Fansided

The Big One strikes late at Talladega, takes out Truex, Harvck, Johnson, more

By Nick Tylwalk

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 15: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 15, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 15: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 15, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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The Big One is always a possibility at Talladega, but it’s twice as devastating when it strikes during the NASCAR Playoffs.

There’s a reason drivers and crew chiefs fear The Big One. You don’t know when it’s coming, but for the Alabama 500 or any NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway, it’s almost an inevitability.

On Sunday, in the second race of the Round of 12 for the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs, it appeared the field might make it the full day without the kind of massive multi-car wreck that makes restrictor plate racing such a double-edged sword.

Then series points leader Martin Truex Jr. tried to make an aggressive move in traffic, and this happened:

You’ll notice plenty of playoff drivers caught in the teeth of the Big One. Besides Truex, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson were all involved. Some cars were more heavily damaged than others, with Kenseth and Harvick among those who got back out on the track.

Also catching part of the accident was pole-sitter Dale Earnhardt Jr., attempting to pull off what could be the final victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career. His 88 was able to continue and seemed to think he had a chance at a victory but would need help to get to the front.

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As often happens with cautions breeding cautions, another wreck took place just a few laps after the Big One was finally cleared and the race restarted, with playoff contender Ryan Blaney collecting Harvick. But the fallout from this particular Talladega tango could be serious for a few drivers, a case where fear of the Big One was absolutely justified.

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