by Darrell Waltrip

Updated: October 6, 2006, 9:06 PM EST

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Talladega! Now you're talking! It's Talladega weekend, baby!

You know what I think about when I think about Talladega? I think about Daytona in 1979.

Why?

Because the Daytona International Speedway had just been resurfaced, and it was the most bizarre race that I was ever in. People were leading the race that had never led a race. There were wrecks and action all day long. Of course, you know what happened at the end of the race.

Three guys were down in the mud fighting while the King, A.J. Foyt and I we're just cruising along. Richard Petty won the race. I ran second, and A.J. ran third. What a surprise! It was just one of those days, and that's what I look for at Talladega on Sunday. It's going to be one of those days.

I love it when people say, "Man, I've never seen that happen before." Or "There's no way that could happen." But I'll bet you that this is going to be one of those days. Somebody totally unexpected will win the race. That's my prediction for Talladega.

I do believe that the guys that have been consistent in these first three races — Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth for the most part — will run up front. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon will mix it up late in the race, and I wouldn't be surprised to see those Yates cars, particularly Dale Jarrett, run for the win.

Some drivers are going to run up front and battle all day, and some of the smarter guys are going to lay back for a while, see what happens and come on strong at the end. I've seen it happen time and time again.

If I was a Chaser in Talladega, I would form a pack and fall behind all that wild racing up front. Keep four or five good cars grouped up so we can draft off of each other, and let a wild child get up there with some of his friends to dice it up. That's what I would do. Of course, I'm not out there so I guess it remains to be seen what they'll do.

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Oh, by the way

The truck race at Talladega on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET on SPEED) could be something to behold as well. When you've got a new surface, it takes away so many things. Handling and grip will not be an issue. When the cars and trucks handle well, the drivers can make moves on the race track, and they can do things that are just so unpredictable.

The things stick so well that they can go from side-to-side, lane-to-lane and make a lot of moves on the race track. At Daytona and Talladega, those moves usually get you in trouble.

So that's what I look for this weekend — a track with a lot of grip and drivers driving way, way over their heads because it's going to feel so good until they realize that they're not the only ones out there.