Racing returns to storied track in 2010

TALLADEGA, Ala.

Racing will return to North Wilkesboro Speedway next year with the USARacing Pro Cup Series announcing it will run there on Oct. 3, 2010.

North Wilkesboro hosted NASCAR races from 1949-96. Jeff Gordon won the final Cup race there on Sept. 29, 1996.

"We are extremely pleased to be the first national touring racing series to return to the true roots of stock car racing," USARacing Managing Partner Larry Camp said in a statement from the series. "We know the people of Wilkes County and the surrounding area of North Carolina have missed stock car racing on this storied track."

Among the drivers who have competed in this stock-car series is Brian Vickers.

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WATCH IT

NASCAR officials will keep an eye on aggressive driving in today's race at Talladega Superspeedway.

John Darby, Cup series director, said drivers will be warned about aggressive driving in the pre-race meeting today.

"We'll watch it like we always do," Darby said. "Hopefully, we won't have to make a call, but if it gets too obnoxious, we will."

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HIGH ANXIETY

Points leader Jimmie Johnson admits he hasn't slept well this week leading to today's race.

"The brain wonders and thinks about a lot of different things," Johnson said. "Especially when I come to a track like this where I just don't want to miss an opportunity. I think one aspect that helps us stay calm in some respect is we think things through and we're very well prepared when we come to the track. With this race, you can look at probably eight scenarios and then on top of that, all of those scenarios can go out the window and may not even exist."

One thing he won't have to worry about is where he starts. Rain cancelled qualifying, setting the order by points. Johnson starts first with Mark Martin, who trails by 118 points, starting second.

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TRULY SUPERMAN?

Jeff Gordon celebrated Halloween earlier this week with his family and wore a Superman outfit.

"You... would have gotten a kick out of seeing me running around our house this week in my Superman outfit because that's what (daughter) Ella wanted me to be," Gordon said. "I didn't leave the house in that uniform, but she certainly enjoyed it a lot more than I did. (Wife) Ingrid was trying to talk me into taking it to her little class. "