Four NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races into the 2022 championship run and none of the Playoff drivers have won any of the postseason races this season, leaving all 12 still looking to clinch their spot in the Round of 8 with two races left in the Round of 12 – Talladega Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. This weekend the competitors will have to face one of the biggest hurdles in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, as Talladega Superspeedway opens the gates and unleashes its 2.66-miles of asphalt with 33 degrees of banking in the turns for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). As the pinnacle ‘Wild Card’ event, expect the unexpected at Talladega as it is literally anyone’s to win.
The 2022 season marks the sixth consecutive year Talladega Superspeedway will host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2017-2022) – Race No. 31 of the season. Talladega is the third different track to host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004 – 2014) and Kansas Speedway (2015 – 2016). The 2.66-mile track is the largest paved oval the series competes on with 33 degrees of banking in the turns.
Talladega Superspeedway has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since its inception into the series in 2004 and has occupied five different spots on the postseason schedule. Talladega has hosted the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004 – 2005); the fourth race (2006 – 2008 and 2012); the fifth race (2017-2022); the sixth race (2011, 2013 – 2016); and the seventh race (2009 – 2010).
A total of 14 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Talladega Superspeedway, six of the 14 are active this weekend and three of the six are Playoff contenders this year – Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano.
Brad Keselowski (2017, 2014), Clint Bowyer (2010-2011), Jamie McMurray (2009, 2013) and Joey Logano (2015-2016) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff wins at Talladega Superspeedway with two postseason victories each.
| Talladega Superspeedway Playoff Race Winners | ||
| Track | Race Winner | Date |
| Talladega | Bubba Wallace | Monday, October 4, 2021 |
| Talladega | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, October 4, 2020 |
| Talladega | Ryan Blaney | Sunday, October 13, 2019 |
| Talladega | Aric Almirola | Sunday, October 14, 2018 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | Sunday, October 15, 2017 |
| Talladega | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 23, 2016 |
| Talladega | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 25, 2015 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | Sunday, October 19, 2014 |
| Talladega | Jamie McMurray | Sunday, October 20, 2013 |
| Talladega | Matt Kenseth | Sunday, October 7, 2012 |
| Talladega | Clint Bowyer | Sunday, October 23, 2011 |
| Talladega | Clint Bowyer | Sunday, October 31, 2010 |
| Talladega | Jamie McMurray | Sunday, November 1, 2009 |
| Talladega | Tony Stewart | Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| Talladega | Jeff Gordon | Sunday, October 7, 2007 |
| Talladega | Brian Vickers | Sunday, October 8, 2006 |
| Talladega | Dale Jarrett | Sunday, October 2, 2005 |
| Talladega | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Sunday, October 3, 2004 |
During the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Era (2004-Present), the winner of the Talladega Superspeedway Playoff race has never gone on to win the title in the same season. But twice the Talladega Playoff race winner has finished runner-up in the championship standings at the end of the season: Jeff Gordon (2007) and Joey Logano (2016).
A total of 14 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series fifth race in the Playoffs; seven of the 14 are active this weekend. Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins during the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with three victories (2004, 2005, 2009 – all at Charlotte Motor Speedway).
| NASCAR Cup Playoff Race No. 5 Winners | ||
| Track | Race Winner | Date |
| Talladega | Bubba Wallace | Monday, October 4, 2021 |
| Talladega | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, October 4, 2020 |
| Talladega | Ryan Blaney | Sunday, October 13, 2019 |
| Talladega | Aric Almirola | Sunday, October 14, 2018 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | Sunday, October 15, 2017 |
| Kansas | Kevin Harvick | Sunday, October 16, 2016 |
| Kansas | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 18, 2015 |
| Charlotte | Kevin Harvick | Saturday, October 11, 2014 |
| Charlotte | Brad Keselowski | Saturday, October 12, 2013 |
| Charlotte | Clint Bowyer | Saturday, October 13, 2012 |
| Charlotte | Matt Kenseth | Saturday, October 15, 2011 |
| Charlotte | Jamie McMurray | Saturday, October 16, 2010 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Saturday, October 17, 2009 |
| Charlotte | Jeff Burton | Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
| Charlotte | Jeff Gordon | Saturday, October 13, 2007 |
| Charlotte | Kasey Kahne | Saturday, October 14, 2006 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Saturday, October 15, 2005 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Saturday, October 16, 2004 |
Twice the winner of the fifth race in the Playoffs has gone on to win the title later that season; both happening at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004-2014). In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fifth race of the Playoffs from the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then went on to win his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his third of four wins in the 2009 postseason. Then in 2014, Kevin Harvick won the fifth race of the Playoffs from the seventh starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his first of three wins during the 2014 postseason.
The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was 37th by Kyle Larson in 2021.
Six times a non-Playoff driver has won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway:
- In 2005, Dale Jarrett won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
- In 2006, Brian Vickers won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 16th in points.
