Motorsport News

Weekend Primer: YellaWood 500

Weekend Primer: YellaWood 500

With only six weeks left in the 2024 season, all of NASCAR’s top three series will be heading to the famous Talladega Superspeedway for the next stop of the playoffs. The 2.66-mile superspeedway will play host to the second race of the Round of 12 for both the Cup Series and the Xfinity Series, as well as the opening race for the Craftsman Truck Series’ Round of 8.

Arguably the biggest wildcard in the playoffs and on the entire schedule, Talladega’s treacherous banking will feature twists and turns at every corner, ranging from three-, four-wide racing to the dreaded Big One that could strike at any moment. An exciting weekend of racing lies ahead, and it’s a weekend where the playoff standings for all three series can and will be turned upside down.

Round of 12 Standings (2 Races Until Elimination)

Rank Driver Points Cut line
1 William Byron 3074 +34
2 Ryan Blaney 3068 +28
3 Christopher Bell 3068 +28
4 Kyle Larson 3058 +18
5 Denny Hamlin 3051 +11
6 Alex Bowman 3048 +8
7 Chase Elliott 3044 +4
8 Joey Logano 3044 +4
9 Tyler Reddick 3040 -4
10 Daniel Suarez 3030 -14
11 Chase Briscoe 3019 -25
12 Austin Cindric 3015 -29

The Playoff Consolation Standings

Rank Driver Points Difference
13 Ty Gibbs 2120
14 Martin Truex Jr. 2104 -16
15 Brad Keselowski 2069 -51
16 Harrison Burton 2045 -75

Best of the Rest

Rank Driver Points Difference
17 Ross Chastain 806
18 Chris Buescher 780 -26
19 Bubba Wallace 757 -49
20 Kyle Busch 658 -148

Quick Track Facts: Talladega

Built: 1969

First Cup race: 1969

Last Repaved: 2006

Length: 2.66 miles

Banking: 33 degrees (turns), 16.5 degrees (trioval), 2 degrees (straights)

Pit road speed limit: 55 mph

Talladega By the Numbers

Defending Winner: Ryan Blaney

Defending Spring Winner: Tyler Reddick

Most Wins (full-time drivers): Brad Keselowski (6)

Most Top Fives: Brad Keselowski & Denny Hamlin (11)

Most Top 10s: Denny Hamlin (16)

Most Poles: Chase Elliott & Christopher Bell (2)

Most Laps Led: Joey Logano (490)

Most Laps Led, Non-WinnerMartin Truex Jr. (111)

Best Average Finish (min. 5 starts): Todd Gilliland (5 starts, 12.8 avg. finish)

Former Talladega Winners in the field: Brad Keselowski (6), Ryan Blaney (3), Joey Logano (3), Kyle Busch (2), Chase Elliott (2), Denny Hamlin (2), Ross Chastain (1), Tyler Reddick (1), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (1), Bubba Wallace (1)

Playoff Driver Statistics at Talladega since 2022

Xfinity Series

Defending Race Winner: None (race not held last season)

Defending Spring Winner:

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