Race Report.(car race)

Byline: J.P. VETTRAINO

Things change and they don't. Yes, a Ford won at Talladega for the first time in seven years, and Dale Jarrett won for the first time in 98 starts, but there was still a big wreck. Two, actually.

The first came on lap 19, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped Jimmie Johnson, who turned Elliott Sadler sideways in Turn One. Michael Waltrip barrel-rolled twice up the banking, and when it was over seven cars were bashed.

The second crash occurred 47 laps later, when Ryan Newman turned Casey Mears in the tri-oval. Scott Riggs' car pirouetted on its nose as it disintegrated, and eight cars got caught in the fracas. Not a bone was broken, believe it or not.

It was exciting, for sure, and nerve-racking for everyone-particularly the drivers, who don't care for air-restricted engines. There were 50 lead changes among 20 drivers and 33 caution laps. Ever the charger, Tony Stewart led 11 times for 65 laps. Jarrett led twice-the third lap and the last.

The 1999 champion was 18th with 30 laps to go, but he was reunited with longtime crew chief Todd Parrott for the first time in 26 races. Parrott made the right calls and had Jarrett fourth for the final restart: a green-white-checkered blitz after Ken Schrader spun. Jarrett pushed Stewart through to the lead, but stayed high when Stewart dove low, and got a push himself from Carl Edwards.

It went yellow again on the final lap (wreck, Kyle Petty). If there was some dispute as to the order of the top five, there was no doubt Jarrett was in front when the caution waved, while Stewart finished second.