- In 2009, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 22nd in points.
- In 2011, Clint Bowyer won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 13th in points.
- In 2013, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
- In 2021, Bubba Wallace won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 21st in points.
Three times a non-Playoff driver has won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs:
- In 2010, Jamie McMurray won the fifth race in the Playoffs at Charlotte; he was 14th in points.
- In 2013, Brad Keselowski won the fifth race in Playoffs at Charlotte; he was 16th in points.
- In 2021, Bubba Wallace won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 21st in points.
Sweet Home Alabama: NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega
Since it opened it has been deemed one of the most daunting tracks on the schedule and this weekend’s YellaWood 500 (Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Talladega Superspeedway looks to be another fantastic opportunity for some close side-by-side competition the fans have come to love.
In total there have been 106 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one Cup event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970. Among the 106 Cup events, the track has hosted 18 Playoff races in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Overall, 45 different drivers have qualified on the pole at Talladega Superspeedway, 23 of the 45 have done it multiple times and six of the 45 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Talladega are active this weekend.
| Active Talladega Pole Winners | Poles | Seasons |
| Chase Elliott | 2 | 2019, ’16 |
| Kevin Harvick | 2 | 2018, ’05 |
| Christopher Bell | 1 | 2022 |
| Austin Dillon | 1 | 2019 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2016 |
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with eight poles (1985 sweep, 1986 sweep, 1987 sweep, spring 1990 and fall 1993). Kevin Harvick (2005, 2018) and Chase Elliott (2016, 2019) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Talladega with two each.
The 106 Cup races at Talladega have also produced 51 different NASCAR Cup Series race winners at the 2.66-mile track. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in wins at Talladega with 10 victories (1983, 1984, 1990 sweep, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999 sweep and 2000).
Eleven of the 51 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Talladega Superspeedway are active this weekend, led by Brad Keselowski with six wins at Talladega Superspeedway (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021); followed by Joey Logano with three victories (2015, 2016, 2018).
| Active Talladega Race Winners | Wins | Seasons |
| Brad Keselowski | 6 | 2021, ’17, ’16, ’14, ’12, ’09 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2018, ’16, ’15 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 | 2020, ’14 |
| Ryan Blaney | 2 | 2020, ’19 |
| Ross Chastain | 1 | 2022 |
| Bubba Wallace | 1 | 2021 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 | 2019 |
| Aric Almirola | 1 | 2018 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 |
| Kevin Harvick | 1 | 2010 |
| Kyle Busch | 1 | 2008 |
This weekend’s YellaWood 500 will be broken up into three stages the first two stages will be 60 laps each and final stage will be 68 laps.
On-track activity for the NASCAR Cup Series begins with Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, October 1 at 10:30 a.m. ET and will be streamed live on the NBC Sports App.
Clinch Scenarios: Wide open Round of 12 heads to Talladega
Just two races left for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff challengers in the Round of 12 to secure their spot in the Round of 8, and with a non-Playoff driver taking the win last weekend at Texas (Tyler Reddick), all eight spots are still up for grabs as the series heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the YellaWood 500 (Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) the fifth race of the 2022 postseason.
Already Clinched
No drivers have clinched a spot in the eight-driver field of the next round.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 8th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suárez or Chase Elliott.
- Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help
- Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help
- Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Suarez: Could only clinch with help
- Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Chase Briscoe or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 7th winless driver in the standings.
- Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help
- Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help
- Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Suárez: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suárez, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman
Playoff Bubble: Round of 12 provides plenty of unpredictability
While the unpredictability of the close quarters racing at Talladega Superspeedway, or the twists and turns of the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL are enough to keep the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff teams up at night, they should find some solace in knowing it could be those same track attributes that help get them to Victory Lane over these next two weekends.
Since the inception of the ‘elimination-style’ format in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2014, the driver that wins at Talladega Superspeedway in the postseason has clinched a needed spot in the next round in six of the eight races held (2014-2021). Joey Logano in 2015 is the lone winner at Talladega since 2014 that had already clinched his spot in the next round prior to competing at the 2.66-mile track – Logano swept the Round of 12 in 2015 winning all three races that season (Charlotte, Kansas, Talladega). Then last season, for the first-time a non-Playoff driver (Bubba Wallace) won the Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race since the ‘elimination-style’ format was introduced in 2014.
