The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega

Some drivers just sneak up on you, and so far in 2014, Brian Vickers has been one of those drivers. He’s quietly put together some strong runs, including his fourth-place finish in Talladega this week. Vickers wasn’t totally stealthy on Sunday; he did lead three times during the race. The No. 55 team does still have some holes to patch (they’re not yet consistent enough to be a title threat), but Vickers sits 10th in points. That’s ahead of race winners Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch, as well as three-time champion Tony Stewart and teammate Clint Bowyer. Vickers still needs to win to lock down a Chase spot, but he’s making a case for that happening.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2014 Auto Club 400 at Fontana

It may not have affected everyone, but Denny Hamlin’s sinus infection certainly impacted the No. 11 team, who had to make a driver change at the 11th hour as Hamlin was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Sam Hornish Jr. was already on hand for Matt Kenseth, whose wife Katie is due to give birth to the couple’s third child, but wound up in Hamlin’s seat instead after doctors advised the driver to sit the race out. His vision was getting affected, to the point he failed a “follow the finger” test and was actually losing sight in one eye.