With no practice, the Cup Series drivers take to the track at Talladega Superspeedway to qualify for the Geico 500.  Austin Hill is the first driver on the track and posts a time of 53.973 seconds around the 2.66 mile track.

A total of 38 teams brought cars to Talladega so everyone will be in the race.

Unlike other tracks where the drivers are divided into two groups with the top five drivers in each group compete for the pole, all of the drivers will make a qualifying run in a single group and the top 10 drivers will move on to round two to determine who will sit on the pole.

During the inspection process on Friday, Austin Cindric’s number two car failed to pass inspection twice; as a result, he will lose his pit road selection and will lose a crew member for the weekend.  While Cindric’s car passed inspection the first time through, the crew made an unapproved adjustment to the car and NASCAR had them go through inspection a second time where they failed and passed the on the third.  No matter where he lines up after qualifying, Cindric will star the race from the back of the field.

Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell, Aric Almirola, Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano will all move on to round two of qualifying to make a run for the pole.

The only driver to break the 53 second mark with a time of 52.979 seconds; Denny Hamlin puts his number eleven car on the pole.  Aric Almirola will start alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Geico 500:
Denny Hamlin
Aric Almirola
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Blaney
Christopher Bell
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Chris Buescher
Kevin Harvick
Bubba Wallace
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
Austin Cindric
Ryan Preece
Kyle Busch
William Byron
AJ Allmendinger
Brad Keselowski
Michael McDowell
Daniel Suarez
Ross Chastain
Erik Jones
Harrison Burton
Justin Haley
Alex Bowman
Todd Gilliland
Chase Elliott
Noah Gragson
Austin Hill
Ty Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Corey LaJoie
Zane Smith
Riley Herbst
BJ McLeod
JJ Yeley

When the green flag drops for today’s race, Kevin Harvick will mark a major milestone – 800 Cup Series starts.  He is one of only 10 drivers who have reached that mark.  Richard Petty is by far and above the king of race starts with over 1,100.

Tony Stewart returns to join Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the FOX broadcast booth.

Stages one and two of today’s race are 60 laps each with stage three lasting 68 laps for a total of 188 laps around the 2.66 mile track.

NASCAR Hall of Famers Donnie and Bobby Allison; along with Red Farmer – the Alabama Gang – game the command to start the engines for today’s race.

AJ Allmendinger and Todd Gilliland will have to start the race from the back of the field after crews made some unapproved adjustments to the cars.  Austin Cindric will also start from the back of the field after failing inspection on the second time through after adjustments were made to the car.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Aric Almirola alongside and go side by side before Aric Almirola gets out in front after a push from teammate Chase Briscoe.

Aric Almirola leads laps one.

Lap two the top five are Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and Chris Buescher.

Michael McDowell spins out and brings out the first caution flag of the race.  He blows a tire and gets into the wall.  McDowell reports that something broke in the rear of the car.  He is on pit road for repairs.

Several drivers come down pit road to top off the fuel.

Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart and gets out in front after a push from Joey Logano on lap six; Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap eight, Chase Briscoe passes Aric Almirola for the lead with Bubba Wallace in second.

Chase Briscoe and Bubba Wallace battle side by side.

Lap nine, Bubba Wallace takes the lead with Ty Gibbs in second; Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

After brining the field down to start the race, Denny Hamlin has fallen out of the top 10.

Lap 10, Chase Briscoe passes Bubba Wallace for the lead.

Lap eleven, Bubba Wallace retakes the lead as the side by side battle continues.

Lap eleven, Chase Briscoe retakes the lead briefly.  Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe continue their side by side battle for the lead.

Lap 13, Bubba Wallace has the lead with Chase Briscoe in second; Ty Gibbs, Aric Almirola, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 15, Bubba Wallace has the lead by about two feet as he continues the back and forth battle with Chase Briscoe.

Lap 18, Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe continue their back and forth battle for the lead; Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.  Denny Hamlin is in 12th.  Michael McDowell is the only driver not on the lead lap after being on pit road for repairs.

Drivers are two by two through the field.

Lap 20, Bubba Wallace has the lead with Chase Briscoe in second; Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

Chase Briscoe’s number 14 car has boss man Tony Stewart wearing a robe on the side of the car.

While track position is more important than tires, drivers can run around 38 to 40 laps on a single load of fuel.

Lap 22, Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs battle for the lead; Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

Lap 26 Bubba Wallace continues to lead the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Martin Truex Jr, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 27, leader Bubba Wallace has passed Michael McDowell to put him a second lap down.

Lap 28, Bubba Wallace continues to lead the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Martin Truex Jr, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Lap 31, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski are riding around in the back in hopes of avoiding any on track carnage.

