Ag-Pro 300
Racing at Talladega Superspeedway is always chaos. The Ag-Pro 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race was no different. After the record close finish last week in Dallas, the superspeedway kept the close racing trend going.
Austin Hill, a very successful superspeedway driver, began the day in the first spot. Jesse Love, who has experience on the front row this season, started in second. Parker Kligerman, Cole Custer, and Sammy Smith rounded out the top five.
The weather was humid and cool. Rain was in the forecast but seemed to hold off long enough to get the race started. The track is over two and a half miles long and four to five cars wide. The stage lengths were 25 laps for the first and second stages with the final stage being 63 laps. Finally, the Dash for Cash drivers were AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, and Sam Mayer.
All Aboard!
The start of the race was tame with the cars taking a lap or more to get up to full speed. However, no time was wasted as they went three wide on the second lap, still trying to get going. By lap five, the cars were lined up on the outside of the track.
Shane Van Gisbergen, who started in 18th, made his way up to seventh early in the stage. The bottom lane gathered with a handful of cars trying the shortest distance around the track. Custer led the charge and took the lead with his lane behind him struggling to keep up with Hill on the outside.
Handling was an issue for Herbst. He complained over his radio of the car turning too freely.
Before long, they lined back up single file on the top of the track. As the end of the stage neared, more cars formed another line to try to improve their positions. Getting all lined up seemed to be tough as more cars jumped into the train, it was difficult to keep it moving forward. Love made a big block on the inside line.
On the last lap, Allgaier, off the bumper of Herbst, slammed into the inside wall. No fault to Herbst, Allgaier was able to get out of the car and walk away. Love went on to win the first stage as the caution came out on the final lap.
Inside of ‘em! Outside of ‘em!
Love and Hill restarted on the front row. The inside line, led by Hill, pulled out to a lead with the outside line forming up. They ended up catching the inside line and Hill moved in front of Love on the outside.
For the first handful of laps, they were three wide racing and the middle lane was able to keep up with the inside and outside, even while having less cars pushing.
Hill was out in front of all three lanes, able to move whenever he wanted to. Custer, on the inside, took the lead and kept moving between the outside and inside. Then, Sieg took the lead.
The bottom two lines faded as drivers assumed their spots on the top line. Chandler Smith took the lead of the inside line and then moved in front of the outside line. Hill pulled his teammate to pass C. Smith and they took the race back over.
Allmendinger made his way to the front on the inside line, but Hill won stage two with his teammate in second and Allmendinger in third.
The Stress of Talladega
Love and Brandon Jones restarted the race on the front row. In a wild turn of events, C. Smith had radio issues with someone else transmitting over the frequency.
On track, the top line quickly took of as the inside lines fade back a bit. Jones resumed the race lead as the field spread out and reshuffled.
At the time, clouds loomed around the track and Jeffrey Earnhardt went out with engine issues.
Sieg reclaimed the lead with S. Smith behind him. SVG drove to the front of the inside line with fifty laps to go.
Cautions Breed Cautions
Kligerman and R. Sieg met in the middle of the track and caused a big accident – they were moving for the same space and The Big One ensued. Jones was sent into the outside wall and collected several cars. Allmendinger was almost through the thick of it before running into a spinning car. Mayer, Ryan Truex and Jeremy Clements were also in the accident.
Hill and R. Sieg restarted the race on the front row, but Hill got shuffled back in the middle lane. Then, the caution came out for a bumper cover coming off a car.
They restarted with thirty-five laps left and Herbst and Sieg on the front row. Hill did not waste any time by moving to the front very quickly. He led the inside line with Herbst leading the outside line. Hill was far and away the fastest car as he pulled the inside line around the track. Kligerman led the bottom line to the front with Hill behind him.
Then, R. Sieg pitted for a flat right front tire from the top five and Anthony “Fast Pasta” Alfredo took the lead. Kligerman side drafted Alfredo and passed him for the lead, pulling Hill to second.
Custer and Herbst were then able to get by them for the first two spots. Love regained the lead with the push from Kligerman. The train was back with ten to go. The cars in the front pack lined up to click off laps.
With five to go, the bottom lane started to form but quickly faded and broke apart. Hill joined the bottom line and passed Love after a hornet’s nest formed. Kligerman slid behind him. Hill got sideways in front of Alfredo and a wreck brought the race to overtime.
Overtime in ‘Dega
Some drivers were worried about fuel milage and told to save. Josh Williams and Kligerman restarted on the front row. Suddenly, S. Smith was spun as SVG ran out of fuel. Williams got turned into Kligerman who got sent into the wall.
The second overtime restart saw Love in the lead. Ryan Ellis got spun on the restart but no caution.
Love fought off a hard charge from Brennan Poole and Alfredo to win the race at Talladega! It was four-wide behind him as they crossed the finish line. Herbst and Alfredo finished in second and third. Meanwhile, R. Sieg was scored the Dash for Cash winner. Another great finish at ‘Dega!
Marvin’s Mind
Talladega always puts on a great show with hard racing across the track. The precision and patience it takes to finish the race, let alone win, is tremendous. There is a definite skill that some have, and some don’t.
Superspeedway racing is always a good time to watch. The ebbs and flows throughout the distance of the race shows the talent levels of these drivers. This style of racing is a marathon with a bunch of sprints in the middle. It is always enjoyable to watch.
However, we do not need more of it. I like the two superspeedways, Daytona and Talladega. I even think Atlanta is too much. More of it waters the product down.
Last thought: Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney did a great job in the booth. They feed off of each other so well throughout the entire broadcast.
Great read!!!