Racing at Talladega Superspeedway is always unpredictable. Drivers can quickly and easily get caught up in “the big one” and the slightest mistake can be detrimental to a driver’s finishing position.
This past weekend the Craftsman Truck and Cup Series drivers can the high banks of Talladega where a playoff driver has yet to win a truck series race. On the Cup side there was a fire on pit road, a photo finish, and a disqualification by the time the crews left the track for another year.
Ryan Blaney secured his spot in the round of eight with a photo finish win over Kevin Harvick. Harvick would later learn a rules violation would get him disqualified from his second place spot.
Denny Hamlin showed how a speeding penalty and a lap down was no problem when it came to a top five finish; while several of the playoff drivers continued to have on track issues that would hinder their places in the standings with just one more race in the round.
Cup Series Playoff Standings:
William Byron – 3136
Denny Hamlin – 3100
Christopher Bell – 3080
Ryan Blaney – 3078
Chris Buescher – 3077
Martin Truex Jr – 3075
Kyle Larson – 3073
Brad Keselowski – 3060
Tyler Reddick – 3058
Bubba Wallace – 3051
Ross Chastain – 3050
Kyle Busch – 3034
With the end of round two next week at The Roval, the eight Craftsman Truck Series drivers were looking to secure a spot in Talladega but once again plans were fouled when a non-playoff driver took home the trophy after Brett Moffitt won the race.
Corey Heim is still the only driver who has secured a spot in the championship four.
Craftsman Truck Series Point Standings:
Corey Heim – 3121
Carson Hocevar – 3111
Christian Eckes – 3097
Nick Sanche – 3091
Grant Enfinger – 3088
Ben Rhodes – 3086
Ty Majeski – 3072
Zane Smith – 3055