The 2017 Winston Cup Series: Dale Jr.'s final Talladega race

Dale Earnhardt leads the field to the green flag in the Alabama 500.

     Brad Keselowski snapped a 24-race winless streak Sunday, winning the Alabama 500 with a dramatic last lap pass on Ryan Newman. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the spotlight of Talladega this weekend, for his final race at the track where he's won six times. Earnhardt started on the pole, but raced mid-pack for much of the day. He survived several on-track incidents to wind up 7th, one of only 14 cars running at the finish. Several cars battling for the championship crashed out, including Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and Kevin Harvick. Ryan Newman finished 2nd, followed by Trevor Bayne, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola. 19-year-old Grey Gaulding came home with a surprising 9th place finish.
     With Earnhardt Jr.'s retirement looming, Keselowski is set to become Talladega's new master. In 18 career Cup races there, Keselowski has five wins. No other active driver (aside from Dale Jr.) has more than two, meaning the #2 Miller Lite Ford will have the upper hand come 2018. 

Several cars, including Truex Jr., Kurt and Kyle Busch, and Jimmie Johnson crash out of the Alabama 500. Brad Keselowski scoots by in the #2 car, to eventually win the race.

     Despite a race featuring several crashes and three red flags, the classic points race wasn't severely impacted. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch finished 23rd and 27th, while Kevin Harvick came home 20th. It was a better day for Kyle Larson, who finished 13th and gained 10 points on Truex, assuming 2nd in points. Truex Jr. now leads Larson by 40, Busch by 49, Harvick by 76, and Hamlin by 81. Keselowski moves back into 6th with his win, followed by Elliott, McMurray, Kenseth, and Newman.

Full top-20 standings (click for a closer look)

     While he didn't leave with a win, Earnhardt Jr. leaves Talladega as one of the track's greatest ever. He won six times, tied with Jeff Gordon, and behind only Dale Earnhardt Sr. who had 10. Some of those wins for Jr. were my favorite races... Who could forget the final lap of the 2001 EA Sports 500, where Jr. grabbed the lead as the "big one" ensued on the backstretch... Or three years later, when Earnhardt came from 11th to 1st in the final five laps? As a kid I'll always remember cheering for the #8 Budweiser Chevy, excited for the next restrictor plate race. Dale Jr. should be very proud of what he accomplished at Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates after winning the 2001 EA Sports 500, his first of six wins at Talladega.

     Only five races remain on the 2017 schedule... Next week, the Cup drivers visit Kansas Speedway, for the Hollywood Casino 400. Of the top-6 drivers in classic points, only Kyle Larson hasn't won at Kansas. Being a 1.5 mile "cookie cutter" track, my pick goes to Truex Jr. He'll look for his 7th win of the year, as he inches closer to that first championship.

Brad Keselowski wins the 2017 Alabama 500. Ryan Newman, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. follow in 2nd, and 7th.