What to Watch For: Talladega Superspeedway

CONCORD, N.C. -- A trip to the eight-driver Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is on the line Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Below are important notes to keep an eye on during the critical event, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.

THIS WEEK'S PAINT SCHEMES: Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS, Jimmie Johnson will drive the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will man the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet SS. Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet SS will sport the Axalta Racing Brilliant Flames paint scheme.

CONTENDER UPDATE: Entering the third and final race of the Contender Round of the Chase, Gordon is currently in sixth place, 17 points ahead of the eighth-place cutoff spot, which is currently held by Kahne. Kahne is one point ahead of ninth place, which would be the first driver eliminated. Johnson is in 11th and Earnhardt is in 12th, both drivers 26 points behind the final eighth-place position.

CLINCHING SCENARIOS: Regardless of the finish of any other driver, Gordon has the most lenient of the clinching scenarios for Hendrick Motorsports. To control his own destiny and advance, he needs to finish 16th or better. With at least one lap led, he could finish 17th, and with the most laps led he could finish 18th and still advance without help from other drivers. For Kahne, Johnson and Earnhardt, however, the only way to control their own destiny and advance would be a trip to Victory Lane.

HENDRICK AT TALLADEGA: In 61 events (198 starts) at Talladega, Hendrick Motorsports has 11 wins, 49 top-five finishes and 73 top-10s. The organization’s 11 victories rank second all-time behind Richard Childress Racing (12). In Hendrick Motorsports’ most recent Talladega win, Earnhardt pushed Johnson to Victory Lane in April 2011. Johnson, the outside pole sitter, matched the closest margin of victory recorded -- 0.002 seconds -- since the use of electronic scoring.

RESTRICTOR-PLATE VICTORS: Among drivers all-time at the restrictor-plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega, Gordon ranks first with 12 victories and Earnhardt is third with eight. Gordon’s six pole positions rank him tied for second all-time in that category at restrictor-plate tracks. With a pole this weekend, Gordon could move into a tie for first with Sterling Marlin, who has seven.

APPROACHING 200: This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports could reach yet another milestone. With one more Sprint Cup Series pole position, the organization will have earned 200 in its 30-year history. Currently, Hendrick Motorsports sits at 199 poles, with Gordon and Johnson combining for three so far in the 2014 season.

KAHNE AT TALLADEGA: In 21 Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega, Kahne has recorded three top-five finishes, five top-10s and has led 50 laps at the high-banked oval. In the October 2012 event, Kahne won his first pole position at the 2.66-mile track. Most recently at Talladega in May 2014, he finished eighth.

GORDON AT TALLADEGA: Gordon has six wins, three pole positions, 15 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s in 43 Cup starts at Talladega Superspeedway. The 43-year-old driver leads active competitors at Talladega in the following statistical categories: starts (43), wins (six), top-five finishes (15), top-10s (19) and laps led (844).

ACTIVE DRIVERS RESTRICTOR-PLATE LEADER: Among active, full-time drivers in restrictor-plate races, Gordon tops these statistical categories: wins (12), poles (6), top-five finishes (28), top-10s (40, including a sixth-place finish at a restrictor-plate race at New Hampshire in September 2000) and laps led (1,467).

JOHNSON AT TALLADEGA: At Talladega, Johnson has two wins, six top-five finishes, 10 top-10s and one pole at the track.

EARNHARDT AT TALLADEGA: In 29 Cup starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Earnhardt has recorded five wins, 10 top-five finishes and 14 top-10s. He scored a record-setting four consecutive wins at the 2.66-mile superspeedway from October 2001 to April 2003. Earnhardt's five wins at Talladega are the most for him at any track and rank him third all-time among drivers at the Alabama oval. Earnhardt's father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., earned 10 wins at the track, while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon has recorded six.