Ryan Blaney edges out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in overtime, wins at Talladega in frantic finish

Posted on June 22, 2020June 23, 2020 by Holly Cain

An event that began with a massive show of support for Bubba Wallace ended with one of Wallace’s best friends, Ryan Blaney, celebrating in Victory Lane for the second straight race at Talladega Superspeedway.

In a frenetic overtime dash, Blaney won Monday’s GEICO 500 by .007 seconds over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as crashing cars bounced of each other and the outside wall behind the top two finishers. The victory was Blaney’s first of the season, second straight at the 2.66-mile track and the fourth of his career.

RELATED: Official race results | Stage recaps

It was a day that started ominously — and not because of the rain clouds that threatened to delay the race for a second straight day and in fact caused a stoppage of 57 minutes, 18 seconds after 57 laps were complete on Monday. News that a noose had been discovered Sunday evening in the garage stall of Wallace, the NASCAR Cup Series’ only Black driver, brought strong statements of condemnation — later Tuesday, the FBI announced Wallace had not been the target of a hate crime.

Drivers and their crews assembled before the race to escort Wallace and his car to the head of the grid. The lasting image of the pre-race was Wallace being embraced by a succession of his fellow competitors.

Nearly five hours later, Wallace was congratulating Blaney in Victory Lane after a scintillating conclusion that saw Blaney knocking the Toyota of Erik Jones into the outside wall as the cars approached the finish line — and still managing to beat Stenhouse to the stripe by roughly 12 inches.

“I just kind of blocked, just trying to block the best we could,” Blaney said. “Ride the top, ride the bottom. The 20 (Jones) got to my outside, and I tried to go up there to slow him down and … I’m not sure, I don’t know … three-wide, I hate that I hit him, but just kind of trying to beat and bang to the line and things like that.

“We just edged it out, but I’m really proud of this whole Menards/Sylvania Ford Mustang team. It’s been a cool year so far, and I’m really excited to get our first win of the year at a cool place. Thank you everybody for coming… That was a lot of fun.”

Ford drivers have won nine of the last 10 Talladega Cup races.

Aric Almirola slid sideways across the finish line to claim third place, with Denny Hamlin and Jones following in fourth and fifth, respectively. Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman, John Hunter Nemechek, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick completed the top 10.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ next race weekend is a doubleheader, scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Contributing: Staff reports

Posted on June 22, 2020June 21, 2021 by Staff Report

After a late-stage caution, the NASCAR Cup Series restarted the GEICO 500 with two laps to go in Stage 2. Ryan Blaney and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. battled back and forth for the lead, as the two were pushed by other drivers and led the dominant lanes. Ultimately, Kyle Busch gave Stenhouse the shove he needed to capture the stage win.

Lap 98 to Lap 160 — end of Stage 2 — saw Stenhouse and Blaney officially trade off the front spot five times, not counting and jockeying during the laps themselves.

Blaney ended up second, with Busch crossing third. Brad Keselowski, who was helping Blaney, came in fourth. Rookie Christopher Bell was then fifth.

Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, rookie Cole Custer, Chris Buescher and William Byron completed the top 10 in order.

Byron broke away with one lap to go in the stage and nabbed the lead for a hot second, but his outside lane wasn’t able to keep up with the ones Stenhouse and Blaney led.

The caution came out with six laps to go for debris on the track. Blaney held the lead at the time, with Stenhouse in second. The front cars did not pit, but those further back did.

Stage 1 winner Tyler Reddick fell back to 13th by the conclusion of Stage 2. The race is official since it is beyond halfway over.

Finish	Driver	Team	Points
1	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	JTG Daugherty Racing	10
2	Ryan Blaney	Team Penske	9
3	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing	8
4	Brad Keselowski	Team Penske	7
5	Christopher Bell	Leavine Family Racing	6
6	Joey Logano	Team Penske	5
7	Bubba Wallace	Richard Petty Motorsports	4
8	Cole Custer	Stewart-Haas Racing	3
9	Chris Buescher	Roush Fenway Racing	2
10	William Byron	Hendrick Motorsports	1

STAGE 1

Tyler Reddick won Stage 1 under caution in Monday’s rain-delayed GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, marking the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing rookie’s first career stage win in the NASCAR Cup Series. He led six laps in the 60-lap opening portion of the 188-lap event.

