YellaWood 500 – Talladega Superspeedway Talladega, Ala. – October 19, 2025
AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE START: 4TH STAGE 1: 39TH STAGE 2: 39TH FINISH: 34TH PLAYOFF POINTS: 14TH RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric started Sunday’s YellaWood 500 from the fourth position after a strong qualifying run in the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Talladega Superspeedway. Early on, the field ran four-wide at times, and Cindric found himself shuffling through the pack, running just outside the top 10 before settling into the second group as the field split in two during the opening Stage. With fuel strategies varying among teams, the pack stayed disorganized for much of the segment. With just over 10 laps remaining in Stage 1, Cindric came to pit road for a fuel-only stop, but moments later was collected in a major multi-car accident that brought heavy damage to the Discount Tire Mustang. The team took the car to the garage for extensive repairs and returned to the race with just over 15 laps to go. Cindric nursed the car to the finish to take the checkered flag in 34th place.
CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It’s unfortunate to have gotten caught up in that incident there before the end of Stage 1. We went through the first cycle and it didn’t work out for us, I thought we did the right stuff there to get some Stage points, that’s our priority. Yeah, so then it was just seeing whether we could get it fixed enough to go back out or not, but we had a steering rack issue so I couldn’t drive it out and had to get towed back to the garage. The Discount Tire team did a great job with damage repair to get us back out there towards the end of the race.”
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/DUTCH BOY FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE START: 8TH STAGE 1: 4TH STAGE 2: 8TH FINISH: 23RD PLAYOFF POINTS: 7TH (-47) RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang Dark Horse team produced a pair of top-10 stage finishes Sunday at Talladega but ultimately settled for a 23rd-place result following a green-white-checkered finish. After taking the green flag from the outside of row four, Blaney drifted to the back half of the field in the opening laps before making his way back towards the top-10 prior to the start of the pit cycle. Rising as high as second in the running order during the cycle, Blaney was called to pit road with the fifth set of cars for fuel only on lap 48, allowing him to blend into the rest of the field scored 15th with 10 laps remaining in Stage 1. Blaney avoided a multi-car incident at the front of the field in turn three a lap later, setting up a two-lap shootout to the end of the opening segment where he took the run in the outside lane to a fourth-place finish in Stage 1. The Menards/Dutch Boy Ford took the ensuing restart from 24th and charged to the front of the field with teammate Joey Logano as the two formed a third line on the bottom to reach fifth on the leaderboard in just one lap. During a scheduled green flag stop on lap 109, the No. 88 spun at pit entry to bring out the caution as Blaney was making his way off pit road to set up another sprint to the end of the stage. As the field lined up to take the green with four laps to go in the segment, Blaney held his line on the bottom of a two-wide battle before moving up top in the tri-oval on the final lap to come away with an eighth-place finish in Stage 2. A caution on lap 165 saw crew chief Jonathan Hassler make the call for fuel only as the 12 team won the race off pit road, allowing Blaney to take the restart from the inside of row one with 17 laps remaining. As the field formed three-wide in the first few laps of the run, Blaney was unable to get the push to clear him to the front of the field before a caution with two laps to go set up a green-white-checkered finish. After pitting one last time for fuel prior to the overtime restart, Blaney restarted 22nd and ultimately took the checkered flag 23rd at the conclusion of the two-lap battle. Blaney and the No. 12 team, winners of the previous two Martinsville fall races to advance to the Championship 4, enter the final race of the Round of 8 seventh in the playoff standings, 47 points below the elimination line.
BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Not the finish we wanted. We didn’t do what we needed to do and we didn’t get help when we needed it. Now we have to go win next week.”
JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE START: 16TH STAGE 1: 6TH STAGE 2: 18TH FINISH: 16TH PLAYOFF POINTS: 6TH (-38) RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse team led a race-high 35 laps Sunday at Talladega in what resulted in a 16th-place finish in the second race of the Round of 8. After starting 16th, Logano made up 14 spots in the first three laps and maintained his track position behind the leader during the opening run. As the green flag pit cycle began to take shape, crew chief Paul Wolfe called Logano to pit road with the third wave of cars on lap 46 for fuel only, allowing him to cycle to the second car in the bottom lane with 11 laps remaining in the stage. A multi-car incident unraveled right in front of Logano just two laps later, allowing him to take the lead and control the restart with two to go in the opening segment. The bottom lane didn’t get the push it needed on the restart as Logano settled for a sixth-place result in Stage 1. After taking the ensuing restart from 23rd, Logano and teammate Ryan Blaney got together to form a third line on the bottom and charge to the front of the field, picking up 19 positions in one lap in the process. However, a caution on lap 112 during the green flag pit cycle forced Logano to come to pit road after several others already made their stops, leading to an 18th-place finish in Stage 2 following a four-lap dash to the stage end. Following a fuel only stop during the stage caution, Logano took the ensuing restart from the outside of row three and raced his way to the front of the field with 55 laps to go. A caution on lap 165 brought a majority of the field to pit road for fuel as Logano was second off pit road and lined up behind Blaney on the inside of row one with 17 laps remaining. The two Team Penske Fords were unable to get the push they needed to clear the outside lane at the front as the field formed three-wide with 12 to go, shuffling Logano to the back half of the pack. A caution with two to go set up an overtime restart as Logano hit pit road one last time for fuel prior to the green-white-checkered attempt but was unable to get any momentum towards the front before crossing the line 16th. Logano and the No. 22 team enter the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville sixth in the playoff standings, 38 points below the elimination line.
LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It’s pretty apparent the second we lost control of the race. Cars were pulling in front of us and we were just getting demoted from the first two cars in line to the back of the line. Martinsville’s not a bad track for us. We just have a simple point of view at this point, it’s all or nothing. Stage points aren’t going to matter. Nothing else is going to matter but winning.”
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Round of 8 finale of the NASCAR Playoffs on Sunday, October 26. Live coverage of the Xfinity 500 begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Keselowski’s Resurgent Second Half Continues with Strong Run
TALLADEGA, AL (October 19, 2025) – All three Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing drivers led laps at Talladega on Sunday in what was as strong performance for the Concord, NC organization. Brad Keselowski pulled together his fourth top 10 in the last six races. Chris Buescher had RFK fans holding their breath in the closing laps, and Ryan Preece continued to impress.
6 Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski entered Sunday’s race seeking his seventh career Talladega victory, and the BuildSubmarines.com Ford looked quite capable of delivering it. Keselowski quickly asserted himself in the three-lane draft after starting 20th. He climbed to seventh by lap five and battled Kyle Busch for the lead. Keselowski took command of the race on lap 39 and appeared poised to collect stage points before a late caution reshuffled the order. He finished Stage One 24th.
In Stage Two, Keselowski and his RFK teammate Chris Buescher drafted together in the high line, consistently running inside the top 10. Synchronized on the track and in pit strategy, they stretched their fuel longer than most, eventually pitting together at lap 110. A caution, however, would again shuffle the running order. While many pitted under yellow, Keselowski stayed out. As the field fanned out on the restart, forming multiple drafting lines, he found himself 20th as the stage ended.
