If you just woke up or missed the finish, let's get right to it. Chase Briscoe took the checkered flag at Talladega Superspeedway in what was basically a typical 'Dega heart-stopper. Honestly, if you bet on anyone else in the closing laps, you probably feel like you just got your pocket picked.
Talladega is weird. It’s the kind of place where you can lead the most laps, have the best car, and still end up in the garage before the final stage even starts. Today was no different.
The Wild Finish: How Chase Briscoe Pulled It Off
It wasn't a dominant performance from start to finish. That’s rarely how it goes here. Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, didn’t even lead that many laps—only 16 out of the 193. But at Talladega, you only need to lead the one that pays.
The race went into overtime because, of course it did. We saw a massive pile-up late that reshuffled the deck, and when the green flag dropped for the final sprint, it was pure chaos. Ty Gibbs, Briscoe's teammate, played the hero role today. He stayed glued to Briscoe’s bumper, giving him the massive shove he needed to clear the field.
Briscoe won by a mere 0.145 seconds over Todd Gilliland. It was Gilliland's career-best finish, and for a second there, it looked like the Front Row Motorsports Ford might actually steal the win.
The Final Leaderboard
Here is how the top of the field shook out after the smoke cleared:
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- Chase Briscoe (Winner)
- Todd Gilliland
- Ty Gibbs
- Bubba Wallace
- Cole Custer
- Carson Hocevar
Seeing Carson Hocevar and Cole Custer in the top six tells you everything you need to know about how the "Big One" took out the usual heavy hitters.
What Happened to the Favorites?
You’re probably wondering where the guys like Kyle Larson and William Byron ended up. Short answer: Not where they wanted to be.
Larson actually had the lead late but ran out of fuel—literally the nightmare scenario at this track. He drifted back through the pack like he was standing still, finishing way down in 26th. It was a brutal blow for the Hendrick Motorsports camp. Byron didn’t fare much better; he got spun out through the tri-oval right at the end and limped across in 25th.
Then there’s Chase Elliott. He’s usually the king of the superspeedways, or at least the crowd favorite. Today, his luck ran out on lap 51. He was caught in an 8-car wreck that essentially ended his day before it really began. He finished dead last in 40th. For his fans, it was a "turn off the TV" kind of afternoon.
Why This Win Changes Everything
This wasn't just another trophy for Briscoe. This win locks him into the Championship 4.
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Basically, he’s guaranteed a shot at the title when the series heads to the season finale at Homestead-Miami. Before today, he was sitting right on the bubble. Now? He’s the guy everyone else is chasing.
It’s also a huge deal for Joe Gibbs Racing. Having both Briscoe and Denny Hamlin (who won last week at Vegas) locked into the final four means JGR is in a power position.
The Playoff Standings (Points Above/Below Cutline)
- Christopher Bell: +37 (Looking safe-ish)
- Kyle Larson: +36 (Sweating after that fuel issue)
- William Byron: -36 (In trouble)
- Joey Logano: -38 (Needs a miracle at Martinsville)
- Ryan Blaney: -47 (Must-win territory)
Real Talk: Was Today’s Race "Good"?
Some fans hate the "fuel saving" era of Next Gen racing. I get it. It’s sorta frustrating to watch the best drivers in the world go half-throttle for two stages just to make sure they can finish.
But you can’t argue with 67 lead changes. That’s a lot of action, even if some of it was just drivers swapping positions to manage their engines. The "three-wide, four-deep" racing we saw in Stage 3 is exactly why people pay for tickets at Talladega. It’s terrifying to watch and probably even scarier to drive.
The track itself, a 2.66-mile monster, always produces these kinds of results. It’s the ultimate equalizer. You can have the biggest budget in the world, like Hendrick or Penske, and still get beat by a guy like Todd Gilliland who just found the right lane at the right time.
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What’s Next for the Cup Series?
The circus moves to Martinsville Speedway next Sunday. It’s the polar opposite of Talladega. Instead of 200 mph drafting, we’re going to see short-track beating and banging on a "paperclip" shaped track.
If you’re a fan of Joey Logano or Ryan Blaney, next week is it. They have to win. There is no points-racing their way into the finale at this stage.
If you want to keep up with the technical side of things, keep an eye on the post-race inspection reports. NASCAR has been known to drop the hammer on teams for aerodynamic "shenanigans" after Talladega. We saw it last year with Preece and Logano getting DQ’d after the race. For now, though, the party is in the No. 19 camp.
Your Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Playoff Grid: Take a look at the updated standings; the gap between Larson and Byron is now a chasm.
- Watch the In-Car Audio: If you have NASCAR+, listen to the No. 5 (Larson) radio from the final five laps. The panic over fuel is a masterclass in stress.
- Set Your DVR for Martinsville: Sunday at 2 PM—don't miss the final cutoff race.
Chase Briscoe is your winner. It was wild, it was messy, and it was exactly what Talladega is supposed to be.