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Truckin’ Thursdays: Memorable Moments at Talladega

Here we are again with another race weekend that the Camping World Truck Series sits silent, waiting for next weekend’s Friday night event at Kansas Speedway. While the Xfinity and Sprint Cup series head off to Talladega Superspeedway, I’m left getting my Truck Series fix by watching previous videos.

I present to you some of the most memorable moments at the superspeedway.

Mike Wallace Wins 2011 Fred’s 250

In a one-off race for Kevin Harvick Inc., Mike Wallace stepped into the No. 33 Chevrolet and paired up with teammate Ron Hornaday Jr. shortly after the green flag flew. In the days of tandem drafting at superspeedways, the pair was unstoppable when hooked up, and Hornaday never abandoned the plan to continue pushing Wallace. The duo led a combined 55 laps (54 for Wallace and one for Hornaday) en route to Wallace’s trip to Victory Lane, besting the pairing of James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael.

Last-Lap Wreck in 2013 Fred’s 250

You know those wrecks where you’re sitting there, holding your breath, hoping all drivers involved are able to walk away? Yeah….

As the field paired up in twos and headed toward the start/finish line for the final time, chaos erupted coming out of turn 4. Miguel Paludo gave Jeb Burton a shove that was just a little too much, and he spun up the track into Kyle Busch. The ensuing carnage saw Paludo flip and slide on his roof for an extended period of time, getting hit by multiple trucks before becoming upright once again, his truck on fire. Meanwhile, Busch took two hard licks, including one on a non-SAFER wall at the inside of the track. Darrell Wallace Jr. called the hit the “hardest hit of my career. It scared the hell out of me.” Johnny Sauter emerged victorious, and the most serious injury to come out of the wreck was a broken thumb for Justin Lofton.

Ben Kennedy’s Scary Crash in 2014 Fred’s 250

It’s another one of those cringe-worthy crashes where a truck goes out of control while the field races on. Ben Kennedy got some help going around in the form of a tap from Joe Nemechek, and the ensuing crash was one that left you waiting for the driver to say he was alright on the radio. Kennedy hit the outside SAFER barrier not once, but twice, leaving a trail of parts and pieces from the No. 31 Chevrolet all along the track. Kennedy was put out of the race on the spot; Timothy Peters went on to take the victory that day.

Parker Kligerman Wins First Career Race

There is nothing more exciting than a first career win for any driver, even if it does come under caution. That pure, raw emotion that exudes from the victor is infectious, and it was no different when Parker Kligerman scored his first career Truck Series victory in the 2012 Fred’s 250. In a season that saw him released from Brad Keselowski Racing to make room for Ryan Blaney, Kligerman never skipped a beat and landed at Red Horse Racing to finish out the season. He became the record eighth first-time winner during the 2012 season.

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Dennis

It’s painful waiting for the truck races. They often put on the best show of the weekend.