Fantasy Report: Aaron's 499

This week NASCAR rolls into our home state for the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. This track is a 2.66-mile tri-oval with 33 degrees of banking in the corners. They don't call it "NASCAR's Most Competitive Track" for nothing.

Here are our drivers:

Erik's picks: Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart✔, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Jamie McMurray✔, Greg Biffle, Martin Truex Jr., Brian Vickers✔ and Paul Menard

Brandon's picks: Jimmie Johnson✔, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr.✔, Martin Truex Jr., David Gilliland, Elliott Sadler✔, Brian Vickers✔ and Michael Waltrip.

"The Big One": Picking a driver that can stay out of wrecks is hard anywhere but is even more difficult at Talladega. A single wreck can take out half the field eliminating your fantasy drivers. One bad week can really put you behind in the point standings.

A few drivers to consider: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon for starters. They always seem to be running at the end of this race and often at the front. This will mark Jr.'s 300th Cup start and you can bet that the "Junior Nation" will be amped up. Jeff Gordon, on the other hand, dominated at Talladega last year with 2 wins (one from the pole). Jimmy Johnson has also had success there in the past and his team looks as if they have come alive in the last couple of races. Others to watch for would be Brian Vickers and Kurt Busch. Vickers, who always seems strong at Talladega, won in 2006 after spinning Johnson into Jr. for a dramatic finish. Busch has had 7 top 10 finishes in 8 races.

Things to remember: This is an impound race. That means that the car they qualify with is the car they'll race with ... no switching to race trim after taking time in qualifying trim. This sometimes brings a few of the teams that are farther behind in points to the front. It's a gamble to pick those that qualify well because it often doesn't pay off. Don't be discouraged if your main pick is way back in the field because Gordon started 35th and remained near the back for most of the fall race last year until "The Big One" occurred and then got on the gas to eventually take the checkered flag. Also, don't forget that Gordon won from the pole last spring so nothing is set in stone.

— Brandon Wynn contributed to this post.

Fast Facts

• Last pole sitters — April 2007: Jeff Gordon, 192.069 mph; October 2007: Michael Waltrip, 189.070 mph

• Last winners — April 2007: 24-Jeff Gordon, 154.167 mph; October 2007: Jeff Gordon, 143.438 mph

• Qualifying records — No restrictor plate: Bill Elliott, April 1987, 212.809 mph; Restrictor Plate: Bill Elliott, May 1990, 199.388 15/16th-inch plate

• Most Wins — Active: 6, Jeff Gordon; All time: 10, Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

• Most Poles (All Time): 8, Bill Elliott

• Most Top 5s: 23, Dale Earnhardt

— Source: NASCAR