Alex Bowman came in second with his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Joey Logano was then third after his No. 22 Team Penske Ford led a race-high 29 laps.

Reddick and Logano swapped the lead back and forth toward the end of the stage. Reddick took it on Lap 56, right before the race was red-flagged on Lap 57 due to lightning and rain in the area. The red flag lasted 58 minutes and 18 seconds.

Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch were fourth and fifth in the first stage, respectively. Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Chase Elliott and William Byron rounded out the top 10 in order.

Finish	Driver	Team	Points
1	Tyler Reddick	Richard Childress Racing	10
2	Alex Bowman	Hendrick Motorsports	9
3	Joey Logano	Team Penske	8
4	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports	7
5	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing	6
6	Ryan Blaney	Team Penske	5
7	Brad Keselowski	Team Penske	4
8	Kurt Busch	Chip Ganassi Racing	3
9	Chase Elliott	Hendrick Motorsports	2
10	William Byron	Hendrick Motorsports	1

Posted on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Staff Report

The Monday running of the NASCAR Cup Series’ GEICO 500 was delayed by rain at Talladega Superspeedway.

Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Tyler Reddick was scored as the leader with 57 of a scheduled 188 laps complete at the 2.66-mile Alabama track. The 500-miler (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM) had been washed out by storms from its scheduled Sunday start, reset for a 3:22 p.m. ET green flag.

RELATED: Race leaderboard

Eight drivers led laps before the stoppage, topped by Joey Logano with a race-high 29 laps led thus far. Denny Hamlin, who led the next-most laps (16), had stopped for a flat tire after contact that occurred just before the caution flag flew for inclement weather.

The race was stopped just two laps before the end of Stage 1. The GEICO 500 would have to reach the halfway point at Lap 94 to be considered an official race.

The race was back underway shortly after drivers were called to their cars at 5:05 p.m. ET. Time of the red flag was 58 minutes, 18 seconds.

Posted on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Staff Report

NASCAR stands with Bubba Wallace.

Prior to the start of Monday’s rain-delayed GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, drivers and crew members offered a unified show of support for Wallace when they pushed his No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet to the front of the grid during pre-race activities.

Wallace was inside the car. A face mask and sunglasses covered his face. When he got out, though, Wallace’s emotions were on full display as he rested his head atop his hands on the hood, body shaking with tears.

Team owner Richard Petty, who had not attended a race since the COVID-19 pandemic began, put a hand on Wallace’s back to steady him. Petty arrived at Talladega on Monday to support his driver.

PETTY: I stand with Bubba

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford, then walked over and embraced Wallace in a tight hug. The two are well-documented friends on and off the track. One by one, other drivers approached Wallace with some form of comforting gesture or exchange – Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, Germain Racing’s Ty Dillon, Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick and many more. Everyone then stood together during the invocation and national anthem.

Monday’s display of solidarity came one day after a noose was discovered in the garage stall of the No. 43 team. The lone black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Wallace has used his voice and platform over recent weeks to speak out against racial injustice in the world.

“The drivers feel very strongly that they want to show their support of Bubba,” NASCAR president Steve Phelps said on a pre-race teleconference. “He’s a member of the NASCAR community. He’s a member of the NASCAR family. The outpouring of support over the last couple weeks from our drivers, from the industry as a whole, from the fans has been phenomenal.”

Before the at-track gesture, several drivers had already voiced their support for the 26-year-old, who has driven a Black Lives Matter paint scheme and pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag from its events – which NASCAR did on June 10.

“Over the last several weekends, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry including other dreams and team members in the garages,” Wallace said in a statement. “Together, our sport has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of everyone. Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate.