Bubba Wallace leads the race with Daniel Suarez in second; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

Lap 31, Daniel Suarez takes the lead with Kyle Busch in second; Bubba Wallace, Harrison Burton, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

With pit stops approaching, drivers on the outside lane will have to get down to the bottom in order to get on pit road.

Lap 33, Daniel Suarez drops down to the inside lane and gives the lead of the outside lane to Kyle Busch.

Lap 35 spins out and hits the wall coming to pit road but the track stays green…and avoids other cars.

Green flag pit stops have begun.

Lap 36, Ross Chastain leads the race with Erik Jones in second; Ty Dillon, Kyle Busch, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 38, Ross Chastain leads the race with Erik Jones in second; Kyle Busch, Ty Dillon, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 39, Ty Dillon takes the lead as more drivers come down pit road for service.

Lap 39, Ryan Preece takes the lead.

Lap 41, the top five are Ryan Preece, Erik Jones, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ty Dillon, and Ryan Blaney.

Chase Briscoe spins out coming down pit road as green flag pit stops continue.  Erik Jones is the new leader.

Chase Brisoce is stopped on the track and cannot get the car moving.  The second caution flag comes out on lap 43 with Briscoe stuck at the entrance to pit road.  The right front is on the ground.

Chase Briscoe was also caught speeding coming on to pit road.

Drivers take advantage of the caution flag and come down pit road for service.

Chase Elliott is the new leader after Erik Jones was among the drivers who made a stop.

The top six positions are all Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing drivers.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 47 with Alex Bowman alongside.  Getting a push form Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott goes side by side with Alex Bowman with Bowman edging out in front.

The top five are Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, and Daniel Suarez.

Lap 49, Ross Chastain pushes Chase Elliott as they work back to the front.

Lap 51, Alex Bowman leads the race with Kyle Larson in second; Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 53, Ross Chastain pushes Chase Elliott back out in front; but Alex Bowman comes back on the outside lane to retake the lead.

Lap 54, The back and forth battle between Hendrick Drivers Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman continues as they swap the lead.

Just five laps to the end of stage one and Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman continue to battle back and forth; Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, and William Byron round out the top five.

Once again Brad Keselowski has dropped back in the field; he is unhappy with the way the Fords are drafting.

Chase Elliott wins stage one after a good push from Ross Chastain for his first stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Chase Elliott
Alex Bowman
Ross Chastain
William Byron
Kyle Larson
Austin Cindric
Noah Gragson
Joey Logano
Ryan Preece
Daniel Suarez

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road taking fuel only.

There were 17 official lead changes in stage one – NASCAR only counts lead changes at the start/finish line.

AJ Allmendinger is on pit road with the hood up.

Chris Buescher was charged with running over equipment – air hose.

Todd Gilliland’s crew came over the wall too soon.

Riley Herbst was charged with pitting outside of the box.

JJ Yeley was charged with interference on pit road.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green falg start of stage two on lap 67.  Hamlin gets out in front for the lead.  Justin Haley takes the lead on the inside lane after a push from Ross Chastain.  Denny Hamlin comes up on the outside with a push form Kevin Harvick.

Lap 70, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Kevin Harvick alongside; Justin Haley, Martin Truex Jr, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Lap 71, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin are in a side by side battle for the lead.

Lap 72, Kevin Harvick leads the race with Martin Truex Jr in second; Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Lap 75,  Martin Truex Jr takes the lead.

Lap 77, Joey Logano takes the lead after a side by side battle with Kevin Harvick.

Lap 78 Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr battle side by side for the lead with Truex getting out in front.

The top five are Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, and Justin Haley.

Lap 80, Martin Truex Jr leads on the outside lane with Denny Hamlin on his bumper; Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Chase Briscoe and Michael McDowell are the only drivers not on the lead lap with all 38 drivers still on the track.

Lap 83, Martin Truex Jr and Joey Logano are in a side by side battle for the lead with Joey Logano edging out for the lead.

Lap 85, Martin Truex Jr retakes the lead.

In stage one, the drivers made their green flag pit stops according to car manufacturer; however, in stage two the six Toyotas are scattered through the field and will have to work hard to get together.

Lap 88, Martin Truex Jr gets past Joey Logano to retake the lead. 

The top five are Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Justin Haley, and Kevin Harvick.

Lap 90, halfway through stage two, Martin Truex Jr just edges out Joey Logano for the lead; Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, and Justin Haley round out the top five. 

Lap 94, halfway, Martin Truex Jr edges out Denny Hamlin for the lead; Kevin Harvick, Ryan Preece, and Joey Logano round out the top five.  All 38 cars are still on the track with only two caution flags for on track incidents; both of switch involved a single car.

Lap 97, the third lane has finally formed up with Martin Truex Jr leading the race from the middle lane.

Bubba Wallace takes the lead from the outside lane on lap 98.

Out of the draft, Michael McDowell in just in front of the leaders and has gone another lap down.

