Sights & Sounds: Avoiding elimination at Talladega Superspeedway

Published Oct. 19, 2014 11:30 a.m. ET

foxsports

Editor's note: Scroll down for updates...

11:30 a.m. ET -- Sunday marks the end of the Contender Round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and at the end of the day four drivers' title hopes will have gone up in smoke. The weekend has already started out on the wild side, so there is no telling what the GEICO 500 has in store.

Like most weekends, the drivers are out and about doing pre-race hospitality visits, sponsorship appearances and fan autograph signings.

1st stop of the day is @TeamChevy. #NewmanNation our driver @RyanJNewman is ready to do what it takes to transfer in pic.twitter.com/FNITkTCI1p
— RCR 31 Cup Team (@RCR31RNewman) October 19, 2014

The stress-free @TalladegaSuperS morning begins for @joeylogano at the @FordRacing stage. pic.twitter.com/1nbGnMcNKS
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) October 19, 2014

Kurt Busch is up and talking with the folks from @Haas_Automation before the race at Talladega. pic.twitter.com/FUkZPGWNkt
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) October 19, 2014

@MarcosAmbrose on the @fordracing display stage #fordnation #nascar pic.twitter.com/iOYrGenKKW
— Tim Duerr (@TimDuerr) October 19, 2014

.@Josh_Wise meets some of the #dogecrew at the Tweet Up @TalladegaSuperS. #dogecoin #reddit #nascar pic.twitter.com/d5sDvvu09w
— Phil Parsons Racing (@PPR98) October 19, 2014

At the @TeamChevy stage with @MartinTruex_Jr #TeamMA pic.twitter.com/BQY3u6MR4O
— Michael Annett (@MichaelAnnett) October 19, 2014

Polesitter @brianlvickers visits the @aaronssports display at @TalladegaSuperS Sunday morning @ToyotaRacing pic.twitter.com/SecRVyyunx
— M. Waltrip Racing (@MWRteam) October 19, 2014

JJ answers questions at the @TalladegaSuperS fan Q&A session. #lowes48 pic.twitter.com/WkWYLWjmVB
— Team Lowe's Racing (@LowesRacing) October 19, 2014

While the drivers are working the crowds, the teams are hard at work in the Sprint Cup garage running through their pre-race checklists.

Calm before the storm. #TeamMA pic.twitter.com/j8VVz7BuxC
— Michael Annett (@MichaelAnnett) October 19, 2014

All ready to go for today's #GEICO500 @TalladegaSuperS pic.twitter.com/4TY3uUdwRo
— JJ Yeley (@jjyeley1) October 19, 2014

The right side of the car had to be re-wrapped, got it done in 45 mins! pic.twitter.com/qQzjxhOVTn
— Go Green Racing (@GoGreenRacing) October 19, 2014

They are getting this Haas Chevy ready for the Outlaw to ride. pic.twitter.com/498qYuXa4x
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) October 19, 2014

After winning last week's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick offered his Talladega ride to wife DeLana, it appears Sunday morning Kevin's son Keelan was ready to fill in for his dad for Sunday's race.

Keelan's ready for "Taildega" pic.twitter.com/Wpeqcre5hz
— DeLana Harvick (@DeLanaHarvick) October 19, 2014

11:50 a.m. ET -- The drivers are now walking the red carpet in the infield headed to the weekly driver-crew chief meeting before the race.

RT if you think @DanicaPatrick goes to @Gatorade Victory Lane today! #GEICO500 pic.twitter.com/Y23qFW7DVI
— TalladegaSuperS (@TalladegaSuperS) October 19, 2014

Always showin' love to the fans- it's @JeffGordonWeb! He has 6 wins here. Can he get #7 today? #GEICO500 pic.twitter.com/PSyZzXoWlV
— TalladegaSuperS (@TalladegaSuperS) October 19, 2014

Much draft. Very wow. Welcome to the Drivers Meeting, @Josh_Wise! #GEICO500 pic.twitter.com/noxnhCjGGd
— TalladegaSuperS (@TalladegaSuperS) October 19, 2014

The rookie's been on a hot streak! Who thinks @KyleLarsonRacin can win it all today? #GEICO500 pic.twitter.com/ryKLUtNb8Y
— TalladegaSuperS (@TalladegaSuperS) October 19, 2014

Making his way down the red carpet is @KevinHarvick, looking nice & relaxed! How 'bout you, @DeLanaHarvick? pic.twitter.com/HrBVnZ6wm1
— TalladegaSuperS (@TalladegaSuperS) October 19, 2014

#Nascar ... Which drivers can you find as the drivers meeting is about to start? #AskMRN @MRNRadio pic.twitter.com/oHDvBvFGgJ
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) October 19, 2014

Despite not qualifying for Sunday's race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is still at Talladega Superspeedway to take care of sponsor appearances and to cheer on girlfriend Danica Patrick.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr didn't make the race but he still has work today with meet-and -greets. #nascar pic.twitter.com/YjvUvB2Sus
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 19, 2014

. @gbiffle and @stenhousejr filming for #TripFlip on the @travelchannel. pic.twitter.com/5FL78PS2fF
— Roush Fenway Racing (@roushfenway) October 19, 2014

Notice something missing? @TalladegaSuperS pic.twitter.com/A684fZgcy8
— tom jensen (@tomjensen100) October 19, 2014

12:10 p.m. ET -- With so much on the line in Sunday's race, NASCAR president Mike Helton reminded drivers in today's pre-race meeting to let the race play out naturally.

#NASCAR president Mike Helton says "Let the day play out under usual circumstances" @TalladegaSuperS
— Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) October 19, 2014

1:15 p.m. ET -- As the pre-race activities continue, skywriters are putting on a pretty good show and drawing a lot of attention in the skies above Talladega Superspeedway.

The @GEICO sky writers getting pre-race started for the #GEICO500 @TalladegaSuperS! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/9vlc1eIPCX
— Sunoco Racing (@SunocoRacing) October 19, 2014

1:30 p.m. ET -- The competitors are now heading to the driver introduction stage to meet the fans before climbing in their cars for Sunday's race.

Check out these cool dudes! @aric_almirola & his son Alex head to the driver intros stage! -MM pic.twitter.com/TFZVfnVDLP
— Miss Sprint Cup (@MissSprintCup) October 19, 2014

Headed to driver intros! It's almost race time at @TalladegaSuperS. pic.twitter.com/IANzBDMxAt
— RCR 27 Cup Team (@RCR27PMenard) October 19, 2014

.@JimmieJohnson knows how to make his fans happy! Signing autographs on his way to the stage! -MM pic.twitter.com/qfeUx4Gqsf
— Miss Sprint Cup (@MissSprintCup) October 19, 2014

.@TonyStewart stops to take a photo with his young fans on the #GEICO500 pre-race stage. #DegaNation pic.twitter.com/drJa3AO5bT
— Sunoco Racing (@SunocoRacing) October 19, 2014

2:05 p.m. ET -- All the pre-race activities are in the books! It's time to go racing at Talladega Superspeedway! Be sure to follow all the action with FOXSports.com's RaceTrax.

Don't forget, you can follow every lap of today's race at @TalladegaSuperS w/ our leaderboard» http://t.co/nHJtSjs3Jw pic.twitter.com/xkt7nyPocK
— FOX SPORTS: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 19, 2014