Talladega Superspeedway Rich MARvelous Move of the Race

YellaWood 500

Talladega Superspeedway delivered door-to-door and bumper-to-bumper racing that went three- and, sometimes, four-wide. It also featured impressive lead changes and a surprising lack of carnage.

However, it was another tough day for drivers chasing a championship. Ross Chastain was first out of the race when he blew a tire at the end of Stage 1, while Christopher Bell sustained damage. Then Denny Hamlin was caught speeding and spent significant time in the second half of the race down a lap. Finally, Brad Keselowski was caught in The Big One which ended his race with 27 to go after winning Stage 2.

Enter Ryan Blaney.

Not only did he win the opening stage but he beat out fellow Ford driver, Kevin Harvick, by 0.012 of a second to win the YellaWood 500. By doing so, he locked himself into the Round of 8 which begins in two weeks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Rich MARvelous Move of the Race

Without much discussion, the Pit Pass Network team quickly agreed on the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race.

The Lap 163 wreck occurred just ahead of R̶i̶c̶k̶y̶ ̶B̶o̶b̶b̶y̶ Ryan Preece. Fortunately, he didn’t find himself ablaze begging Oprah for help or upside down in the infield grass.

He threaded the proverbial needle right through the chaos and came out safely on the other side.

Kudos to quick thinking by Preece and his spotter, Andy Houston.

Honorable Mention

We also wanted to give a shoutout to Stewart-Haas Racing for the joy brought by the Talladega Nights-themed weekend. The paint schemes, facial hair, commercials, driver intros, and interviews were nailed by Preece and Chase Briscoe.

Additionally, the pole win by Aric Almirola capped off a memorable and fun weekend for SHR, which certainly needed a pick-me-up.

Unfortunately, disappointment followed in post-race inspection. Harvick was disqualified when it was discovered his windshield fasteners were not secure. His P2 finish was bumped to P38 in his last career run at Talladega.

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Pit Pass Network would like to extend a huge thank you to Rich Mar Florist for their partnership in the Rich MARvelous Move of the race! Be sure to check out their website for all your floral needs. Follow them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and stay up-to-date with all the Team Rich Mar NASCAR happenings.