The closing stage saw Keselowski return to form, charging back into the top five with the help of a tight RFK Racing draft featuring Buescher and Ryan Preece. Together, the three ran nose to tail toward the front of the pack. A series of late cautions, however, would shake things up. Each restart brought more intensity. Especially the second to last one before the overtime finish where Keselowski got shuffled to the back. Still, Keselowski remained poised, and in an overtime finish, he finished 10th – his fourth top 10 in the last six races.
“That next to last restart kind of buried us,” Keselowski said. “Otherwise I thought we had a shot to win.”
60 Ryan Preece
Ryan Preece was the top qualifier from the RFK Racing stables this week, posting an impressive fifth place effort. The Trimble Ford demonstrated just how fast it was in the opening stage as Preece immediately established himself at the front pack, skillfully navigating the three-wide draft he ran inside the top five. Preece briefly took the lead on lap 16, showcasing the car’s strength before transitioning to a fuel-conservation mode. After pitting on lap 46 and again under a late caution, Preece closed out the stage in 19th.
In Stage Two, Preece once again positioned himself near the front, restarting fifth before quicky finding some familiar drafting partners. During much of the stage Preece ran in the tire tracks of his RFK Racing teammates Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher. Together they held a steady line at the bottom of the racetrack, carefully managing fuel and staying within striking distance of the leader. With a caution near the stage’s end Preece pitted, temporarily giving up track position and finishing the segment 19th.
After pitting between stages, Preece was primed for the final stage and once again joined forces with his teammates in the draft. Restarting ninth, he mirrored Keselowski’s moves in the low groove and worked closely with Buescher as the RFK trio advanced toward the front. A late splash of fuel during a caution ensured he had what he needed for the finish. Preece pushed hard through a tense closing run and an overtime restart to bring home a solid 15th-place finish.
17 Chris Buescher
With the checkers only two laps away, Chris Buescher was in control Sunday – just five miles from victory – in what was clearly a winning car. The fickle nature of Talladega, though, would eventually change things.
From the drop of the green, Buescher took a calculated approach, dropping to the rear to conserve fuel, riding in the draft and keeping his Kroger/Thomas’ High Protein Bagels Ford out of trouble while the field settled in during Stage One. In the closing laps of the segment, he charged forward through the outside lane of a three-wide draft, finishing a solid 12th to set the tone for a strong day ahead.
In Stage Two, Buescher immediately went on the attack, restarting on the front row and taking the lead as soon as the green flag waved. Working closely with teammate Brad Keselowski, the RFK Racing duo drafted together in the high line, running competitively inside the top five. Buescher briefly led before making a stop on lap 110. Despite receiving a pass-through penalty for speeding on pit road, Buescher maintained composure and rebounded to finish the stage 21st.
The closing stage showcased the strength of the Kroger/Thomas’ High Protein Bagels Ford. Buescher once again linked up in a draft near the front of the field. After a late fuel stop, he restarted seventh and swiftly climbed back toward the lead. With seven laps to go, the high line surged and Buescher powered into second place before taking the lead with just two laps remaining. Unfortunately, his race ended in heartbreak when he was spun from behind while leading, relegating him to a 30th-place result.
“We had a really fast Ford and we were up there where we needed to be and just took a bad push down the back there. It ended up being a hard hit,” Buescher said. “The car was really fast and the RFK guys did a great job today. Just the way these things keep going. Ultimately, it was another fast Ford Mustang here. I appreciate the team doing such a good job, and we’ll just try again.”
Up Next:
Martinsville Speedway (Martinsville, VA), Sunday, October 26, 2025, on NBC Sports 2:00pm ET
RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass 300 wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content, and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.
15-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Trans Am Champion After Dominating Victory at Barber Motorsports Park; Early Incident Ends Corey Day’s Bid; Naz Olkhovsky Finishes Seventh in Pro-Am
Overview:
Date: Oct. 19, 2025 Event: Barber SpeedTour (Round 11 of 12) Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series Location: Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama Layout: 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course Format: 42 laps or 75 minutes Weather: Sunny, mid-70s TA2 Winner: Tristan McKee of TeamSLR
TeamSLR:
● Tristan McKee – Started 1st, Finished 1st (Running, completed 42/42 laps) ● Naz Olkhovskyi – Started 19th, Finished 17th (Running, completed 39/42 laps) ● Corey Day – Started 6th, Finished 24th (Retired, completed 3/42 laps)
M1 Racecars:
● Jared Odrick – Started 11th, Finished 11th (Running, completed 41/42 laps)
Noteworthy:
● At 15 years, two months and 16 days of age, McKee became the youngest champion in the history of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. The record was previously held by Brent Crews, who won the 2023 TA2 Series championship at 15 years, seven months and six days of age.
● Sunday’s victory was the rookie McKee’s fourth in the last six events and gave him an insurmountable 169-point lead over second-place Sam Corry in the overall driver championship with the Nov. 2 season finale at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas still left on the schedule. McKee also clinched the season-long Rookie of the Year title, as well as the Young Guns title for drivers 25 and under, with the 17-year-old Corry second in those standings, as well.
● McKee started on the pole for the third time in the last four races and led all 42 laps. He also laid down the fastest lap to earn the Omalagato Fastest Lap of the Race Award for the second event in a row and the third time this season. His margin of victory over runner-up Noah Harmon was 11.92 seconds, while Corry finished third, 23.4 seconds behind McKee..
● Sunday’s victory was TeamSLR’s sixth in a row, dating back to McKee’s June 22 win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington. Veteran Mike Skeen followed with a victory June 29 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where McKee was the runner-up and Corey Day was third to give TeamSLR a podium sweep. McKee won the next two events – July 12 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Aug. 30 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. Prior to Sunday, 17-year-old Carson Brown was victorious for TeamSLR Sept. 20 at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton.
● Day, the 19-year-old Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 driver, saw his fourth career TA2 Series start come to an end just three laps into the race after he was forced off the track and took a high-speed ride through the gravel trap outside turn one on the opening lap. Debris clogged his racecar’s air intake and caused it to overheat over the next two laps before it was retired.
● Olkhovskyi, a 38-year-old from Ukraine making his second TA2 Series start this weekend, finished 17th overall and seventh among the Pro-Am Challenge-class competitors. He was 18th overall and ninth in Pro-Am in his inaugural race at VIR.
● Odrick, who entered the weekend with a six-point lead over Keith Prociuk atop the Pro-Am standings, finished second in class Sunday while Prociuk finished third.
Tristan McKee, Driver, No. 28 Spire Gainbridge/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:
“This feels really good, knowing all the hard work that everyone put in over the past year and a half, two years, with all the TeamSLR crew and everyone back at Chevy – Josh Wise, Scott Speed and Lorin Ranier. There’s just been so much hard work that’s gone into this. and just polishing all my road-race skills, so it feels really, really good to get this done. All my TeamSLR guys brought a really fast Chevy. Thank you to Gainebridge, Spire, HendrickCars.com, Jeff Dickerson and Bill Anthony at Spire, and we couldn’t do this without Nik Middleton at Cube 3 and Ken Thwaits at Franklin Road and their great support. All the people at TeamSLR worked really hard this weekend getting this thing tuned in for me and it obviously turned out really good. We won (the race and the championship) by a large margin, so it feels really good. Lastly, I can’t thank Scott Lagasse Jr., enough for all the effort he puts into coaching me and for putting together such a great program.”
