While Sunday’s YellaWood 500 will mark the end of the Jimmie Johnson era at Talladega Superspeedway, his legend at the 2.66-mile iconic venue will live on forever as a result of the track’s spring race of 2011.

With “Darkhorse” written above his door, Justin Haley drove his No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet through the field in some chaotic final laps of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race at NASCAR’s Most Competitive track on Saturday, to capture the checkered flag in the Ag-Pro 300 At TALLADEGA. Haley only led two of 113 laps, but they were the most important laps as he notched his third win of the Xfinity Series season.

The intensity of playoff elimination racing was on full display Saturday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway, as the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Chevy Silverado 250 at TALLADEGA whittled the playoff field from 10 drivers to eight. The happiest driver to leave the track, though, was one who was not among the playoff drivers. Raphael Lessard, a native of Quebec, Canada, was declared the winner after a multi-car wreck on the final lap of the race brought out a caution flag.

There has been a lot of talk this year about seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson and his retirement from full-time competition in NASCAR’s premier series this season. He will make his final start in Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Let the record show, however, he’s not the only one who will strap into the cockpit for the final time at the 2.66-mile venue. The other? The comical and talented Brendan Gaughan.

While Sunday’s YellaWood 500 will mark the end of the Jimmie Johnson era at Talladega Superspeedway, his legend at the 2.66-mile iconic venue will live on forever as a result of the track’s spring race of 2011.

James W. (Jimmy) Rane, founder, President and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, will serve as the Grand Marshal for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race at Talladega Superspeedway, giving the command for “Drivers, Start Your Engines.”