Check out a short list of favorites for Sunday's EA Sports 500 at Talladega, Ala.

	Earnhardt

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Led 133 of 188 laps in April at the Aaron's 499 and drove to second straight win at Talladega. Also captured this race last fall, charging past Bobby Labonte on the final lap. Is trying to become the first driver to complete the season sweep at the famed tri-oval since his father in 1999. Has just one win this season and is 13th in the Winston Cup standings.

Jeff Gordon
Has put protracted slump behind him with three wins in the last six races. Held off rookie Ryan Newman off a restart with three laps left last week to capture his second straight Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway. Matt Kenseth is the only Winston Cup driver with more wins this season. Fourth in the standings, 109 points behind Martin as he seeks a fifth Winston Cup championship.

Dale Jarrett
Winner of the Winston 500 here in 1998. Was runner-up to Dale Earnhardt in both Talladega races in 1999, one year after failing to crack the top 10 at this track. Claimed Pepsi 400 in August for second win of the year, making this his seventh straight season with at least two victories. Just 12th in the Winston Cup standings. Has won just one pole position over the last two seasons.

Jimmie Johnson
Rookie grabbed the lead in the Winston Cup standings last week by finishing 10th in the Protection One 400. Is trying to become the first freshman to win the championship, although he trails Matt Kenseth in the Rookie of the Year standings. Tied for second with three wins, the most recent coming two weeks ago at Dover Downs. Finished seventh in the Aaron's 499 earlier this year in his first Winston Cup start at Talladega. Has 18 top-10 finishes in 29 starts.

Matt Kenseth
Leads all Winston Cup drivers with four wins this season but sits just eighth in the standings, 193 points behind pace-setter Jimmie Johnson. Has posted four consecutive top-10 finishes, including seventh last week at Kansas Speedway, where he started 27th. Trying to record victories in all four seasons after winning in February at Rockingham, in April at Texas and last month at Richmond. Best finish at Talladega was fourth in this race last year.

Mark Martin
Veteran is battling for the first Winston Cup championship of his 22-year career. Had the lead for two weeks but slipped to second, 11 points behind rookie Jimmie Johnson, after engine trouble contributed to a 25th-place finish at the Protection One 400. Lone victory this season came at the end of May in the Coca-Cola Racing Family 600. Involved in an accident at the spring race here and placed 37th. Only worse finish this year was 41st at the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover. Owns two wins at Talladega but none since 1997.

Ryan Newman
Was runner-up at last week's Protection One 400 for fifth second-place finish of the season and third in five weeks. Leads Rookie of the Year standings by 25 points over Jimmie Johnson but is just seventh in the Winston Cup points race, 193 behind the pace-setting Johnson. Claimed first Winston Cup win three weeks ago at New Hampshire International Speedway. Worst finish of the season came in April at Talladega, where engine problems left him last in the 43-car field.

Tony Stewart
Has battled his temper this season but also is battling for his first Winston Cup championship. Is third in the standings, just 36 points behind rookie Jimmie Johnson with six races remaining. Tied for second with three wins this season and has six top-10 finishes in his last eight starts. Started and finished eighth last week at Kansas Speedway. Was runner-up at both Talladega races last year but was involved in a wreck earlier this season and placed 29th in the Aaron's 499.

Rusty Wallace
Former Winston Cup champion has 54 career victories but none this season and none at Talladega. Only driver among the top 13 without a win but sits sixth in the Winston Cup standings with 3,687 points, 137 behind Jimmie Johnson for first place. Trying to keep alive a streak of 16 years with at least one victory. Started 13th and finished eighth in the spring race here.