Corey Day, Driver, No. 17 HendrickCars.com/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:
“In the very first turn of the race, I don’t know if the 7 (Noah Harmon) hit dirt or what, but he pushed me, or slid all the way up to my door and I had to go off the track. I had no more room left. The (overnight) rain made the sand traps into mud, so as soon as I hit that, it packed the whole air dam and the radiator full of mud and it just overheated. There was nothing the guys could do to get the mud out of there in a decent amount of time. It’s unfortunate. I think I ran a lap and a half after that at speed, hoping it would cool down and clean itself out. I thought we had a fast TeamSLR HendrickCars.com Chevy car, so it’s really unfortunate.”
Naz Olkhovskyi, Driver, No. 48 #StandForUkraine/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:
“I think the weekend went great. I learned a lot and got some more experience that I was lacking. Unfortunately, the engine felt like it dropped a cylinder, but I finished the race and got a lot of practice laps that I really needed. I’m looking forward to my next race early next year.”
Next Up:
The 2025 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series season concludes two weeks hence with the 12th and final round, the Mission Foods COTA SpeedTour, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The weekend begins Friday (Oct. 31) with a pair of TA2 test sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. CDT. Official TA2 practice is set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 1), followed by qualifying at 5:10 p.m. The 30-lap, 75-minute race around the 3.4-mile, 20-turn circuit begins at 9:15 a.m. CST Sunday (Nov. 2) with live video provided by series partner Speed Sport 1, augmented by simulcast coverage on the Trans Am channel on YouTube.
About TeamSLR:
TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. TeamSLR would like to thank its supporters Cube 3 Architecture, Franklin Road Apparel, Kallberg Racing, and Guthrie’s Garage. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.
Car accidents are stressful, unpredictable, and often expensive. Beyond the initial shock, you’ll likely find yourself navigating insurance claims, repair estimates, and long waits for your vehicle to be road-ready again. Understanding how car repair after accident insurance works can make this process far easier. From knowing when to hire a lawyer to choosing the right auto repair shop, being informed helps you save time, avoid costly mistakes, and protect your rights.
What to Do Right After a Car Accident
Safety comes first immediately after an accident. Move your vehicle out of traffic if possible and check for injuries. Then, document everything. Take clear photos of your car’s damage, road conditions, and license plates of other vehicles involved. Exchange contact and insurance details, and call the police to file an official report.
This report will serve as crucial evidence when filing your claim. If you suspect the other driver was negligent or if there’s a dispute over fault, it’s smart to consult a Houston car accident lawyer. Legal experts can help ensure that your insurance company treats your claim fairly and that you receive proper compensation for any repairs, any medical expenses, and loss of any income.
Understanding How Insurance Covers Car Repairs
When it comes to car repair after an accident, the type of insurance coverage you have determines who pays and how much. Collision coverage applies to damage resulting from an accident, regardless of fault, while comprehensive coverage covers non-collision incidents such as hail, theft, or vandalism.
Once a claim is filed, your insurance adjuster will inspect your vehicle to determine repair costs or declare it a total loss if the cost exceeds your car’s market value. But you can use a service like cash for cars and get your damaged car out of the way. You may need to pay a deductible, but your insurer should handle the remaining expenses. Understanding this process helps you make informed decisions, especially when repair estimates vary.
Choosing the Right Auto Repair Shop
Selecting where your car gets repaired is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. While insurance companies often recommend preferred shops, you’re not required to use them. You always have the legal right to choose your own auto repair shop.
A reputable repair shop will not only restore your vehicle to manufacturer standards but also use high-quality parts and techniques to ensure safety and performance. Some shops even work directly with insurance providers, managing billing and communication so you don’t have to. Always ask for a written estimate, verify certifications, and confirm warranty terms on repairs.
When to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Many drivers wonder whether they should get a lawyer after an accident, especially if the damage seems minor. However, if another driver caused the crash, your insurance claim is delayed, or your vehicle was severely damaged, speaking with a accident lawyer is a smart move.
An experienced attorney can negotiate with insurance companies, handle complex paperwork, and ensure you’re compensated for both visible and hidden damages. They also help protect you if the other driver’s insurer denies fault or offers a low settlement. Having legal support can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.
How to Handle Delays in Insurance and Repairs
Insurance claims can sometimes take longer than expected, depending on the extent of the damage and the number of parties involved. Simple claims may take a few weeks, but major collisions or cases involving injuries can stretch into months.
Stay proactive by checking your claim’s progress regularly. Keep all communication, invoices, and estimates organized. If your car is in the shop for an extended period, ask your insurance provider about rental reimbursement coverage. It’s also important to have patience. Government investigations, parts shortages, or dispute resolutions can cause delays beyond your control.
Common Types of Car Repairs After an Accident
After an accident, some damage is obvious, while other problems may not appear until later. Dents, scratches, broken headlights, and paint chips are the most visible issues. But internal problems like frame misalignment, suspension damage, and electrical malfunctions can also affect safety and performance.
For minor issues such as scratches or paint chips, touch-up kits and polishing can restore your car’s finish. Severe dents or hail damage may require professional repair techniques like Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), which maintains your car’s factory paint. A trusted auto repair shop will inspect your vehicle thoroughly to uncover hidden issues before returning it to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a lawyer for a car accident that was not my fault? Yes, a lawyer can help ensure the at-fault driver’s insurance pays what you deserve.
After a car accident, when should I hire an attorney? It’s best to hire one immediately if injuries, major damage, or disputed liability are involved.
How much should I expect from a car accident settlement in CA? Settlement amounts vary depending on injury severity, damage costs, and insurance limits.
Do I need get a lawyer for a car accident settlement? Yes, legal guidance ensures fair negotiation and prevents underpayment from insurers.
How long after a car accident can I claim injury? Most states allow claims up to two years after the accident, but act quickly for best results.
Moving Forward After the Accident
Dealing with car repairs after an accident can be stressful, but understanding your rights and options helps you complete the process with confidence. From contacting your insurance provider to choosing a skilled auto repair shop and consulting a Houston car accident lawyer, every step matters.
At Speedway Media, we believe that informed drivers make safer, smarter decisions. Whether you’re repairing hail damage, negotiating a settlement, or simply learning how insurance works, staying proactive protects your investment and peace of mind. Remember, every repair is more than just fixing a vehicle, it’s about restoring your confidence on the road.
Motorsports isn’t just about high-octane races and checkered flags—it’s a world where speed meets celebration, turning ordinary holidays into unforgettable spectacles. From the roar of engines during patriotic fireworks to winter-themed fan events, the racing calendar is packed with moments that blend holiday cheer with adrenaline-fueled excitement. Whether you’re a die-hard NASCAR fan or an IndyCar enthusiast, these festive integrations make the sport even more magical.