Lap 100, Bubba Wallace leads the race with Martin Truex Jr alongside.

Martin Truex Jr takes the lead and moves to the bottom lane; Kevin Harvick in the middle lane takes the lead.

Lap 101, the top five are Kevin Harvick, Ryan Preece, Martin Truex Jr, Ty Dillon, and Bubba Wallace.

Lap 102, the outside line has nearly disappeared with most of the drivers in two lanes led by Kevin Harvick on the inside lane.

Lap 103, the first group of drivers come down pit road for service. 

Lap 104, the next group of drives come down pit road including the Toyotas.

Lap 105, the third group of drivers come down pit road including leader Kevin Harvick;  Brad Keselowski is the new leader.

Joey Logano was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a pass through penalty.

Lap 106, the last group of drivers come down pit road for service.  Nearly all of the drivers took fuel only during the green flag pit stop.

Lap 107, Martin Truex Jr retakes the lead after green flag pit stops have cycled through.

Lap 107, the drivers are three wide across the track with Martin Truex Jr in the lead.

Lap 109, Chase Elliott takes the lead with Martin truex Jr in second; Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin,a nd Aric Almirola round out the top five.

The third lane has formed up once again.

The field is separated by just over a second!

Lap 112, Bubba Wallace has gotten back out in the front for the lead; Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr, Aric Almirola, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Once again the third lane has disappeared.

Lap 113, Michael McDowell has just gone another lap down.

Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott battle for the lead.

Seven laps remain in stage two, Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace are side by side in a back and forth battle.

With six laps remaining in the stage, Joey Logano is out of the draft and in danger of being lapped after serving his pass through penalty.

Chase Elliott is back out in front.  Bubba Wallace reports a very loose condition when he gets pushed.

Lap 115, the field has caught Joey Logano and put him in the middle to pass him on either side.  Logano is now in the middle of the pack.  Joey Logano and Chase Briscoe are in a battle for the “lucky dog”.

Three laps to go in stage two, Chase Elliott leads the race with Aric Almirola in second; Kevin Harvick, Harrison Burton, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Bubba Wallace comes up on the outside to go side by side with Chase Elliott in a battle for the lead.

Aric Almirola edges out Chase Elliott to win stage two for his first stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Aric Almirola
Chase Elliott
Kevin Harvick
Bubba Wallace
Harrison Burton
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Preece
Denny Hamlin
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Noah Gragson

Joey Logano is the “lucky dog”.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Aric Almirola edging out Denny Hamlin for the lead.

Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Bubba Wallace alongside on al 127 from the outside lane.  Harrison Burton gives Bubba Wallace a good push to put Wallace out in front.

Harrison Burton comes up on the inside to take the lead.  Burton’s cousin Jeb won the Xfinity Series race on Saturday.

Lap 128, the top five are Harrison Burton, Noah Gragson, Martin Truex Jr, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Blaney.

Harrison Burton announced over his in-car radio that his dad Jeff has been named to the list of 74 greatest drivers in NASCAR.

Lap 130, Harrison Burton battles with Ryan Blaney for the lead with Blaney edging out for the lead; Bubba Wallace, Aric Almirola, an Noah Gragson round out the top five.

Lap 132, Harrison Burton is back out in front with Ryan Blaney in second; Noah Gragson, Bubba Wallace, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

Bubba Wallace gives Ryan Blaney a push and puts Blaney in the lead.

Lap 134, Ryan Blaney and Harrison Burton are in a side by side battle for the lead.

With 52 laps to go, Harrison Burton is out in front with Noah Gragson in second: Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

Fifty to go, Ryan Blaney gets back out in front for lead change number 40 with Harrison Burton in second; Bubba Wallace, Noah Gragson, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

With 48 laps to go, Harrison Burton is back out in front as the side by side battle between Burton and Ryan Blaney continues; Noah Gragson, Bubba Wallace, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out when Harrison Burton gets turned around after a bump from Noah Gragson.  Burton saved the car for the most part, doing some agricultural racing.  Austin Dillon, Austin Hill, and Zane Smith were caught up in wrecks as drivers were checking up to avoid a wreck.  Zane Smith has heavy damage to his car after contact with Joey Logano and Austin Hill.

Drivers come down pit road for service with 44 laps remaining in the race. 

Ryan Blaney is the new leader.

Austin Dillon is in the garage, the first car out of the race.

Zane Smith is also out of the race; he has been checked and released from the infield care center.

Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag restart with Bubba Wallace alongside with 41 laps remaining in the race.  Bubba Wallace edges out in front initially but Blaney comes up to take the lead.  Getting a push from Denny Hamlin Bubba Wallace gets back out in front for the lead.

Forth to go, Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace continue their side by side battle for the lead.

The third lane begins to form again back in the field.

