Posted on 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 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 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 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 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.

RELATED: Starting lineup | Track your Fantasy Live team

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 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.

Posted on 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

RELATED: How to follow races on NASCAR.com | NASCAR Live Stream

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 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.

RELATED: Starting Lineup | Track your fantasy team

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.

Posted on by Staff Report

Lightning strikes near Talladega Superspeedway and rain delayed the start of Sunday’s GEICO 500 for the NASCAR Cup Series. Green flag was originally slated for 3:24 p.m. ET, but a lightning warning that went out at 2:39 p.m. ET put things in a holding pattern for at least 30 minutes. Then, rain started to fall at the track shortly before 3 p.m. ET.

RELATED: Starting Lineup | Track your Fantasy Live team

NASCAR had a track-drying team of 18 Air Titans, eight jet dryers, two track vacuums and an Elgin sweeper on hand to dry the 2.66-mile superspeedway. At 4:05 p.m. ET, track-drying efforts began. At 4:27 p.m. ET, NASCAR gave the all-clear from the lighting alert. However, another lightning alert went out at 4:59 p.m. ET and rain began falling again at 5. The track was eventually lost and the race postponed to Monday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.

Martin Truex Jr. will lead the field to 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 was scheduled for 188 laps with Stage 1 ending on Lap 60 and Stage 2 finishing on Lap 120. A competition caution was planned for Lap 25.

Posted on by PJ Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting
analysis here.

It’s been tough trying to bet race winners since NASCAR returned. With no practice, NASCAR handicappers are missing one key piece of information that often helps pinpoint which cars will be fast in a given event.

However, that is not true at superspeedways like Talladega, which will host Monday’s GEICO 500 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Because cars will draft in large packs at Talladega Superspeedway, practice doesn’t offer much meaningful data. Basically, the number of cars drafting together decides the speed of those drivers, not necessarily the individual speed in each car.

With this in mind, we’ll lean on historical data from Talladega and Daytona, another superspeedway with pack racing.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@PJWalsh24) for any additional bets I make for the GEICO 500.

NASCAR at Talladega Odds, Betting Picks

*Odds as of Sunday at 7 a.m. ET

Joey Logano (+900) to Win at Talladega

Over the past eight races at Talladega, Logano sports the best average finish, the second-best average running position and the best driver rating, including two wins and five top-five finishes.

And perhaps more importantly, Logano has the best average running position, the most laps led and the best driver rating over the past four superspeedway races (Daytona and Talladega), which is significant because NASCAR got rid of restrictor plates after the 2019 Daytona 500 in favor of tapered spacers, which is part of the package cars will run Monday.

With that said, Monday’s GEICO 500 will use an updated race package, including improved safety measures following Ryan Newman’s crash at the Daytona 500 in February, with the changes meant to slow down the cars.

However, pack racing seems to be the same pack racing at Talladega no matter what changes with the cars, so I’m expecting the racing to look like it always has.

Aric Almirola (+2200) to Win at Talladega

Almirola was interesting to me heading into the week, but his stats at Talladega were even better once I dug deeper.

Since joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018, Almirola has one win, four top-10 finishes and the third-best driver rating in four races at Talladega.

Even more impressively, if we back out to eight races, which includes four more Talladega events while driving for Richard Petty Motorsports, Aric has the best (!) average finish among all Cup Series drivers.

There are a lot of reasons to like Almirola today, especially at the mid-tier price of 22-1.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+2500) to Win at Talladega

At this number, this is my favorite bet of the day. Ricky has always been a boom-or-bust option at the superspeedways, but as bettors we don’t look to back drivers who just settle for solid finishes — we need drivers who push their car to the limits (or past them) in order to contend for wins.

The JTG Daugherty Racing driver has two career wins (one each at Daytona and Talladega) and five of his 17 Cup Series top-five finishes have come at ‘Dega.

Each of those wins and top fives came with his previous team, Roush Fenway Racing, but Stenhouse picked up right where he left off in the 2020 Daytona 500, showing plenty of speed and finishing with the third-most laps led.

Chris Buescher (+7000) to Win at Talladega

While the racing is certainly unpredictable at this race track, there hasn’t been a true long-shot winner since David Ragan took the checkered flag back in May of 2013.

I’m instead opting to play the true long shots for top-10 finishes as opposed to outright wins.

With that said, Buescher is a long shot worth betting to win for two reasons. First, he’s now driving the No. 17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing that was previously piloted by Stenhouse, which, as I detailed above, always has plenty of speed at the superspeedways.

And second, Buescher was impressive in his first superspeedway race with his new team — the 2020 Daytona 500 — in which he finished third with the fifth-best driver rating.