“As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you,’ ” Wallace tweeted Sunday night. “This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”

Posted on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Zack Albert

NASCAR President Steve Phelps reiterated his support Monday for Bubba Wallace, saying whoever committed a racist, hateful act directed at the Richard Petty Motorsports driver will be barred from the sport for life.

Phelps conducted a teleconference Monday, providing some details about the investigation surrounding a noose found Sunday at the RPM No. 43 garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway. The NASCAR Cup Series was scheduled to race Sunday at the 2.66-mile Alabama track, but storms and showers pushed the 500-mile event to a Monday afternoon start.

MORE: NASCAR statement on Sunday’s incident

Phelps said he was unable to answer all questions about the scope of the investigation, citing its ongoing nature. He reiterated the sanctioning body’s stance from Sunday evening, saying “there is no place for racism in NASCAR. This act only strengthens our resolve to make this sport open and welcoming to all.”

Phelps said the Birmingham office of the FBI was involved, using all resources available to NASCAR, the teams and the bureau to identify the culprit and expel him or her from the sanctioning body’s activities.

“Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life,” Phelps said. “There is no room for this at all. We won’t tolerate it. They won’t be here. I don’t care who they are, they will not be here.”

Access to the Talladega garage area this weekend has been limited to essential personnel as the sport tries to gradually resume operations after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic. This weekend, 5,000 ticket-holders were permitted in the track’s grandstands, but the garage area was restricted.

Phelps said he could not state with certainty that there were no security breaches in the garage, but said that investigators would be able to narrow down who was granted access to that area.

Track personnel painted the message “#IStandWithBubba” on the speedway’s infield grass before Monday’s rain-delayed start. Phelps said he supported the message and stood behind plans for a pre-race commemoration involving drivers and teams on pit road.

“The drivers feel very strongly that they want to show their support of Bubba,” Phelps said. “He’s a member of the NASCAR community. He’s a member of the NASCAR family. The outpouring of support over the last couple weeks from our drivers, from the industry as a whole, from the fans, has been phenomenal. Whatever happens, it’s going to happen organically. It will be heartfelt. I’m looking forward to whatever they come up with.”

Posted on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Staff Report

Team owner Richard Petty issued the following statement Monday morning:

“I’m enraged by the act of someone placing a noose in the garage stall of my race team. There is absolutely no place in our sport or our society for racism. This filthy act serves as a reminder of how far we still have to go to eradicate racial prejudice and it galvanizes my resolve to use the resources of Richard Petty Motorsports to create change. The sick person who perpetrated this act must be found, exposed, and swiftly and immediately expelled from NASCAR. I believe in my heart this despicable act is not representative of the competitors I see each day in the NASCAR garage area. I stand shoulder to shoulder with Bubba, yesterday, today, tomorrow and every day forward.”

A NASCAR statement Sunday night confirmed that a noose was found in the garage stall of the No. 43 team at Talladega Superspeedway. Bubba Wallace drives the No. 43 Chevrolet for Richard Petty. The lone black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Wallace has used his voice and platform over recent weeks to speak out against racial injustice in the world.

In its statement, NASCAR said it “will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport.”

Posted on June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Staff Report

The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of William Byron will move to the rear of the field for Monday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for failing pre-race inspection two times.

Byron officially will be scored as starting 19th at the 2.66-mile Alabama track, but he’ll drop to the rear of the field during pace laps. He has four NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega with a best finish of 20th in the fall of 2018.

The No. 78 B.J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet of Garrett Smithley also failed twice. The No. 51 Petty Ware Racing Ford of Joey Gase failed three times and will start from the rear and serve a pass-through penalty. Gase was 36th out of 40 cars in the starting lineup.

Martin Truex Jr. will lead the field to the green in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Teammate Denny Hamlin, who won last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will also start on the front row.

