Alabama native Bubba Wallace won Monday’s rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, earning his first career victory in the sport’s premier division
TALLADEGA – October 4, 2021 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK
The NASCAR Cup Series invaded the 2.5 mile Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Sunday October 3, 2020 for the YellaWood 500.
A combination of lightning, high winds, and rain postponed Sunday’s GEICO 500 race at Talladega Superspeedway to Monday afternoon at 1:00 pm
Stage 1 – YellaWood 500 Skinny :
Counting down to 8 circuits remaining in stage one, two racing lines became evident. Brad Keselowski choses the bottom lane bringing along Chris Buescher drafting on his bumper.
The following lap Brad Keselowski receives a bump drafted off the bottom. Chris Buescher takes over the lead and Stage honors.
Stage 1 – YellaWood 500 Results :
1. Chris Buescher;
2. Joey Logano
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Tyler Reddick
7. Chase Elliott
8. Alex Bowman
9. Ross Chastain
10. Kurt Busch
Stage 2 / Final Stage – YellaWood 500 : recap:
8 to go, Bubba Wallace would be involved with a decisive round of events to etch a path to victory. A bump tap from Brad Keselowski from the outside lane allows Bubba’s forward momentum to sling shot to the bottom taking over the lead with storm clouds invading Turn 1 in the horizon.
The rain clouds blanketed the track vicinity accommodated with lightning strikes with 3 laps to go in Stage 2.
NASCAR has thrown the red flag allowing cars head to the pit lane, until track suitable for competition.
About an hour later, NASCAR has called the race resulting from incumbent weather conditions.
Bubba Wallace wins at Talladega Superspeedway!
Brad Keselowski would settle for second, followed by Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Christopher Bell. Denny Hamlin, who won at Vegas last week will be the only driver to clinch a spot in the Round of 8 Championship. Bubba Wallace became the first Black driver since Wendell Scott in December 1963 to win a NASCAR Cup race.
Talladega Superspeedway Results
October 4, 2021
NASCAR Cup Series
Pos | Driver
1. Bubba Wallace
2. Brad Keselowski
3. Joey Logano
4. Kurt Busch
5. Christopher Bell
6. Chris Buescher
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Kevin Harvick
9. Austin Dillon
10. Anthony Alfredo
11. Erik Jones
12. Martin Truex Jr
13. Ryan Blaney
14. Chase Briscoe
15. Cole Custer
16. Michael McDowell
17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
18. Quin Houff
19. Chase Elliott
20. Justin Haley
21. Ryan Newman
22. Corey LaJoie
23. Daniel Suarez
24. Landon Cassill
25. Joey Gase
26. Aric Almirola
27. Kyle Busch
28. Cody Ware
29. Garrett Smithley
30. BJ McLeod
31. Josh Bilicki
32. Ryan Preece
33. Ross Chastain
34. James Davison
35. Matt DiBenedetto
36. William Byron
37. Kyle Larson
38. Alex Bowman
39. Tyler Reddick
40. Justin Allgaier
Kevin Harvick, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Alex Bowman are currently on the playoff bubble and danger facing elimination
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings – Round of 12 (After Talladega) – YellaWood 500
DRIVER POINTS:
1. Denny Hamlin – Advanced to Round of 8 (won Las Vegas)
2. Kyle Larson – 3,097 points (+22 above cutline to advance)
3. Joey Logano – 3,096 points (+21)
4. Brad Keselowski – 3,095 points (+20)
5. Martin Truex Jr. – 3,095 points (+20)
6. Ryan Blaney – 3,090 points (+15)
7. Chase Elliott – 3,084 points (+9)
8. Kyle Busch – 3,084 points (+9)
— — — — —
9. Kevin Harvick – 3,075 points (-9)
10. Christopher Bell – 3,056 points (-28)
11. William Byron – 3,040 points (-44)
12. Alex Bowman – 3,032 points (-52)
Four postseason contenders will be eliminated from Championship contention next weekend at the Round of 12’s finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s – Bank of America Roval 400 (Sunday October 10th at 2 p.m. ET on NBC).