As we dive into this fusion of festivities and fast laps, it’s worth noting resources like the Daily Holiday Calendar, which highlights unique celebrations year-round and can inspire ways to incorporate holiday vibes into your own racing rituals. Let’s explore how motorsports transforms holidays into high-speed highlights.
The Greatest Day in Motorsports: Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend has long been dubbed the “Greatest Day in Motorsports” or even “Motorsports Christmas” among fans. This triple-header tradition features the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1, the Indianapolis 500 in IndyCar, and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway—all on the same Sunday. In 2025, this marks the last time these events align perfectly, as F1’s Monaco GP shifts dates in future years, ending an era that started nearly two decades ago.
Historically, the Indy 500, known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” draws over 300,000 fans to the Brickyard, where traditions like drinking milk in victory lane add a quirky holiday flair. Meanwhile, the Coke 600 tests endurance with 600 miles of night racing, often under patriotic lights honoring fallen heroes. For fans, it’s a full-day feast of global motorsports, blending solemn remembrance with thrilling competition. Pro tip: Start your day with the glamour of Monaco’s streets, switch to Indy’s oval chaos, and end with NASCAR’s Southern spectacle—pair it with a backyard barbecue for the ultimate holiday vibe.
Patriotic Thrills: Fourth of July Fireworks on the Track
Nothing screams American holiday spirit like the Fourth of July, and motorsports amps it up with fireworks, patriotic liveries, and star-spangled races. NASCAR’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway often falls around Independence Day weekend, featuring cars wrapped in red, white, and blue schemes, with post-race pyrotechnics lighting up the Florida sky. In IndyCar, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course hosts a July 4th event, turning the green hills into a festival of speed and celebration.
One iconic moment came in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan attended the Firecracker 400 (now the Coke Zero Sugar 400), waving the green flag and witnessing Richard Petty’s 200th win—a historic blend of politics, patriotism, and racing. Today, tracks like Road America in NASCAR add to the fun with family-friendly events, including concerts and camping. These races aren’t just about lap times; they’re community gatherings that embody freedom and festivity, making them perfect for holiday road trips with fellow fans.
Giving Thanks at Full Throttle: Thanksgiving Traditions
Thanksgiving might evoke turkey and family dinners, but its roots in motorsports run deep. On November 28, 1895, America’s first organized automobile race took place in Chicago amid a blizzard—six vehicles braved 54 miles from the city to Evanston and back, with Frank Duryea winning in a grueling 10 hours. This snowy spectacle on Thanksgiving Day birthed U.S. auto racing, setting the stage for modern series like NASCAR and IndyCar.
Fast-forward to today, and Thanksgiving weekend often features off-season prep or virtual events, but echoes remain in races like NASCAR’s fall playoffs. For instance, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway around Labor Day (another holiday nod) kicks off the playoffs with throwback paint schemes honoring racing history. Fans can channel this spirit by hosting Thanksgiving watch parties for classic race replays or planning Black Friday shopping for racing gear. It’s a reminder that gratitude in motorsports extends to the pioneers who turned holidays into high-speed heritage.
Holiday Magic Off the Track: Christmas and Winter Celebrations
While the racing season winds down by December, the holiday magic revs up off the track. Teams and drivers share festive stories, like IndyCar’s David Malukas reading holiday tales featuring young fans dreaming of the Indy 500. NASCAR’s Winter Heat Series, including events like the Holiday 60, offers virtual races with big prizes, keeping the competitive spirit alive during the off-season.Unique celebrations include ice racing events, such as the F.A.T. Ice Race, where motorsport icons slide on frozen tracks in a nod to winter traditions. Gift guides abound, from sim-racing setups for home enthusiasts to team merchandise for under the tree. Tracks like Long Beach Grand Prix even host holiday light displays or charity drives, blending community cheer with automotive passion. For a truly magical touch, fans can recreate these at home with themed parties—think Christmas tree ornaments shaped like race cars or New Year’s resolutions to attend more live events.
Tips for Fans: Bringing Holiday Cheer to Your Racing Experience
To make your motorsports holidays even more special, here are some practical tips:
Plan Themed Outings: Book tickets for holiday-aligned races early—Memorial Day sells out fast. Pack picnic baskets with festive foods, like star-spangled snacks for July 4th.
DIY Celebrations: Can’t make it to the track? Host virtual watch parties using streaming services. Create custom playlists with racing anthems mixed with holiday tunes.
Gear Up Creatively: Customize your fan gear with holiday twists, such as ugly Christmas sweaters featuring your favorite driver’s number.
Give Back: Many teams run holiday charity initiatives; participate to spread cheer while supporting the sport.
These ideas turn passive viewing into active, joyful experiences, ensuring every lap feels like a celebration.
In the world of motorsports, holidays aren’t interruptions—they’re accelerators that boost the excitement. From historic firsts to modern spectacles, these festive fusions remind us why we love the sport: it’s about community, tradition, and pure speed. So gear up, hit the track (or your couch), and let the holiday magic fuel your fandom.
In a season filled with a new beginning by driving for a new organization, Chase Briscoe is a first-time NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 finalist. He earned a thrilling overtime victory in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 19.
The two-time Southern 500 champion from Mitchell, Indiana, led seven times for 16 of 193 over-scheduled laps. He started on the front row and was racing upfront in the early stages before he was penalized for speeding on pit road during an early cycle of green flag pit stops just past the Lap 40 mark. Briscoe rallied by leading on three occasions late in the second stage period. He also had to fend off challenges from Kyle Larson and the field to capture the stage victory.
As the event progressed, Briscoe was dicing the competition within the draft from the midpoint to the front, was scored in sixth place. But a late-race caution for Chris Buescher’s accident sent the field into overtime. During the overtime shootout, Briscoe drafted Bubba Wallace for the lead before the final lap. He then executed his race-winning pass on Wallace exiting the backstretch.
With a push from teammate Ty Gibbs through the frontstretch, Briscoe had enough horsepower and fuel to fend off the field and score a victory. It was not only his third of the 2025 season. But it also enabled him to achieve a guaranteed berth to contend for his first Cup Series championship.
On-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurred on Saturday, October 18. And, Michael McDowell was the Playoff spoiler during the session. He notched his second Cup Series pole of the 2025 season. It was also his third at Talladega and the eighth of his career. The pole-winning lap was at 182.466 mph in 52.481 seconds. Joining McDowell on the front row was Playoff contender Chase Briscoe, with a lap at 182.400 mph in 52.500 seconds.
Prior to the event, Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, along with 23XI Racing’s Riley Herbst, were dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments to their respective Toyota entries.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, Michael McDowell and Chase Briscoe dueled against one another in front of a stacked field through the first two turns. As the field began to fan out to three lanes, McDowell was able to lead the first lap, But he was soon challenged by Josh Berry and a host of front-runners during the second lap.
