TALLADEGA NOTEBOOK: Renovations begin today

TALLADEGA — A huge renovation project on the grandstands of Talladega Superspeedway will begin today and is expected to be partly completed in time for the Aaron’s 499 race on April 25.

More than half of the grandstands will be replaced with larger seats and wider aisles in time for the spring race, while the remaining seats are scheduled to be replaced for the next AMP Energy 500 on Oct. 31, 2010.

New 21-inch seats with armrests and cupholders will replace the current 17-inch seats and seat aisles will also be widened to 48 inches from 36. 

There will also be some restructuring of prices for seat locations. Single-day seats in the Gadsden, Lincoln, Anniston and Talladega Towers are being reduced from $120 to $95. Two-day tickets in the Allison Grandstands will be reduced to from $60 to $49.

Rising rookie
Joey Logano was the leading rookie performer on Sunday as he finished third overall.

Logano scored a Top 10 finish in both Talladega races this season. He placed ninth in the Aaron’s 499 last spring.

“It was a great run — battled hard all day,” Logano said. “These races are interesting. You ride around in the first part and you just really make sure you don’t wreck, that’s the main thing.

“Just trying to find friends and try to have someone good at the end pushing you. That was my gameplan most of the time. It was fun to be up there racing for the win with those guys.”

Tough luck
Denny Hamlin blew an engine on lap 137, ending his day and marking the third time in the Chase he has failed to finish a race.

Quick exit
It only took four laps for the first yellow flag to come out when Paul Menard’s car blew a tire and got tangled up with Joe Nemechek. It ended the day for both drivers, who were evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Ford tough
With Jamie McMurray winning, it snapped a 30-race winless streak for Ford, which won the first two races of the season with Matt Kenseth.

BamaJam presence
BamaJam Productions, a division of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment, partnered with the track this weekend to provide free concerts Saturday night and Sunday morning in several fan areas. Musical groups Houston County, Blackberry Smoke, LoCash Cowboys and Colt Ford were the scheduled performers.