The NASCAR Cup Series is hitting the midway point of the postseason with the fifth Playoff race, a pivotal moment for championship contenders.
Fifteen different drivers have won the fifth Playoff race, and six of them are competing at Talladega this Sunday. Among these, four are current Playoff contenders: Chase Elliott (2022 Talladega), Denny Hamlin (2021 Talladega), Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023 Talladega), and Joey Logano (2015 Kansas).
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads with three wins in the fifth Playoff race, all at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004, 2005, 2009). Brad Keselowski (2013 Charlotte, 2017 Talladega) and Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023 Talladega) top active drivers with two wins each.
Three times, the winner of the fifth Playoff race has gone on to win the championship: Jimmie Johnson in 2009, Kevin Harvick in 2014, and Ryan Blaney in 2023. Johnson won from the pole at Charlotte, Harvick from seventh at Charlotte, and Blaney from tenth at Talladega.
Non-Playoff drivers have also triumphed in the fifth race: Jamie McMurray (2010 Charlotte), Brad Keselowski (2013 Charlotte), and Bubba Wallace (2021 Talladega). These victories highlight the unpredictability and excitement of the NASCAR Playoffs.
Talladega Superspeedway, one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks, hosts the YellaWood 500 this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. This race promises intense side-by-side drafting competition. Since its opening, Talladega has held 110 NASCAR Cup Series races, including 20 Playoff events.
Forty-eight drivers have earned poles at Talladega, with 24 achieving this multiple times. Seven of these pole winners are racing this weekend, including Playoff contenders Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin. Bill Elliott leads with eight poles, while Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell each have two among active drivers.
The track has seen 52 different winners, with Dale Earnhardt leading with 10 victories. This weekend, 10 past winners are competing, led by Brad Keselowski with six wins. Five of these are current Playoff drivers: Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick. Reddick won earlier this season, and Blaney is the defending Playoff race winner.
The YellaWood 500 will have three stages: two 60-lap stages and a final 68-lap stage. Notably, 21 drivers have won a stage this season, the most since stage racing began in 2017. Qualifying starts Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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