Over the next four laps, three lead changes occurred. Berry, Kyle Busch and Bubba Wallace each led at least a lap ahead of a stacked field of competitors that had fanned out from three lanes to four. Wallace, who led the fifth lap mark, led the next two laps. However, Berry was drafted to the lead from the outside lane by the eighth lap. Berry would then proceed to lead at the Lap 10 mark.
Through the first 15 scheduled laps, all 40 competitors entered for the event were separated by two seconds. And, the top 22 were separated by under a second. At the front, Berry, who has led since the eighth lap, retained the top spot in front of Joey Logano, Shane van Gisbergen, Justin Haley and Ryan Preece. Austin Hill, Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, Antony Alfredo and Chase Briscoe were racing in the top 10.
By then, Logano, Bell and Briscoe were the only Playoff contenders racing in the top-10 mark. The remaining contenders that included Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin were mired back in 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st and 39th, respectively.
By Lap 25, Berry, who had lost the lead on Lap 16 before he regained it on Lap 23, was leading ahead of Logano, Busch, van Gisbergen and Haley as the field fanned out to double-wide racing. By then, the field of 40 competitors was separated by four seconds, while the top 11 were separated by under a second. Berry proceeded to lead the next two laps. Then, Cody Ware, who initially drafted Briscoe to the front before Briscoe transitioned lanes, navigated his way to the lead. Shortly after, John Hunter Nemechek and Noah Gragson battled for the lead, with the former leading at the Lap 30 mark.
Then on Lap 42 and with Brad Keselowski leading Kyle Busch, green flag pit stops commenced. Briscoe, Nemechek, McDowell, Berry, Ty Gibbs, Cody Ware, van Gisbergen, AJ Allmendinger, Erik Jones and BJ McLeod pitted, primarily for fuel. Another wave of competitors led by the leader Busch along with Wallace, Hamlin, Bell, Haley, Carson Hocevar, Anthony Alfredo, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Tyler Reddick, Casey Mears and the Dillon brothers of Austin and Ty pitted during the next lap.
Amid the pit stops, Keselowski, who was among 18 competitors who had yet to pit. He continued to lead by Lap 45 while Briscoe was penalized for speeding while entering pit road. During this time, Kyle Busch and McLeod were also penalized for speeding on pit road.
During Lap 46, Keselowski led Logano, Noah Gragson, Riley Herbst, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher and Cole Custer went to pit road for service under green. Then, another wave that included William Byron, Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez and Kyle Larson pitted during the next lap.
This left the leader Cindric, teammate Ryan Blaney, Zane Smith and Todd Gilliland as the only competitors that had not yet pitted before they did so prior to Lap 48. When the pit stops cycled through, Allmendinger emerged as the leader before he was locked in a battle with Gragson for the top spot by Lap 50. Meanwhile, Hocevar fell off the pace with a flat tire in Turn 3, but he managed to limp his entry to pit road without throwing a caution.
Then on Lap 51, the event’s first caution flew. Gragson, dueling Allmendinger for the lead, received a tap from Erik Jones from the outside lane in Turn 3. The contact turned Gragson into Allmendinger, with the latter driving dead straight into the outside wall as his entry caught on fire. Gragson veered right back up the track and piled into the outside wall hard, along with Jones and Stenhouse. As the field scattered to avoid the carnage, more names that included Haley, Cindric, Austin Dillon and Elliott, a Playoff competitor, were collected. Amid the carnage, Logano escaped with the lead.
With two laps remaining in the first stage period, the event restarted under green. At the start, Logano and Gibbs dueled in front of McDowell, Nemechek and the field through the first two turns before Gibbs received a huge push from Nemechek and a bevy of competitors racing on the outside lane through the backstretch. With the inside lane led by Logano struggling to maintain pace, Gibbs proceeded to lead Reddick, Blaney and Nemechek back to the frontstretch during the next lap.
When the first stage period at Talladega concluded on Lap 60, Gibbs edged Reddick in a photo finish, capturing the stage victory. It was his second of the 2025 season. Nemechek, Blaney, Wallace, Logano, Zane Smith, McDowell, Carson Hocevar and Bell followed suit in the top 10, respectively. Blaney, Logano and Bell were the only Playoff competitors to rack up the event’s first round of stage points. They settled in the top 10 on the track. The remaining Playoff competitors on the track that included Byron, Larson, Briscoe and Hamlin were mired in 13th, 14th, 21st and 28th, respectively.
Under the first stage break period, nearly the entire field led by Gibbs returned to pit road for service. The rest, led by Daniel Suarez, remained on the track. Soon after, more drivers, including Suarez, pitted to top off their entries for fuel. Ty Dillon opted to remain on the track.
The second stage period started on Lap 65 as Ty Dillon and Chris Buescher occupied the front row. At the start, both Dillon and Buescher briefly dueled for the lead through the first two turn. But then, the outside lane led by Buescher muscled ahead through the backstretch. As the field started to fan out to three lanes, Buescher proceeded to lead the next lap over Busch. Berry, Preece, Hamlin and Briscoe followed suit.
By Lap 75 and with the field fanned out to three-stacked lanes, Buescher, Berry and Busch all took turns leading over the previous 10 laps, with Busch leading by Lap 75 ahead of Berry, Briscoe, Herbst and Buescher. Meanwhile, Hamlin was in sixth place while Byron, Bell, Larson, Logano and Blaney were mired in 17th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd and 25th, respectively.
Busch, who was battling Herbst, proceeded to lead the next two laps before Alfredo navigated his way to the lead. Not long after, Briscoe received a draft from teammate Hamlin in Turn 3, rocketing past Alfredo to assume the lead on Lap 80.
At the halfway mark of the Talladega race, on Lap 94, Busch was leading. He was ahead of Berry, McDowell, Buescher and Logano. Keselowski, Blaney, Austin Hill, Gilliland and Preece were scored in the top 10 amid a stacked field. By then, the event featured 37 lead changes for 20 different leaders while the top-30 competitors were separated by nearly two seconds.
Then on Lap 105, a second wave of green flag pit stops commenced as Ty Dillon and Anthony Alfredo pitted their respective entries. During the following lap, Busch, who was leading and had led four of the previous five laps, pitted along with Berry, Austin Hill, McDowell and Cody Ware. More drivers, including the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing trio of Buescher, Keselowski and Preece, pitted on Lap 109.
On Lap 110, van Gisbergen, who was among a bevy of competitors preparing to peel off the track and enter pit road under green, got sideways and spun through the entrance of pit road. He barely made light contact with Byron before he then slid through the pit road entrance and back onto the track and to the frontstretch’s tri-oval grass. Despite getting dodged by the field, van Gisbergen drew a caution due to getting stuck in the grass.
At the moment of caution, Reddick, who was among a handful who had not yet pitted, was scored the leader. In contrast, a bevy of names led by the initial leader Briscoe and including Bell, Suarez, Byron, van Gisbergen, Larson, Hocevar, Gibbs, Chastain, Blaney, Wallace, Bowman, Nemechek, Gilliland, Hamlin, Zane Smith, Cole Custer and Herbst all pitted.
Meanwhile, and amid the pit stops before van Gisbergen’s incident, Buescher and Suarez were penalized for speeding on pit road. Bubba Wallace was also penalized for a safety violation.