The top five are Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, and Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 150, Ryan Blaney takes the elad with Bubba Wallace in second; Aric Almirola, Noah Gragson, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

With 37 laps to go the drivers re getting aggressive and beginning to make their moves.

Ty Gibbs has gotten in front of Bubba Wallace in the middle lane with Ryan Blaney leading the race.

Lao 153, Ryan Blaney leads the race from the inside lane getting a push from Aric Almirola; Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Lap 154, Ryan Preece, Ty Gibbs, and Ryan Blaney are in a three wide battle for the lead.  The three drivers go side by side by side.

Lap 156, Bubba Wallace pushed Ty Gibbs to the lead but Ryan Blaney comes up on the inside lane to retake the lead.

Thirty to go, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Aric Almirola in second; Noah Gragson, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

There has been 48 official lead changes in the race.

There are 28 laps remaining in the race with Ryan Blaney in the lead and Aric Almirola in second; Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, and Bubba Wallace rounding out the top five.

Lap 162, the outside lane has collapsed once again, leaving two lane with Ryan Blaney out in front in the inside lane.

Twenty-five to go, the third lane has formed up once again.  Ryan Blaney on the inside leads the race in a side by side battle with Ty Gibbs.

Lap 165, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, and Bubba Wallace.

Twenty to go, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Ty Gibbs on the inside lane continuing to battle for the lead; Aric Almirola, Bubba Wallace, and Noah Gragson round out the top five.

When the drivers made their pit stops during the last caution flag, they were at the edge of the fuel window.  Can they save enough fuel to make it to the end of the race???

Lap 170, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Aric Almirola in second; Noah Gragson, Kevin Harvick, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Fifteen to go, Ryan Blaney holds on to the lead but the middle lane is moving up with Ty Gibbs leading the line.

Fourteen to go, Ryan Blaney has the lead but Ty Gibbs has caught up with the inside lane.

The top five are Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Aric Almirola, Bubba Wallace, and Noah Gragson.

Ten to go, Ryan Blaney leads the race but is not driving with his throttle wide open.  Ty Gibbs in the middle lane has been running full throttle.

Ty Gibbs takes the lead but Ryan Blaney comes up on the inside to retake the lead.

The top five are Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Noah Gragson, and Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin.

Seven to go, Ryan Blaney leads the race and the inside lane; Aric Almirola, Noah Gragson, Kevin Harvick, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Joey Logano gets turned around and into the wall to bring out the sixth caution flag of the race.  Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Corey LaJoie also have damage to their cars.  Harrison Burton, William Byron, and Daniel Suarez were also involved.

Many of the teams report having enough fuel to make it to the end of the race of 188 laps, but there is a question of whether they have enough fuel to make it to the end under overtime conditions.

The race goes into overtime!

Only a few drivers chose to come down pit road for fuel.

Harrison Burton is on the wrecker and out of the race.

Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the overtime shootout to the end from the inside lane with Noah Gragson on the outside.  A push from Kyle Larson on Ross Chastain hit Noah Gragson and he gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag as drivers scatter.  Ryan Preece, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez were all involved in the crash.  Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece had a very hard hit; pieces of the roll cage are showing through the door on Kyle Larson’s car.

Some of the drivers have to come down pit road for a splash of fuel.

Ryan Blaney reports that the fuel indicator in his car has started to blink.

Kyle Larson has been checked and released from the infield care center.

Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the second green/white/checker overtime finish from the inside lane with Kyle Busch on the outside.  Ty Gibbs is out of fuel.  Kyle Busch gets out in front with a push from Bubba Wallace.  Ryan Blaney drops to fourth.

Kyle Busch leads the race but Bubba Wallace comes up on the outside to take the lead.

Bubba Wallace gets turned around causing a big crash.  Kyle Busch wins the race under caution after  taking the white flag.  This is career win number 62 and his second win of the season.

Ryan Blaney gave Bubba a push and Bubba got loose, spinning out and causing the melee.

Kyle Busch’s crew chief kept telling Kyle to pit and he refused.  Kyle noted that sometimes you just have to be lucky.  Kyle said that the car stopped as he was trying to do a burnout.

The unofficial results of the Geico 500:
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Chris Buescher
Chase Briscoe
Brad Keselowski
Erik Jones
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Daniel Suarez
Todd Gilliland
JJ Yeley
Chase Elliott
Tyler Reddick
Alex Bowman
Denny Hamlin
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ty Dillon
Justin Haley
BJ McLeod
Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick
Ross Chastain
Austin Hill
Corey LaJoie
Riley Herbst
Austin Cindric
Martin Truex Jr
Bubba Wallace
AJ Allmendinger
Joey Logano
Ty Gibbs
Noah Gragson
Kyle Larson
Ryan Preece
Michael McDowell
Harrison Burton
Zane Smith
Austin Dillon