transported to Birmingham via helicopter due to traffic and a pre-existing condition.
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