With four laps remaining in the second stage period, the event restarted under green. Briscoe, who cycled to the lead and shared the front row with Hocevar, battled for the top spot. Larson, Byron and Bell joined the battle. Larson then led for the first time on Lap 118 before he dueled with Briscoe for the following lap.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 120, Briscoe, who saved his entry from wrecking in the tri-oval after being bumped by Larson, fended off the field to capture the stage victory. It was his sixth of the 2025 season. Larson settled in second ahead of Hocevar, Byron, Bell, Gibbs, Gilliland, Blaney, Nemechek and Bowman. Logano and Hamlin were mired in 18th and 22nd, respectively.
During the second stage break period, nearly the entire field led by Briscoe returned to pit road for service. The rest, led by Chastain, remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Hocevar was penalized for speeding on pit road. Soon, more front-runners, including Zane Smith, Berry and Hill, pitted. Then, more drivers, including the leader Chastain, Hamlin, Suarez, Larson, Bell, Blaney, Byron and Briscoe pitted again to top off with fuel.
Meanwhile, Berry took his entry to the garage due to mechanical issues.
With 62 laps remaining, the third and final stage period commenced as Nemechek and Busch occupied the front row. At the start, Nemechek retained the lead over Busch and proceeded to lead the following lap. Reddick, Busch, Logano, Alfredo and Preece trailed through close-quarters racing within the top-six mark.
With 55 laps remaining, Herbst navigated his way to the lead over Suarez, Wallace, Logano, Gibbs and Blaney. A lap later, teammates Logano and Blaney, both of whom were dealing with race-long temperature concerns to their respective Ford entries, moved up to first and second. By then, Hamlin, who was mired outside the top 25 two laps earlier, was up to 12th. Byron was in 16th, Larson was back in 24th and both Briscoe and Bell were mired in 27th and 28th, respectively.
Down to the final 40 laps of the event, the top-20 competitors were separated by less than a second. Meanwhile the top 28 were separated by nearly two seconds. Logano, who had led since Lap 134, retained the top spot ahead of teammate Blaney. McDowell, Keselowski and Buescher. Alfredo, Preece, Ty Dillon, Ty Gibbs and Chastain were scored in the top 10. Meanwhile, Herbst, who fell off the pace six laps earlier and took his car to the garage due to a mechanical issue, was scored in 31st place.
Ten laps later, Gilliland, who assumed the lead during the previous lap, was leading ahead of Logano, Hamlin, Blaney, Byron, Keselowski, Buescher, Larson, Preece and Suarez. Bell and Briscoe were down in 15th and 16th, respectively. By then, the top-21 competitors were separated by less than a second. The top 26 were separated by within one-and-a-half seconds.
Then, with 23 laps remaining, the caution flew when Cody Ware blew an engine and spun in Turn 1. During the caution period, nearly the entire field led by Logano pitted while Nemechek and Hill remained on the track. Nemechek and Hill would eventually pit during the caution laps. Blaney and Logano cycled back to first and second, respectively.
During the pit stops, van Gisbergen was penalized for speeding on pit road, while Hamlin had his hood lifted in his pit stall to have a stuck throttle issue addressed. Hamlin’s issue dropped him out of the lead lap category.
The beginning of the next restart, with 17 laps remaining, featured Gilliland navigating his way to the lead over Blaney and Logano. Gilliland proceeded to lead with 15 laps remaining as he was pursued by Larson, Blaney, Suarez and Logano. Buescher, Keselowski, Byron, Bell, Preece and Briscoe were racing in the top 11, respectively.
Down to the final 10 laps of the event and the field fanned out to three lanes. Zane Smith, who boosted his way to the lead with drafting help from Chastain amid a three-wide move a lap earlier, was leading ahead of Chastain and teammate Gilliland. Blaney, Buescher, Larson, Byron, Logano, Bell, Wallace and Keselowski pursued in the draft.
Over the next four laps, Zane Smith, Larson and Briscoe took turns leading in front of a stacked field that had fanned out to three heavy drafting lanes. But with five laps remaining, Larson was out in front ahead of Briscoe. Wallace, Buescher, Bell and Byron while Blaney and Logano dropped to 17th and 25th, respectively.
Then, with two laps remaining, the caution flew and the event was sent into overtime. Buescher, who had navigated his way to the front during the previous lap, received a bump from Byron. It sent Buescher spinning from the top to the bottom through the backstretch. He then impacted the inside wall on the driver’s left side and was taken out of contention.
At the moment of caution, Byron emerged with the lead. He was followed by teammate Larson, Wallace, Hocevar, Bell and Briscoe. During the caution period, some drivers, including Blaney, Logano, McDowell and Keselowski, pitted. The rest, led by Byron, remained on the track.
The start of overtime featured teammates Byron and Larson dueling in front of Hocevar, Wallace, Bell and Briscoe through the first two turns. As the field began to fan out to two lanes through the backstretch, Byron and Larson continued to duel for the top spot until Larson started to muscle ahead entering the frontstretch. Wallace then made a move to the outside of Larson through the frontstretch and muscled his way to the lead with drafting help from Briscoe.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Wallace was leading ahead of Larson, Briscoe, Byron, Hocevar, Gibbs and the rest of the field. Then, as both Wallace and Larson dueled for the lead through the first two turns and the first half of the backstretch, Larson steered his entry off the course and fell off the pace as he ran out of fuel.
With the inside lane clear, Briscoe made his move beneath Wallace while entering Turn 3 with teammate Gibbs and Byron pushing him while Wallace was trying to get drafting help from Gilliland on the outside lane.
Entering the frontstretch, Wallace mounted a final charge to Briscoe’s outside, but the latter received a boost from Gibbs that launched Briscoe ahead. As Byron spun through the frontstretch, Briscoe had enough momentum to fend off Gilliland, Gibbs and Wallace to claim the checkered flag by a tenth of a second over the latter three.
Victory
With the victory, Briscoe notched his fifth NASCAR Cup Series career win in his 178th start. It was his first at both Talladega and on a superspeedway venue and his third of the 2025 season. Briscoe’s Talladega victory was also the 13th of this season for Joe Gibbs Racing and the 14th for the Toyota nameplate.
By winning the second Round of 8 event at Talladega, Briscoe, who commenced this year’s Playoffs by winning the opener during the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway seven weeks ago, earned an automatic berth to this year’s Championship 4 round. He will contend for his first Cup Series championship two weeks from now during the finale at Phoenix Raceway.
“Ty Gibbs, [what an] incredible teammate there,” Briscoe said on the frontstretch on NBC. “I honestly would not have won that race without Ty. Just an amazing team effort. I can’t believe I won a superspeedway race. I haven’t done it at any level anyways. This is an unbelievable atmosphere. I cannot believe I won here [at Talladega]. It’s not hitting me. We’re going to Phoenix.”
“So thankful that the Lord’s blessed me, opening doors and even closing doors at times, but certainly, open an incredible door here with Joe Gibbs Racing,” Briscoe added. God is so good. I say it all the time, and even today, I just had such a piece. Normally, I’m scared to death, nervous wreck around this place and I just had such a piece that regardless of the finish, He was going to use it somehow for His glory and pretty cool that it ends up in Victory Lane.”
