With non-Playoff driver Ross Chastain snatching the win at Kansas Speedway to open the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12, all 12 postseason challengers find themselves searching for a way to clinch their spot in the Round of 8.
But this weekend, the competitors will have to face one of the biggest hurdles in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – Talladega Superspeedway – and its 2.66-miles of asphalt with 33 degrees of banking in the turns in Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) – the sixth and final drafting style race of the season.
Hendrick Motorsport’s Willam Byron finished runner-up to Chastain at Kansas last week and in doing so jumped to the top of the Playoff standings, up +34 points on the Round of 8 cutline.
Following Byron above the next round’s cutline in the points are Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney (+28), Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell (+28), Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (+18), Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin (+11), Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman (+8), Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (+4) and Team Penske’s Joey Logano (+4). A formidable group of four former series champions.
Playoffs’ Ultimate Wildcard: Talladega Superspeedway
The 2024 season marks the eighth consecutive year Talladega Superspeedway will host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2017-2024) – race No. 31 of the 36-race season.
Talladega is the third different track to host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; alongside Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004 – 2014) and Kansas Speedway (2015 – 2016). The 2.66-mile track is the largest paved oval the series competes on with 33 degrees of banking in the turns.
Talladega Superspeedway is one of four tracks that has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since its inception into the series in 2004, along with Martinsville Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
Talladega has occupied five different spots on the postseason schedule. The Alabama superspeedway has hosted the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004 – 2005); the fourth race (2006 – 2008 and 2012); the fifth race (2017-2024); the sixth race (2011, 2013 – 2016); and the seventh race (2009 – 2010).
A total of 15 different drivers have won the 20 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2024), and six of the 15 are active this weekend.
Five drivers lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff race wins at Talladega Superspeedway with two victories each: Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023), Brad Keselowski (2014, 2017), Clint Bowyer (2010, 2011), Jamie McMurray (2009, 2013) and Joey Logano (2015, 2016).
Four of the six active Talladega Playoff race winners are postseason contenders this year – Chase Elliott (2022), Denny Hamlin (2020), Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023) and Joey Logano (2015, 2016).
Sitting on the other side of the Round of 8’s cutoff are 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (-4), Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (-14), Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (-25) and Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (-29).
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: YellaWood 500
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
Track Length: 2.66 Mile Asphalt Superspeedway
The Date: Sunday, October 6
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
The Purse: $9,222,964
TV: NBC, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 500 miles (188 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 188)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: United Rentals 250
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
Track Length: 2.66 Mile Asphalt Superspeedway
The Date: Saturday, October 5
The Time: 4 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,337,574
TV: CW, 3:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 250.04 miles (94 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 25),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 94)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Love’s RV Stop 225
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
Track Length: 2.66 Mile Asphalt Superspeedway
The Date: Friday, October 4
The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $880,113
TV: FS1, 4:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 226.1 miles (85 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 85)
