NASCAR
NASCAR Cup Series Fans Reply To Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Overcoming Chaotic OT, Spoiling YellaWood 500 At Talladega Superspeedway
Non-playoff drivers are becoming spoiled.
For the third time in five NASCAR Cup Series postseason events, a non-playoff pilot soared into Victory Lane. On Sunday, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. played the spoiler, capturing a chaotic YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. He edged Brad Keselowski by 0.006 seconds.
Stenhouse benefitted from a Dega-esque calamity. With five rotations remaining, 28 machines, including eight of 12 playoff drivers, were involved in the Round of 12 mele. The 36-year-old victor led for 19 of 195 laps, securing his second win at Talladega. His first came in 2017.
“Felt really good,” Stenhouse said, per The Associated Press. “It‘s been an up and down season, a lot of hard work this season trying to find a little bit of speed, but we knew this track is one of ours to come get it.”
They did.
X (Twitter) users responded to the start of race day at the iconic 2.66-mile tri-oval …
Wake up TALLADEGA, it's race day! #YellaWood500 pic.twitter.com/Am8TGoMLnP
— Talladega Superspeedway (@TALLADEGA) October 6, 2024
Social media responses trended up during the late collision, which signaled a red-flag stoppage for nearly 10 minutes …
THE BIG ONE STRIKES AT TALLADEGA! AT LEAST 20 CARS INVOLVED!
A push gone wrong to @AustinCindric at the front of the field sparks a massive wreck with 5 to go.
Numerous #NASCARPlayoffs drivers are collected and have heavy damage.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/9WcaMXDzss
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) October 6, 2024
The ending was entertaining. So was the beginning: “Fire when you’re ready” …
Engines are fired. It's go time at @TALLADEGA! 🔥 #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/KVS7HP23m9
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 6, 2024
Sunday’s start at the Dega …
The biggest. The baddest. The #NASCARPlayoffs at @TALLADEGA!
We are green for the #YellaWood500 on NBC! pic.twitter.com/skimpmGAc3
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 6, 2024
What the drivers faced Sunday. Talladega crazy …
Some of the biggest wrecks in the history of Talladega. pic.twitter.com/dXPpJtkvlr
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 25, 2019
Taking a moment to thank NASCAR officials and others for giving to those who need help – desperately – after Hurricane Helene …
The NASCAR community has come together to help those in need after Hurricane Helene. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/thGLej9A3O
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 6, 2024
Greg Biffle led the relief efforts…
Greg Biffle won 56 races across NASCAR’s top 3 series, including 19 Cup wins, not to mention Busch Series and Truck Series championships. None of that compares to the heroics of this past week as he flies his helicopter to provide aid to hurricane impacted areas. Thx Biff.
— Vince Welch (@vincewelch) October 4, 2024
Going four-wide for some time, too …
4-wide pack racing for the lead at Talladega. What a sight. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/wqzSnshuUx
— Christian Espinoza (@Christian_Racin) October 6, 2024
What happened here with Daniel Suarez’s machine? …
That might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen a NASCAR Cup Series driver do. pic.twitter.com/SdUZxj8Wmf
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) October 6, 2024
Remember when? All one must say: “It was the ’80s” …
"That's when 'hold my beer and watch this' was invented."
Looking back at when a fan stole the pace car before a NASCAR race at Talladega in 1986. pic.twitter.com/UQv6JPH2HF
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 5, 2024
Enduring a frustrating postseason, Martin Truex Jr. discovered trouble along pit row. Retirement looms …
MARTIN TRUEX JR. SPINS ENTERING PIT ROAD!
A close call for some #NASCARPlayoffs drivers. pic.twitter.com/odNJswylmV
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 6, 2024
At the end of Stage 2, defending series champion Ryan Blaney wrecked, compiling his seventh DNF this season, a career high. “We’ll have to fight back next week,” Blaney told NBC Sports.
Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain CRASH right at the end of Stage 2! #NASCARPlayoffs | NBC | https://t.co/pMMLkX33Y1 pic.twitter.com/ef6OtWpWXc
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 6, 2024
The No. 1 machine caught fire after the collision with Blaney on Lap 120, but Ross Chastain escaped serious injury. He did finish P40, though, after a P1 at Kansas Speedway seven days earlier …
After Stage 2 at Talladega, a big wreck involving Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, and other drivers occurred. Chastain’s car caught fire, driver is safe 🙏#NASCAR #YellaWood500 pic.twitter.com/N8oYfPKQHP
— Sportskeeda NASCAR (@NASCARatSK) October 6, 2024
Chastain spoke of what he experienced when his machine caught fire …
"The last thing I saw was a yellow blur"
Ross Chastain pic.twitter.com/E1I5o08vow
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 6, 2024
Stage 2 winner Austin Cindric entered Sunday ranked No. 12 among playoff drivers, 29 points below the cutoff line. He held the lead on Lap 185 when he was taken out by Keselowski …
Austin Cindric on the contact from Keselowski that ended up turning him and resulting in a 28-car wreck: pic.twitter.com/LbhV4cg0lk
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 6, 2024
Stenhouse nipped six-time Talladega winner Keselowski and Byron, this season‘s Daytona 500 titleholder, for Sunday’s trip to Victory Lane …
🏁 Exciting finish at the 2024 YellaWood 500! Check out the race results and highlights from Talladega Superspeedway. 🏆 #NASCAR #YellaWood500
👉 [https://t.co/KWcKjokCAs](https://t.co/WCoMHl6xaG) #automatetweets #freewithnectar
— Motorsports Bee (@OutdoorsNews0) October 6, 2024
The third and final Round of 12 event is slated for next Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course …
October means one thing…
IT’S OFFICIALLY ROVAL MONTH‼️#BofAROVAL | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0xK5oWEELE
— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) October 1, 2024
Entering the Charlotte Roval, here is an updated look at the playoff standings. Byron is the lone driver to have clinched a Round of 8 bid …
Here's an updated look at the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 playoff standings following today's race at Talladega.
Next week, the playoff field will cut down to 8 drivers following the conclusion of the Charlotte ROVAL.#kylelarson #yungmoney #nascar pic.twitter.com/879vRJNP5G
— Larson Land (@LarsonLand) October 7, 2024