Todd Gilliland, who led 11 laps, claimed a career-best runner-up result while Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace finished third and fourth, respectively. Cole Custer came home in fifth place, while Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick. Christopher Bell, Zane Smith and Brad Keselowski completed the top 10 on the track.
Notably, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, both of whom opted to pit prior to the overtime shootout for fuel, ended up 16th and 23rd, respectively, while Denny Hamlin, who cycled his way back on the lead lap before overtime, ended up 24th. Byron, who spun approaching the start/finish line, dropped to 25th while teammate Larson coasted to 26th.
Playoffs
As a result, Larson occupies the fourth and final transfer berth to the Championship 4 round by 36 points over Byron, while Logano, Blaney and Elliott also trail in a “must-win” situation entering next weekend’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway.
“It’s probably one of the more bummer superspeedway finishes I’ve had just because we were, once again, in contention and it was right where I wanted to be,” Larson said. “[The finish] didn’t work out, so we’ll keep putting ourselves in contention and it’ll eventually work out.”
“It’s just the way that it goes [spinning on the frontstretch],” Byron, who trails the cutline by 36 points, said. “[I] just felt like I was in the right position there on the bottom lane and we just couldn’t get linked up off [Turn] 4, and those guys pushed past us.
“Then, [Larson] ran out of fuel there down the backstretch. It just kind of broke up all the energy. [I] Just couldn’t quite get the pushes to go our way there at the very end. It looks like [I] definitely got to go [to Martinsville] and try to win the race. We’ve put ourselves in position to win these last two, so I don’t see why it would be any different there. Just got to go there and regroup and try to win.”
“I thought we did a great job, me and Joey [Logano] getting ourselves in the position we needed, and then it just fell apart and finished terrible,” Blaney, who trails the cutline by 47 points, said. “[We’ll] Try to go have a big day next week. That’s all we can do.”
“The laps that mattered, we weren’t there, unfortunately,” Logano, who trails the cutline by 38 points, added. “Really frustrating because you’re so close and see in front of you what you’ve got to do, and you can’t do anything about it. It’s frustrating. We know what we’ve got to do now. It’s pretty simple. (The car) was a little off, but it made it, so that part’s good.”
The Talladega fall race produced 77 lead changes for 27 different leaders, and six cautions for 28 laps. In addition, 26 of 40 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
1. Chase Briscoe, 16 laps led, Stage 2 winner 2. Todd Gilliland, 11 laps led 3. Ty Gibbs, four laps led, Stage 1 winner 4. Bubba Wallace, five laps led 5. Cole Custer 6. Carson Hocevar 7. Tyler Reddick, three laps led 8. Christopher Bell 9. Zane Smith, two laps led 10. Brad Keselowski, seven laps led 11. Shane van Gisbergen 12. Daniel Suarez, two laps led 13. Ross Chastain, three laps led 14. John Hunter Nemechek, 11 laps led 15. Ryan Preece, one lap led 16. Joey Logano, 35 laps led 17. Michael McDowell, five laps led 18. Casey Mears 19. Kyle Busch, 26 laps led 20. Ty Dillon, two laps led 21. Anthony Alfredo, two laps led 22. Austin Hill 23. Ryan Blaney, three laps led 24. Denny Hamlin, three laps led 25. William Byron, four laps led 26. Kyle Larson, six laps led 27. Austin Dillon, two laps down 28. BJ McLeod, six laps down 29. Alex Bowman, six laps down 30. Chris Buescher – OUT, Accident, four laps led 31. Cody Ware – OUT, Engine, five laps led 32. Riley Herbst – OUT, Engine, one lap led 33. Josh Berry – OUT, Drivetrain, 27 laps led 34. Austin Cindric, 116 laps down, two laps led 35. Erik Jones – OUT, Accident 36. Noah Gragson – OUT, Accident, two laps led 37. AJ Allmendinger – OUT, Accident, one lap led 38. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – OUT, Accident 39. Justin Haley – OUT, Accident 40. Chase Elliott – OUT, Accident *Bold indicates Playoff contenders
Playoff standings:
1. Chase Briscoe – Advanced 2. Denny Hamlin – Advanced 3. Christopher Bell +37 4. Kyle Larson +36 5. William Byron -36 6. Joey Logano -38 7. Ryan Blaney -47 8. Chase Elliott -62
Next on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, which will officially determine this year’s Championship 4 field. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, October 26, and air at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
BEARD MOTORSPORTS YellaWood 500 Date: Oct. 19, 2025 Event: YellaWood 500 Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Format: 188 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/68 laps) Note: Race extended five laps past its scheduled 160-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota) Stage 1 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota) Stage 2 Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Beard Motorsports Finish:
● Anthony Alfredo (Started 38th, Finished 21st / Running, completed 193 of 193)
Notes:
● Anthony Alfredo lined up 38th for the YellaWood 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway driving the No. 62 Lil’ DUDE Wipes Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports. He immediately set to work testing the top and bottom lines and determining the best line. He made his first trip to pit road for fuel only on lap 44 when green-flag pit stops started taking place.
● The first stage was interrupted on lap 53 when a multi-car accident unfolded at the front of the field. The No. 62 Chevrolet completely avoided the accident and went on to finish the stage in 29th place.
● After a quick trip to pit road for fuel and tires Alfredo lined up to start the second stage. He quietly went to work and was positioned in the top-10 by lap 70. Eight laps later Alfredo took over the top spot for two laps before settling back into a comfortable pace in the lead pack. He went on to finish the stage in 16th place.
● After a quick trip to pit road for fuel and tires, Alfredo lined up fifth to start the final stage.
● As the laps ticked down during the final stage the intensity picked up. Alfredo calmly maintained a position within the top-10 throughout the opening laps of the stage. Caution waved on lap 167 for a single-car incident and the entire field made what would be the final round of pit stops for the majority of the teams. As Alfredo was making his stop the team was penalized for having too many people over the wall for service. This resulted in the No. 62 Lil’ DUDE Wipes Chevrolet being sent to the rear of the field for the restart. The quick caution resulted in Alfredo losing the draft as the field came back to take the green flag.
● During the next several laps Alfredo managed to stay on the lead lap. Caution waved with two laps to go which allowed the 26-year old to rejoin the pack for the restart. Unfortunately, he was boxed in and unable to leverage the draft to make passes during the last two laps and finished the day in 21st place.
Race Notes:
● Chase Briscoe won the YellaWood 500 to score his fifth career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third of the season and his first at Talladega. His margin of victory over second-place Todd Gilliland was .145 of a second.
● There were six caution periods for a total of 28 laps.
● Only 26 of the 40 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
Anthony Alfredo, driver of the No. 62 Lil’ DUDE Wipes Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports:
“I really thought we had a shot especially with how that final stage played out. Darren (Shaw) called a great race for the Lil’ DUDE Wipes Chevrolet today. The car was fast and would go when I needed to go so definitely disappointed to finish 21st. But we were fast. We led some laps and again showed just how strong this Beard Motorsports program is. Super proud to be able to drive these cars for Linda and Amie Beard and hope to be able to do more together in the future.”
