NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: YellaWood 500
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
The Date: Sunday, October 3
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, 1 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: Sparks 300 at Talladega
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
The Date: Saturday, October 2
The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 4 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 300.58 miles (113 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 25),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 113)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Chevrolet Silverado 250
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
The Date: Saturday, October 2
The Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 12 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 250.04 miles (94 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 94)
NASCAR Cup Series
Unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway Playoff weekend arrives
Known as one of the biggest hurdles in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Talladega Superspeedway opens the gates and unleashes the postseason contenders to battle it out in Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). Expect the unexpected in this weekend’s event at Talladega as it is literally anyone’s to win and with the stakes so high and the Playoff standings so tight, the competition could reach new heights.
This season marks the fifth consecutive year Talladega Superspeedway will host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2017-2021) – race No. 31 of the season. Talladega is the third different track to host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining 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 has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since its inception into the series in 2004 and has occupied five different spots on the postseason schedule. Talladega has hosted the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004 – 2005); the fourth race (2006 – 2008 and 2012); the fifth race (2017-2021); the sixth race (2011, 2013 – 2016); and the seventh race (2009 – 2010).
A total of 13 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Talladega Superspeedway; five of the 13 are active this weekend. Brad Keselowski (2017, 2014), Clint Bowyer (2010-2011), Jamie McMurray (2009, 2013) and Joey Logano (2015-2016) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff wins at Talladega Superspeedway with two postseason victories each.
| Talladega Superspeedway Playoff Race Winners | ||
| Track | Race Winner | Date |
| Talladega | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, October 4, 2020 |
| Talladega | Ryan Blaney | Sunday, October 13, 2019 |
| Talladega | Aric Almirola | Sunday, October 14, 2018 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | Sunday, October 15, 2017 |
| Talladega | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 23, 2016 |
| Talladega | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 25, 2015 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | Sunday, October 19, 2014 |
| Talladega | Jamie McMurray | Sunday, October 20, 2013 |
| Talladega | Matt Kenseth | Sunday, October 7, 2012 |
| Talladega | Clint Bowyer | Sunday, October 23, 2011 |
| Talladega | Clint Bowyer | Sunday, October 31, 2010 |
| Talladega | Jamie McMurray | Sunday, November 1, 2009 |
| Talladega | Tony Stewart | Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| Talladega | Jeff Gordon | Sunday, October 7, 2007 |
| Talladega | Brian Vickers | Sunday, October 8, 2006 |
| Talladega | Dale Jarrett | Sunday, October 2, 2005 |
| Talladega | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Sunday, October 3, 2004 |
During the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Era (2004-Present), the winner of the Talladega Superspeedway Playoff race has never gone on to win the title in the same season. But twice the Talladega Playoff race winner has finished runner-up in the championship standings at the end of the season: Jeff Gordon (2007) and Joey Logano (2016). Last season’s Talladega Playoff race winner Denny Hamlin finished the season fourth in the final standings.
A total of 13 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series fifth race in the Playoffs; six of the 13 are active this weekend. Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins during the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with three victories (2004, 2005, 2009 – all at Charlotte Motor Speedway).
| NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race No. 5 Winners | ||
| Track | Race Winner | Date |
| Talladega | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, October 4, 2020 |
| Talladega | Ryan Blaney | Sunday, October 13, 2019 |
| Talladega | Aric Almirola | Sunday, October 14, 2018 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | Sunday, October 15, 2017 |
| Kansas | Kevin Harvick | Sunday, October 16, 2016 |
| Kansas | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 18, 2015 |
| Charlotte | Kevin Harvick | Saturday, October 11, 2014 |
| Charlotte | Brad Keselowski | Saturday, October 12, 2013 |
| Charlotte | Clint Bowyer | Saturday, October 13, 2012 |
| Charlotte | Matt Kenseth | Saturday, October 15, 2011 |
| Charlotte | Jamie McMurray | Saturday, October 16, 2010 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Saturday, October 17, 2009 |
| Charlotte | Jeff Burton | Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
| Charlotte | Jeff Gordon | Saturday, October 13, 2007 |
| Charlotte | Kasey Kahne | Saturday, October 14, 2006 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Saturday, October 15, 2005 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Saturday, October 16, 2004 |
Twice the winner of the fifth race in the Playoffs has gone on to win the title later that season; both happening at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004-2014). In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fifth race of the Playoffs from the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then went on to win his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his third of four wins in the 2009 postseason. Then in 2014, Kevin Harvick won the fifth race of the Playoffs from the seventh starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his first of three wins during the 2014 postseason.
