Column By: JESSY MILLER / RPW – TALLADEGA, AL – As usual, Talladega gave NASCAR fans quite the show.
With Ryan Blaney’s photo finish win over Ryan Newman by 0.007 seconds, and two big wrecks there was plenty to talk about, not to mention the rain that postponed the second and final stages of the race until Monday at 2pm (EST).
NASCAR was able to get the first stage of the race in before the rain hit and William Byron took the first stage gaining his playoff points. Just because the race was delayed by rain until Monday, doesn’t mean that it was a calm stage. Drivers swapped from the lead often and there many near misses despite it being the first stage of the race.
Blaney advancing to the next round of the NASCAR 2019 Playoffs has certainly shaken up the standings. Blaney was able to get the sixth closest victory in Talladega history on Monday afternoon.
WHAT. A. FINISH.
What’d you think of Ryan @Blaney‘s win by inches at @TalladegaSuperS? pic.twitter.com/oWsv34MN9C
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 15, 2019
And that’s after spinning from the lead in the first stage of the race the previous day before the rain set in. At the start/finish line after the race Blaney spoke with NBC and said, “This was a huge, huge race for us. I’m pumped up. I don’t know what to say!” then he rattled off his sponsors. You can watch the full interview here.
Blaney received lots of support after the race, on the way to Victory Lane Chase Elliott leaned the window of the No. 12 to congratulate him and waiting in Victory Lane for Blaney was his dog, Sturgill. One of Blaney’s best friend’s Bubba Wallace made sure to come congratulate him as well.
https://t.co/wR2b9zCe1j: Game respects game.
Blaney | chaseelliott pic.twitter.com/aA4ZQq7moy
— MG (@MG__Racing) October 15, 2019
DOG IN VICTORY LANE.
Meet Ryan @Blaney’s dog Sturgill.
12/10, @dog_rates? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/9vFE1VNyPw
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 14, 2019
BFFs.@BubbaWallace // @Blaney pic.twitter.com/QhKr1e6Y55
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 15, 2019
Of course, Blaney continued his tradition of giving a kid the winning flag only this time he signed it and gave it to a kid in Victory Lane.
Watch this. 😊🏁@Blaney | @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/aksH8w1nhU
— Talladega Superspeedway (@TalladegaSuperS) October 14, 2019
The Big One waited to show its face several times during Monday’s rain postponed race. Talladega claimed many victims, including Brendan Gaughn who flipped his car but ended up on all four tires once more, and many playoff drivers like Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman and many more. In fact talladega had so much carnage that Ky. Busch finished on the lead lap and Logano finished in 11th.
An overhead view of the Big One.
“Blocking is one of the things you have to do… you also have to know when you can’t do it,” says @JeffBurton. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SQqnZxYgLp
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 14, 2019
.@Brendan62 stuck the landing.
An unreal crash, but the car landed on all four tires like a freakin’ cat. pic.twitter.com/aRHNEWK3mT
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 15, 2019
Once again, ‘Dega has left us with much to talk about. Next weekend is the Kansas Playoffs race and many of the playoff drivers are looking to win in Kansas to save themselves fro Elimination. How will the Round of 12 play out? Find out next Sunday at 2:30pm (EST) on NBC.
NASCAR Playoffs Standings after Talladega (Via NASCAR.com):
- Kyle Larson (locked in)
- Ryan Blaney (locked in)
- Denny Hamlin
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Busch
- Kevin Harvick
- Brad Keselowski
- Joey Logano
– Cut Off Line – - Alex Bowman
- Chase Elliott
- Clint Bowyer
- William Byron
