The Elk Grove, California, native became the first of four Cup Series competitor to secure a championship finale spot with a win in the Lone Star state.
The Round of 8 Cup Series Playoffs begins at Texas, followed by races at Kansas Speedway and Martinsville Speedway where four more drivers will be eliminated from the Playoffs.
Denny Hamlin finished seventh at Talladega in a rain-delayed and rain-shortened race won by Bubba Wallace, who drives for 23XI Racing, co-owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan.
The Mobile, Alabama, native fended off the field in the closing laps of the second stage to become the second African-American competitor to win in NASCAR's premier series.
NASCAR travels to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend as the Playoffs continue for all three national series. There will be no practice or qualifying and the lineups will be set by NASCAR’s metric format.
