My random thoughts staring down the barrel of the Cup Series first venture to Talladega of the 2007 season-

- Jeff Gordon on pole and in position for win #77; if Gordon does indeed get the win to pass Dale the crowd will most certainly react unfavoribly. With jeers and airborn half-empty Bud cans the #24 car will have to navigate a mine-field of fan produced debris to make it to victory lane.

- Gilliand and Hamlin continue to impress and show their enormous promise with solid qualifing efforts taking the #2 and #3 spot on the grid. While Casey Mears in 7th, Scott Riggs in 9th, David Ragan in 10th and David Ruetimann in 14th finally are showing some results to muffle the extreme pressure these top rides entall. Mears and Ragan in particular desparetly needed this break in finding some speed while they've both been so far less than stellar with prized cars in two of the top teams. While Riggs is showing the Evernham camp does have some life in them. And Ruetimann is doing likewise for the super-struggling Waltrip group.

- The old timers have also come out in force in qualifing. Sterling Marlin, Ricky Rudd, and Kenny Wallace will start successivly in 4th, 5th, and 6th. Sterling Marlin?! Yes, he's still racing in Cup even though this the most we've heard from him in about two years.

- Nods also go to Boris Said, the road racer shows he's got the speed to match the skill he'll be starting an impressive 11th.

- Picks to win- Well, I'm looking at Jimmie Johnson. He's always strong at restrictor plate tracks and his team have been the undisputed best so far in 2007. Starting 8th and with bossman and teammate up front in 1st to work with, I think Jimmie will stay up front all day and be able to best Gordon, Kyle and Hamlin in the end for the victory.