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NASCAR's return to superspeedway racing at Talladega Superspeedway saw Cup Series drivers duke it out for what is an event dependant on driver skill as much as it is on sheer luck. The 2024 GEICO 500 at the 2.6-mile-long track saw Front Row Motorsports' Michael McDowell start the event on the pole as Ford-manufactured cars aimed to cash in on their superspeedway prowess.
As the 500-mile-long event unfolded, drivers were seen racing cautiously at the biggest and steepest NASCAR oval on the calendar, with the first two stages going caution-free.
As the pace picked up during the final stage of the race, drivers ditched their fuel-saving methods triggered by several Toyota-backed drivers going flat out while drafting each other. The plan was expected to work in the Japanese automotive giant's favor before Bubba Wallace, John Hunter Nemechek, and Erik Jones crashed while drafting each other.
Erik Jones was taken to a local hospital after being released from the infield care center.
Winners & Losers from 2024 NASCAR GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
Winner: Tyler Reddick
23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick managed to log his first victory of the 2024 season with his #45 crew at 23XI. The Toyota driver managed to hold off several Fords at the end of the 500-mile-long event after Michael McDowell's late block on Brad Keselowski meant the cars around him lost momentum, carrying Reddick to victory.
Loser: Michael McDowell
Starting the 2024 GEICO 500 from the pole, Front Row Motorsports' Michael McDowell was in a position to possibly win the event. However, the #34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse driver's late block trying to cover off a Brad Keselowski sent him spinning, causing the big one at Talladega right as the checkered flag dropped. McDowell ultimately finished in P31.
Winner: Brad Keselowski
While the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing owner-operator might have come excruciatingly close to a victory for the second consecutive time, the #6 Ford driver also managed to log in his second runners-up finish in the past two races. Keselowski's hunt for ending his 108-race-long winless streak continues, making his P2 finish at Talladega all the more excruciating for the owner-operator.
Loser: Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell remained one of the few cars to have their day cut short during a race that saw minimal caution flags during the first two stages. Bell was seen getting caught up in a wreck during stage 2 of the event, finishing dead last in P38.
This marked the #20 Toyota Camry XSE driver's third season finish outside the top 33.
Winner: Noah Gragson
Driving for Stewart-Haas Racing during the 2024 season, Gragson managed to seal his career-best finish in the NASCAR Cup Series with a P3 at Talladega Superspeedway. The young driver also proved his drafting prowess at superspeedway-style tracks, which could come in handy for Ford drivers later in the season.
Loser: Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch's dismal performance during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season continues with his P26 finish at Talladega. The Richard Childress Racing driver has not managed to crack the top 20 in the past five races this year.
