Thrill-seekers get their fill at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- This time the trip to Talladega was something to watch.

Kyle Busch seems to be fitting in with JGR just fine. (US Presswire)

After a sleep-inducing single file parade in last October's Sprint Cup Series visit to the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Sunday's Aaron's 499 was anything but boring.

"If the fans didn't like that, then they don't like racing," said Denny Hamlin, who was in front most of the day before finally finishing third. "The whole race was crazy. We were having a lot of fun out there, trying to give the fans a good show."

Three and four-wide racing was the order of the day with most drivers opting to race throughout the entire 499-mile affair rather than lay back and make a move at the end, which was the strategy most played last fall.

That made for a wild afternoon of restrictor-plate racing and one that had most fans, and drivers, on the edge of their seats all day.

It was by far the best race of 2008.

"It was an exciting race," said Kyle Busch, who mounted a thrilling charge to the front after falling a lap down early during a pit road miscue. "There were times where it got pretty impatient and guys were making some bold moves and what not, bump drafting and getting a little crazy."

Busch, Hamlin and the third Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart were the class of the field on Sunday, as they were in the last plate race in Daytona to start the year.

While Stewart was caught up in one of the day's two major crashes, thwarting his chance for that elusive Talladega Cup win and keeping him winless in 20 series starts at the track, Busch and Hamlin went on to give JGR another solid performance.

And in the process, Hamlin for one, had some fun.

"At times, this race kind of had the complexion like it had over the last three races, kind of single file, just everyone taking their time, didn't want to do anything crazy until the end," Hamlin said.

"But every time you come to a superspeedway race, it seems like it's the mark that with 25 (laps) to go is when it really kind of busts loose and gets crazy. I thought the racing was really good up to that point. There was a lot of exchanging for the lead between myself, the 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and those guys. I thought it was a great race."

Stewart might have completely agreed with Hamlin had his day ended differently.