Rating the Amp Energy Juice 500: 5 Stars *****

As expected, Talladega brought with it plenty of drama Sunday, including as close to a traditional photo-finish as possible in this technology age. It didn’t take a full week for NASCAR to decide the winner, as it did at the first Daytona 500, but the suspense lasted well after the checkered flag flew. The final restrictor-plate race of the season was worthy of a 5 Star Rating.

The constant shuffle of drivers to the front was certainly intriguing, and something that only happens in two races each year -- both of the Talladega races. Heck, Joe Nemecheck charged from his fourth-place starting position and led the the first lap.

What’s better than a race with more than 85 lead changes in one season? Two races with more than 85 lead changes. The 87 lead changes in Sunday’s race fell one short of matching the series record for lead changes in one race that was set the last time NASCAR visited its largest track. During the 388 laps run at Talladega this season, there were 175 lead changes. That is simply remarkable.

This race really had something for everyone, well maybe except for the fans of the 17 drivers who didn’t lead a lap, but hey, they probably got close at some point during the day. There were huge packs, long runs with green-flag pit stops, spectacular wrecks and a flurry of activity throughout the field for most of the race. If the finish line had been in turn one, this race may have ended similar to the 2007 Daytona 500 where Kevin Harvick edged out Mark Martin for the win. Instead, it finished similar to the 2008 July race at Daytona where video replay had to confirm the winner.

Many people expected this race to offer up the 2010 Sprint Cup Series Champion. Instead, the Chase among Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Harvick just got tighter. However, none of the three drivers had an easy, normal day. Johnson sustained damage in one of the early wrecks, Hamlin fell a lap down after he tried the “stay at the back and hope the big one happens” strategy and Harvick smashed into Marcos Ambrose as he slid down across his nose in turn three.

Now, Johnson leads Hamlin by 14 points and Harvick closed to within 38 points of the lead with three races left. This is as close to a straight-up, head-to-head-to-head battle as NASCAR is ever going to see. People have begged for a close Chase in the past several years. Well, folks, here it is. Enjoy it or go home, but don’t complain that the racing is boring and the Chase has sucked the life out of the sport. It’s fair to wish for the old points format, but enjoy the excitement when it’s here.

So, next week the series heads west to Texas. It’s anybody’s race now, and Texas Motor Speedway has produced a variety of winners throughout its history. Plus, it’s another 500-mile race. Those last 100 miles usually separate the best from the rest, so expect Johnson, Hamlin and Harvick to be near the front as the laps wind down. Have a great week.