(This story was updated to change a photo.)
TALLADEGA − Ricky Stenhouse Jr wins the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.
Stenhouse would survive the two lap shootout of NASCAR overtime, winning by just .006 seconds over Brad Keselowski. It is Stenhouse's fourth win of his career. It is hia second at Talladega, his other two wins came at Daytona.
With five to go the big crash happened after Austin Cindric got bumped from the lead, bringing out the red flag. He collected a bunch of the field, including other playoff drivers Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano and Chase Briscoe.
The race got off to a fast and aggressive start with three and four wide racing for most of the first stage, that seemed to benefit playoff drivers with seven of them earning stage points. A few playoff drivers, including Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney were caught up in accidents in the first two stages, with Blaney's crash ending his day.
NASCAR drivers start aggressive at Talladega Superspeedway
For a track known for the big one, NASCAR Cup Series drivers got off to an aggressive start in the first stage on Sunday. Following an early pitstop cycle due to an early caution, most of the first stage went by with three and four-wide racing. Somehow no mistakes were made and the stage only had the caution due to Suarez spinning out.
It was a strong start for most playoff drivers, outside of Suarez, with seven finishing the stage in the top 10, earning the valuable stage points that comes with that.
RACERS TO WATCH: What to know about NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 race at Talladega Superspeedway
RECAP: NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega: Live updates from race day ahead of the green flag
Ryan Blaney crashes to end Stage 2
Coming to the line Alex Bowman tapped Blaney and it sent him up the track taking Ross Chastain and Joey Logano with him and possibly Denny Hamlin. Blaney and Chastain were done for the day, with the No. 1 car appearing to catch fire with a bunch of smoke. Logano and Hamlin made it back to pit road.
It was a costly crash as it collected three playoff drivers in Logano, Blaney and Hamlin, while Chastain was coming off a win at Kansas after being eliminated in the Round of 16.
Michael McDowell continues rough stretch of pole races
McDowell has had six poles this season but has struggled in the races that he started from the front, especially at drafting tracks. In the six races that drafting is key at (Daytona, Atlanta and Talladega). His best finish is at Atlanta in the second race of the year, when he placed eighth. In the other four drafting races coming into Talladega's race on Sunday, he finished outside the top-30 three times, with the second best finish being 22nd at Atlanta's summer race.
That continued on Sunday, when McDowell was involved in the crash with five to go and finished in 37th place.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: By .006 seconds, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
Local News
Comments / 0