Lengthy generally known as the NASCAR Cup Sequence’ most unpredictable observe, the Talladega Superspeedway was all that and extra throughout Sunday’s YellaWood 500. A 28-car pileup within the closing laps of the race served because the spotlight, and for the second week in a row, a non-playoff driver gained as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. beat Brad Keselowski by 0.006 seconds.
A number of playoff contenders received caught up within the chaos, leaving them in precarious factors conditions getting into the Financial institution of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s infield highway course. 4 drivers shall be eradicated from title rivalry following that race, so let’s check out who has momentum and who would not.
1. Kyle Larson (Final week: 1)
Larson was overdue to profit from a chaotic end, and he did simply that by coming dwelling fourth at Talladega after avoiding the massive wreck within the closing laps. That places him in a perfect factors place getting into Charlotte (52 factors within the clear). The total-season factors chief and winningest driver of 2024 ought to simply advance to the Spherical of Eight.
2. Christopher Bell (Final week: 2)
For no matter motive, Bell has a knack for ending up entrance on superspeedways even when he would not contend for the lead all through the race. He did it once more Sunday, ending sixth after escaping from the Huge One with minimal injury. He is 57 factors above the cutline. Contemplating the utmost variety of factors that may be earned in per week is 60, he ought to be capable to breathe straightforward.
3. Ryan Blaney (Final week: 3)
One driver in a barely much less comfy place is defending collection champ Blaney, the defending fall Talladega race winner who was taken out in a wreck coming to the flag in Stage Two. Blaney nonetheless earned himself stage factors as he slid throughout the road, and due to the handful of playoff drivers who have been worn out in a while, he enters Charlotte 25 factors to the great.
4. Chase Elliott (Final week: 5)
Elliott was swept up within the huge late accident Sunday, a intestine punch for him and his No. 9 staff. On the time, he was operating inside the highest 5 and had a shot on the win. As a substitute, he completed twenty ninth and is just 13 factors forward of Joey Logano for the ultimate switch spot. On the brilliant aspect, Elliott has gained twice on the Charlotte Roval and needs to be thought of among the many favorites there.
5. William Byron (Final week: 8)
With non-playoff drivers profitable every of the previous two races, just one man enters subsequent week realizing he’s secure to advance to the Spherical of Eight. That will be Byron, who backed up his runner-up end at Kansas with a 3rd in Talladega and has clinched his approach in on factors no matter how he fares in Charlotte. The No. 24 staff is flying underneath the radar regardless of remaining winless since Martinsville in April.
6. Denny Hamlin (Final week: 6)
Maybe no driver had extra luck Sunday than Hamlin, who was set to complete within the 30s earlier than the Huge One allowed him to move, actually, greater than half the sector en path to a Tenth-place end. As a substitute of sitting on the bubble along with his weakest observe kind looming, Hamlin will carry a 30-point cushion into the Charlotte elimination race.
7. Ross Chastain (Final week: 4)
Chastain’s luck lastly ran out at Talladega. He took the brunt of the impression within the wreck with Blaney and completed final after profitable final week in Kansas. Chastain stays the chief of the non-playoff drivers in factors, however Chris Buescher has closed the hole to solely three markers.
8. Tyler Reddick (Final week: 7)
A latest hunch continued Sunday for Reddick, who did not again up his win from the spring Talladega race when he, like many others, received caught up within the Huge One. His Twentieth-place end marked his fourth consecutive results of that quantity or worse, but when it is any solace, he improved his factors scenario. After getting into the day within the crimson, Reddick jumped to 14 factors above the cutline after Elliott and Logano completed nicely behind him.
9. Joey Logano (Final week: 11)
Logano was within the combine for the win at Talladega earlier than struggling vital injury within the Huge One. Unable to proceed, he completed thirty third, 13 factors on the flawed aspect of the road to advance. Given Logano’s reasonably pedestrian road-course historical past, he is most likely going to want assist to maintain his season alive within the subsequent race.
10. Bubba Wallace (Final week: 12)
Wallace is not within the playoffs, however he loved a stable afternoon at Talladega (ninth). Extra considerably, due to the a lot weaker finishes of Chastain and Buescher, the driving force of the No. 23 machine closed to inside 24 factors within the “better of the remaining” race. There stay loads of positives to remove from Wallace’s season.
11. Ty Gibbs (Final week: 9)
Gibbs was extraordinarily quiet Sunday, which is not stunning as a result of he’s solely racing for factors after his elimination from the playoffs within the first spherical. That wasn’t essentially a nasty factor, although, as he was far sufficient behind when the Huge One occurred and squeaked by means of for a stable end (thirteenth). A robust highway racer, he’ll look to proceed the development of non-playoff winners within the Spherical of 12 in Charlotte.
12. Alex Bowman (Final week: 10)
Bowman’s sizzling kind within the playoffs led to Talladega when he suffered injury within the Huge One and limped to a Sixteenth-place end. Nonetheless, that was nonetheless forward of most playoff drivers, and he stays in a stable spot getting into Charlotte (26-point benefit over Logano). Barring catastrophe, Bowman would be the shock of the Spherical of Eight.
13. Martin Truex Jr. (Final week: 14)
Like his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Truex did not make a lot noise Sunday however completed solidly at Talladega. In a season marred by unhealthy luck, the retiring veteran will gladly take his Eleventh-place end in what might be his last race at NASCAR’s greatest superspeedway. Given his career-long winless mark on this observe kind, he most likely will not miss pack racing a lot.
14. Kyle Busch (Final week: 15)
Busch was once more within the combine within the last laps of a superspeedway race in 2024, however but once more, he got here up simply quick. His Nineteenth-place end is under no circumstances indicative of his efficiency, as he made a transfer for the lead within the first activate the ultimate lap however did not have drafting assist and received steamrolled by the sector. It is a microcosm of Busch’s season.
15. Chris Buescher (Final week: 13)
Buescher gained the primary stage at Talladega, giving him 10 useful factors as he tries to chase down Chastain within the race for seventeenth. That place was additionally the place he completed Sunday. Due to Chastain’s last-place end, he closed to inside three markers and made up for the bottom he misplaced in Kansas.
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Final week: not ranked)
Incomes the ultimate spot this week is Stenhouse, who deserves a shout-out after his thrilling win. He suffered injury within the accident however raced on after being slammed within the door. Amazingly, his 0.006-second victory margin is just the third closest this season.
Dropped out: Chase Briscoe