The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was 24th by Jimmie Johnson in 2006. Last season’s champ, Chase Elliott finished fifth in the fifth race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway.
Five times a non-Playoff driver has won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway:
- In 2005, Dale Jarrett won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
- In 2006, Brian Vickers won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 16th in points.
- In 2009, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 22nd in points.
- In 2011, Clint Bowyer won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 13th in points.
- In 2013, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
Twice a non-Playoff driver has won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs:
- In 2010, Jamie McMurray won the fifth race in the Playoffs at Charlotte; he was 14th in points.
- In 2013, Brad Keselowski won the fifth race in Playoffs at Charlotte; he was 16th in points.
In total, there have been 104 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one Cup event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970. Among the 104 events, the track has hosted 17 Playoff races in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Overall, 44 different drivers have qualified on the pole at Talladega Superspeedway, 23 of the 44 have done it multiple times and six of the 44 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Talladega are active this weekend.
| Active Pole Winners | Poles | Seasons |
| Chase Elliott | 2 | 2019, ’16 |
| Kevin Harvick | 2 | 2018, ’05 |
| Austin Dillon | 1 | 2019 |
| Kurt Busch | 1 | 2018 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2016 |
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with eight (1985 sweep, 1986 sweep, 1987 sweep, spring 1990 and fall 1993). Kevin Harvick (2005, 2018) and Chase Elliott (2016, 2019) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Talladega with two each.
This weekend’s starting lineups was decided by Metric Qualifying and as a result Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin will start on the pole and Kyle Busch will join him on the front row.
The 104 Cup races at Talladega have also produced 49 different NASCAR Cup Series winners at the 2.66-mile track. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in wins at Talladega with 10 victories (1983, 1984, 1990 sweep, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999 sweep and 2000).
Nine of the 49 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Talladega Superspeedway are active this weekend, led by Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with six victories (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021); followed by Joey Logano with three wins (2015, 2016, 2018).
| Active Race Winners | Wins | Seasons |
| Brad Keselowski | 6 | 2021, ’17, ’16, ’14, ’12, ’09 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2018, ’16, ’15 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 | 2020, ’14 |
| Ryan Blaney | 2 | 2020, ’19 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 | 2019 |
| Aric Almirola | 1 | 2018 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 |
| Kevin Harvick | 1 | 2010 |
| Kyle Busch | 1 | 2008 |
Clinch Scenarios: Trying to advance at Talladega
Just two races left for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff challengers in the Round of 12 to secure their spot in the Round of 8. Denny Hamlin, with his win last weekend at Las Vegas, is the only driver locked into the next round, leaving seven spots still up for grabs as the series heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the YellaWood 500 (Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) the fifth race of the 2021 postseason.
Already Clinched
The following driver has clinched a spot in the eight-driver field of the next round: Denny Hamlin.
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 7th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott or Joey Logano.
- Kyle Larson: Would clinch with 54 points (55 points if Joey Logano wins)
- Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help this weekend.
If there is a new winner from Brad Keselowski 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 6th winless driver in the standings.
- Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help this weekend.
Can clinch via win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Kevin Harvick, Alex Bowman, Christopher Bell
| NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoffs Outlook Following Race No. 30 | ||||||
| Rank | Driver | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | Pts From Cutoff |
| 1 | Denny Hamlin (P) | 3,082 | 2 | 10 | 30 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Kyle Larson (P) | 3,096 | 6 | 15 | 60 | 57 |
| 3 | Kyle Busch (P) | 3,074 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 35 |
| 4 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | 3,070 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 31 |
| 5 | Ryan Blaney (P) | 3,063 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 24 |
| 6 | Chase Elliott (P) | 3,061 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 22 |
| 7 | Joey Logano (P) | 3,045 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 6 |
| 8 | Brad Keselowski (P) | 3,043 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| 9 | William Byron (P) | 3,039 | 1 | 3 | 14 | -4 |
| 10 | Kevin Harvick (P) | 3,036 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -7 |
| 11 | Alex Bowman (P) | 3,030 | 3 | 0 | 15 | -13 |
| 12 | Christopher Bell (P) | 3,018 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -25 |
