Anything is possible when NASCAR visits its two superspeedways in Daytona and Talladega.
But that concept takes on more significance this weekend when the Cup Series debuts a new rules package at Talladega.
The package includes a tapered spacer to replace the restrictor plate and a taller spoiler.
Could those new factors help result in an upset winner on Sunday?
Kyle Petty and Nate Ryan discussed that possibility on NASCAR America presents MotorMouths.
“I don’t think so,” Ryan said. “Talladega, even though it has this arbitrary nature where you’re sometimes picking lottery balls out to determine a winner or whose going to be there at the end, I still think driver skill is extremely important. That’s why Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, they’re the best (superspeedway) drivers I think in Cup right now. They’ve won multiple times here in the last five years. ... I think skill will still matter.”
Petty also believes even with the new variables the race will come down to the “best teams and the best drivers.”
“We’re not going to see a Front Row (Motorsports) blast through there,” Petty said. “We’re not going to see a Ron Bouchard catch two guys side-by-side and draft into the inside (in 1981). ... Now we might see that the third or fourth time they run this package, but we’re not going to see it this time I don’t believe.”
Watch the above video for more.