The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12 kicked off with a surprise as non-Playoff driver Ross Chastain clinched victory at Kansas Speedway. This unexpected win has left all 12 Playoff contenders scrambling to secure their spots in the Round of 8. The next challenge is the unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66-mile track with 33-degree banking turns, hosting the YellaWood 500 on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. This race, broadcast on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, is the sixth and final drafting-style race of the season.
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports finished second to Chastain at Kansas, propelling him to the top of the Playoff standings with a 34-point cushion above the Round of 8 cutline. Following Byron are Ryan Blaney (+28), Christopher Bell (+28), Kyle Larson (+18), Denny Hamlin (+11), Alex Bowman (+8), Chase Elliott (+4), and Joey Logano (+4). This group includes four former series champions, making the competition fierce.
On the other side of the cutline are Tyler Reddick (-4), Daniel Suarez (-14), Chase Briscoe (-25), and Austin Cindric (-29), all of whom face an uphill battle to advance.
Talladega Superspeedway, known as the ultimate wildcard, has been the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for eight consecutive years. This 2.66-mile track is the largest paved oval in the series and features 33-degree banking in the turns. Talladega is one of four tracks that have been part of the Playoffs since their inception in 2004, along with Martinsville Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway.
Over the years, Talladega has occupied various spots on the postseason schedule, hosting the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh races at different times. A total of 15 drivers have won the 20 Playoff races held at Talladega, with six of them active this weekend. Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, and Joey Logano each have two Playoff wins at Talladega. Among the active drivers, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano are all in contention this year.
Historically, only once has the winner of the Talladega Playoff race gone on to win the championship in the same season, with Ryan Blaney achieving this feat in 2023. The worst finish by a driver who later won the title was 37th, by Kyle Larson in 2021. Non-Playoff drivers have won the Talladega Playoff race six times, with notable victories by Dale Jarrett (2005), Brian Vickers (2006), Jamie McMurray (2009), and Clint Bowyer (2011).
As the Playoffs continue, the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway promises to be a pivotal race, with high stakes and unpredictable outcomes. The drivers will need to navigate the challenges of this iconic track to keep their championship hopes alive.
Already Clinched
No drivers have clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 8th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman or Chase Elliott.
- William Byron: Could only clinch with help
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
- Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
- Alex Bowman: Could only clinch with help
- Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Joey Logano or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 7th winless driver in the standings.
- William Byron: Could only clinch with help
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
- Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
- Alex Bowman: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric
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