Next Up:
Beard Motorsports concluded its 2025 campaign with Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega. Plans for the 2026 NASCAR season will be announced at a later date.
Custer Earns Career-Best 5th-Place Finish in Cup Series at Talladega Creed, Mayer Collected in Early Talladega Crash; Must-Win Scenarios Ahead at Martinsville
TALLADEGA, AL (October 19, 2025) – Haas Factory Team’s (HFT) weekend at Talladega Superspeedway was led by Cole Custer, who earned a career-best 5th-place finish in Sunday’s Cup Series race. In Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer both showed early promise before being caught in a lap-15 crash, ending their days early.
Cup Series
41 Cole Custer Cole Custer delivered a strong performance at Talladega on Sunday, finishing 5th in the Sysco / RaceTrac Ford Mustang—his career-best result at the track and second top-five finish of the 2025 season. After starting 12th, which matched his best-ever Talladega qualifying effort, Custer and the No. 41 team executed a patient, fuel-conscious strategy throughout the 188-lap event.
In the early stages, Custer ran in the second pack to conserve fuel, with pit strategy playing a key role throughout the day. He pitted late in Stage One and again during Stage Two for fuel-only stops, riding in the back for much of the race before methodically working his way forward. Late cautions in the final stage reshuffled the field, and a two-tire stop on lap 165 positioned Custer to challenge inside the top 10 in the closing laps.
A late caution with two laps remaining set up a green-white-checkered finish, presenting Custer with a final opportunity to advance. Restarting just outside the top 10, he executed a calculated charge through the draft, gaining several positions in the closing laps to secure a 5th-place finish—marking his career-best result at Talladega.
“It was awesome. We’ve been really good at the speedways this year, and we just bought our time and were there at the very end, trying to be smart. Our guys have brought a really fast Ford Mustangs to the track,” Custer said. “It’s been fun and so awesome to have Sysco on the hood this weekend at the racetrack and giving them a good run. We wish we were five spots better, but it was definitely a great way to get a solid finish here and hopefully carry that momentum into Martinsville.”
Xfinity Series
00 Sheldon Creed Sheldon Creed showed early speed in Saturday’s Xfinity Series Playoff race at Talladega, driving the No. 00 Road Ranger Ford. Starting 16th, Creed charged into the top five by lap five while leading the third lane in a three-wide pack, as the intensity in the field began to build.
After slipping back when the top line stalled, he moved to the bottom groove and worked his way back into the top 10. While battling inside the top five on lap 15, Creed was swept up in a multi-car crash in the tri-oval, cutting his promising run short and relegating the No. 00 Ford to a 34th-place finish.
“(Martinsville) becomes a must-win race now. We were hoping to have a good day because our car was fast, and we had a chance to be in all three lanes there and get close to the top five,” Creed said. “I hate that we didn’t get to fight for the rest of the day and at least give ourselves a chance of winning.”
Entering the final race of the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs at Martinsville, Creed is in eighth place in the standings with 3032 points, -41 below the cutline.
41 Sam Mayer Sam Mayer’s day at Talladega came to an early end after a multi-car crash on lap 15, cutting short his run in the No. 41 Audibel Ford. Mayer started 13th and briefly moved into the top 10 in the opening laps as the field fanned out three-wide, but handling issues in traffic and a reliance on the bottom lane caused him to slip outside the top 20.
While running 19th, Mayer was collected in the same tri-oval crash that involved several cars. The No. 41 team attempted repairs but barely ran out of time on the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP) clock, ending his day with a 38th-place finish.
“Everyone got together, and I saw a clear path out and I was going to be okay and then someone came down off the wall, so it was just unfortunate. Obviously, everyone did a really good job on the No. 41 Audibel Ford Mustang, our car was really good. We were making our way through the field, and we were going to be good,” Mayer said. “I have a space in my house for a grandfather clock, so I might as well fill it up.”
Entering the final race of the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs at Martinsville, Mayer is in seventh place in the standings with 3051 points, -22 below the cutline.
Up Next Martinsville Speedway (Martinsville, VA)
The NASCAR Xfinity Series – Saturday, October 25th at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network.
The NASCAR Cup Series – Sunday, October 26th at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
About Haas Factory Team The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.
For the first two Stages of Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Josh Berry was wheeling a blazing-fast eero Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
After starting sixth, Berry took the lead from polesitter Michael McDowell on the second lap and went on to lead six more times for a total of 27 laps. Even when the No. 21 wasn’t out front, it was a fixture inside the top 10 — and often among the top five.
Near the end of Stage 1, Berry avoided a large multi-car crash and pitted just before the end of the 60-lap segment. He restarted the second Stage from third and immediately retook the lead, but mechanical issues soon began to take their toll. His promising day came to an early end shortly after the start of the final Stage, leaving him with a 33rd-place finish.
Despite the disappointment, Berry’s performance added to an impressive stat line. His 27 laps led at Talladega pushed his season total to 207 — the most for the No. 21 team since Ryan Blaney led 301 laps in 2017, and the second most since 1982 when the late Neil Bonnett led 412.
Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team now turn their focus to Martinsville Speedway for next Sunday’s Xfinity 500 — but before that, the team will host its 75th Anniversary Fan Day on Friday, Oct. 24, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wood Brothers Racing Museum in Stuart, Va.
The celebration will feature driver appearances, Q&A sessions, autograph opportunities, raffle prizes, trivia, giveaways and more. Nine drivers are expected to attend, including Berry, Donnie Allison, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Blaney, Harrison Burton, Dale Jarrett, Paul Menard, Elliott Sadler and Michael Waltrip.
The museum is located at 21 Performance Drive, Stuart, VA 24171. For more details and a full schedule of events, visit woodbrothersracing.com.
About eero eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.
About Wood Brothers Racing Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.
RICK WARE RACING YellaWood 500 Date: Oct. 19, 2025 Event: YellaWood 500 (Round 34 of 36) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Format: 188 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/68 laps) Note: Race extended five laps past its scheduled 188-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota) Stage 1 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota) Stage 2 Winner: Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
RWR Finish:
● Cody Ware (Started 35th, Finished 31st / Engine, completed 165 of 193 laps)
RWR Points:
● Cody Ware (36th with 221 points)
RWR Notes:
● Ware led three times for five laps to bring his laps-led total at Talladega to 11.
Race Notes:
● Chase Briscoe won the YellaWood 500 to score his fifth career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third of the season and his first at Talladega. His margin over second-place Todd Gilliland was .145 of a second.
● There were six caution periods for a total of 28 laps.
● Twenty-six of the 40 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
Sound Bites:
“The engine started laying down and then it just let go. Incredibly disappointing. We drove our Arby’s Steak Nuggets Ford Mustang to the front and led laps, so they knew we were here. Just wish we could’ve finished it.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Arby’s Steak Nuggets Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The penultimate race of the 10-race NASCAR Playoffs starts at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