| Talladega Superspeedway Playoff Race Winners Since 2014 | |||
| Track | Race Winner | Clinch Status Heading Into ‘Dega | Date |
| Talladega | Bubba Wallace | 22nd in Points | Monday, October 4, 2021 |
| Talladega | Denny Hamlin | 2nd in Points | Sunday, October 4, 2020 |
| Talladega | Ryan Blaney | 12th in Points | Sunday, October 13, 2019 |
| Talladega | Aric Almirola | 9th in Points | Sunday, October 14, 2018 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | 10th in Points | Sunday, October 15, 2017 |
| Talladega | Joey Logano | 8th in Points | Sunday, October 23, 2016 |
| Talladega | Joey Logano | Clinched On Wins | Sunday, October 25, 2015 |
| Talladega | Brad Keselowski | 10th in Points | Sunday, October 19, 2014 |
This weekend, rookie Austin Cindric (ninth), William Byron (10th), Christopher Bell (11th) and Alex Bowman (12th) find themselves south of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 cutline as they head into the Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.
| NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 30 at Texas Motor Speedway | ||||||
| Rank | Driver | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Joey Logano (P) | 3,071 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 37 |
| 2 | Ross Chastain (P) | 3,059 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 25 |
| 3 | Kyle Larson (P) | 3,057 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 23 |
| 4 | Ryan Blaney (P) | 3,056 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 22 |
| 5 | Denny Hamlin (P) | 3,049 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 15 |
| 6 | Daniel Suarez (P) | 3,045 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott (P) | 3,045 | 4 | 5 | 40 | 11 |
| 8 | Chase Briscoe (P) | 3,041 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 7 |
| 9 | Austin Cindric # (P) | 3,034 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -7 |
| 10 | William Byron (P) | 3,033 | 2 | 4 | 15 | -8 |
| 11 | Christopher Bell (P) | 3,016 | 1 | 4 | 13 | -25 |
| 12 | Alex Bowman (P) | 3,015 | 1 | 2 | 7 | -26 |
| 13 | Tyler Reddick | 2,107 | 3 | 2 | 17 | Eliminated from the Playoffs |
| 14 | Austin Dillon | 2,083 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 15 | Kyle Busch | 2,068 | 1 | 3 | 10 | |
| 16 | Kevin Harvick | 2,063 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (3,034 points) is ninth in the Playoff outlook standings – the first position outside the Round of 8 cutoff – seven points back from Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe in eighth. Cindric’s lone NASCAR Cup Series career win, came in the season-opening Daytona 500, so the rookie has found success on superspeedways. But has a few head winds to work through as this is his first appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and just his second career Cup start at Talladega. He made his series track debut at the 2.66-mile track earlier this season; he started 18th and finished 21st.
Hendrick Motorsport’s driver William Byron (3,033 points) was issued a penalty of 25 driver points for his contact with the No. 11 car driven by Denny Hamlin under caution at Texas last weekend. Now the North Carolina native sits 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook standings eight points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Byron is looking to advance out of the Round of 12 for the first-time in his career. In nine starts at Talladega, he has put up two top fives and an average finish of 19.0.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell (3,016 points) is ranked 11th in the Playoff outlook standings, 29 points back from the Round of 8 cutoff after finishing 34th at Texas Motor Speedway. After a strong start to the Playoffs with three top fives in the first three races, Bell skidded out in Texas and now is trying to advance out of the Round of 12 for the first time in his career. The Oklahoma native has made five starts at Talladega posting one top-five finish.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman (3,015 points) finds himself in the 12th and final position in the Round of 12 Playoff outlook standings following a 29th-place finish at Texas last weekend. Now the Arizona native is 30 points back from the Playoffs’ Round of 8 cutline. Bowman has yet to win at Talladega, but has posted a best finish of runner-up in (April) 2019. And in 14 Cup Series starts he has posted one top five and four top 10s. Bowman is looking to advance out of the Round of 12 for the second-time in his career (2020).
Cup Series’ Playoff Dozen at ‘Dega
This weekend, five of the 12-driver Playoff field are former NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway winners(race winners bolded in chart below). With none of the 12 postseason contenders locked into the Round 8, below is a look at the Playoff dozen and their NASCAR Cup Series statistics at Talladega Superspeedway.
| Rank | Driver | Races | Poles | Wins | Top Fives | Top 10s | DNFs | Average Finish | Driver Rating | ||
| 1 | Joey Logano | 27 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 17.5 | 90.4 | ||
| 2 | Ross Chastain | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19.6 | 58.0 | ||
| 3 | Kyle Larson | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 23.1 | 76.0 | ||
| 4 | Ryan Blaney | 16 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 16.9 | 91.1 | ||
| 5 | Denny Hamlin | 33 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 16.9 | 83.5 | ||
| 6 | Daniel Suárez | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 22.1 | 66.2 | ||
| 7 | Chase Elliott | 13 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 15.2 | 89.3 | ||
| 8 | Chase Briscoe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20.7 | 57.3 | ||
| 9 | Austin Cindric | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.0 | 57.9 | ||
| 10 | William Byron | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 19.0 | 85.4 | ||
| 11 | Christopher Bell | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 22.4 | 73.7 | ||
| 12 | Alex Bowman | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 24.4 | 74.2 |