Posted on June 21, 2020 by Staff Report

NASCAR issued the following statement Sunday night:

“Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team. We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act. We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport. As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”

Bubba Wallace drives the No. 43 Chevrolet for Richard Petty Motorsports. The lone Black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Wallace has used his voice and platform over recent weeks to speak out against racial injustice in the world.

He released his own statement later Sunday, vowing to not give in or back down in his quest.

pic.twitter.com/koL655AJB9

— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 22, 2020

Posted on June 21, 2020June 27, 2020 by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find NBCSN | Get the NBC Sports App | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App

Monday, June 22
Midnight, Dale Jr. Download: Matt Kenseth (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 a.m., Dale Jr. Download: Kurt Busch (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 a.m., Dale Jr. Download: Kyle Petty (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 a.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 2010 Aaron’s 499 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
3 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: GEICO 500, FOX/FOX Sports App
8 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 2010 Aaron’s 499 (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App

On MRN
3 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500

Tuesday, June 23
1 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series: GEICO 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
10 a.m., Refuse to Lose: Jeff Gordon and the 1997 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Live

Wednesday, June 24
10 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
4 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 1985 Xfinity Series (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., Dale Jr. Download: Michael Waltrip: The Cruelest Thing, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
7 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 2005 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

Thursday, June 25
1:30 a.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 2005 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
4:30 a.m., A Perfect Storm: The 1979 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
4 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 1990 Busch Series Goody’s 300 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
7 p.m., Refuse to Lose: Jeff Gordon and the 1997 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
Noon, MRN Crew Call

Friday, June 26
6 p.m., ARCA Menards Series: General Tire #ANYWHEREISPOSSIBLE 200, FS1/FOX Sports App
8 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 2005 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App
11 p.m., 100,000 Cameras: The Return of NASCAR (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App

On MRN
6 p.m., ARCA Menards Series: General Tire #ANYWHEREISPOSSIBLE 200

Saturday, June 27
Midnight, NASCAR Auto Racing: Whelen Modified Tour Wade Cole Memorial 133 (tape delayed), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
12:30 a.m., ARCA Menards Series: General Tire #ANYWHEREISPOSSIBLE 200 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
2:30 a.m., Beyond the Wheel (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
6:30 a.m., ARCA Menards Series: General Tire #ANYWHEREISPOSSIBLE 200 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1994 Coke 600 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
Noon, 100,000 Cameras: The Return of NASCAR (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
3 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX/FOX Sports App
4:35 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Pocono Organics 325, FOX/FOX Sports App
9:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Pocono Organics 325 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
4:35 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Pocono Organics 325

Sunday, June 28
9:30 a.m., NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series: Pocono Organics 150, FS1/FOX Sports App
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series: Pocono Green 225, FS1/FOX Sports App
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
4 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Pocono 350, FS1/FOX Sports App
7 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Pocono 350 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
10 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series: Pocono Green 225 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
9:30 a.m., NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series: Pocono Organics 150
Noon, NASCAR Xfinity Series: Pocono Green 225
3 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Pocono 350

Posted on June 21, 2020June 21, 2020 by Staff Report

Rain, lightning and heavy winds in the late afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway ultimately led to the postponement of Sunday’s GEICO 500 until Monday. The race will now move to 3 p.m. ET on Monday with coverage on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com.

Martin Truex Jr. will lead the field to the green in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Teammate Denny Hamlin, who won last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will also start on the front row. The race is scheduled for 188 laps with a competition caution planned for Lap 25.

NASCAR issued a lightning warning at 2:39 p.m. ET on Sunday and then rain began falling at the track shortly before 3 p.m. ET. Heavy rain and winds soon followed as a storm system moved through the area of the 2.66-mile track. Track-drying efforts started at 4:05 p.m. ET, and the lightning warning was lifted at 4:27 p.m. ET. However, another storm swept through the area at 5 p.m. ET, and the track was lost.

The GEICO 500 is the 13th points-paying race of the NASCAR Cup Series season and the ninth event since NASCAR resumed action due to the COVID-19 outbreak.