Statistical Advance: Analyzing the YellaWood 500

Today at 02:28 AM

Below is a look at the NASCAR Cup Series statistical performances at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, going into the YellaWood 500 on October 6 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts – Race No. 5 (Talladega Superspeedway)

• The 2024 season marks the eighth consecutive year Talladega Superspeedway has hosted the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2017-2023) — Race No. 31 of the season.
• Talladega Superspeedway is one of three different tracks to host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; alongside Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004 — 2014) and Kansas Speedway (2015 – 2016).
• Talladega Superspeedway is one of four tracks that has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since its inception into the series in 2004, along with Martinsville Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
• Talladega Superspeedway has occupied five different spots on the postseason schedule; including the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004 — 2005); the fourth race (2006 — 2008 and 2012); the fifth race (2017-2024); the sixth race (2011, 2013 — 2016); and the seventh race (2009 — 2010).
• A total of 15 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Talladega Superspeedway.
• Five drivers lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff wins at Talladega Superspeedway with two victories each: Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023), Brad Keselowski (2014, 2017), Clint Bowyer (2010, 2011), Jamie McMurray (2009, 2013) and Joey Logano (2015, 2016)
• This weekend six of the 15 Talladega Playoff race winners are entered in the NASCAR Cup Series race.
• Four of the six active Talladega Playoff race winners are Playoff contenders this year — Chase Elliott (2022), Denny Hamlin (2020), Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023), Joey Logano (2015, 2016). *Playoff contenders bolded in chart below.

• During the Playoffs Era (2004-Present), only once has the winner of the Talladega Superspeedway Playoff race gone on to win the title in the same season — Ryan Blaney (2023).
• 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).
• 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.
• A total of 15 different drivers have won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. This weekend, six of the 15 drivers that have won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are entered in Sunday‘s Cup race.
• Four of the six active drivers that have won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are currently in the Playoffs this weekend — Chase Elliott (2022 Talladega), Denny Hamlin (2021 Talladega), Ryan Blaney (2019 and 2023 Talladega) and Joey Logano (2015 Kansas).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins in the fifth race of the Playoffs with three victories (2004, 2005, 2009 — all at Charlotte Motor Speedway).
• Brad Keselowski (2013 Charlotte and 2017 Talladega) and Ryan Blaney (2019 and 2023 at Talladega) lead all active drivers in wins in the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with two victories each.

• Three times the winner of the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004-2023) has gone on to win the championship later that season: 2009, 2014, 2023.

1. In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fifth race in 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.
2. In 2014, Kevin Harvick won the fifth race in 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.
3. In 2023, Ryan Blaney won the fifth race in the Playoffs from the 10th starting spot at Talladega Superspeedway and then went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title — it was his first of two wins in the 2023 postseason.

• Three times a non-Playoff driver has won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: 2010, 2013, 2021.

1. In 2010, Jamie McMurray won the fifth race in the Playoffs at Charlotte; he was 14th in points.
2. In 2013, Brad Keselowski won the fifth race in Playoffs at Charlotte; he was 16th in points.
3. In 2021, Bubba Wallace won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 21st in points

• Six times a non-Playoff driver has won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2021.

1. In 2005, Dale Jarrett won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
2. In 2006, Brian Vickers won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 16th in points.
3. In 2009, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 22nd in points.
4. In 2011, Clint Bowyer won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 13th in points.
5. In 2013, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
6. In 2021, Bubba Wallace won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 21st in points

NASCAR Cup Series 2024 Top 12 in the Playoff Standings at Talladega

* — Based on last 39 races at Talladega Superspeedway (2005 — 2024).

Talladega Superspeedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK DATA
Season Race #: 31 of 36 (10-06-24)
The Purse: $9,222,964
Track Size: 2.66-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 33 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 33 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 16.5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 4,300 feet
Backstretch Length: 4,000 feet
Race Length: 188 laps / 500.08 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 60 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 68 laps

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORD DATA

Track Qualifying Record:
Bill Elliott, Melling Racing Ford, 212.809 MPH, 44.998 secs., April 30, 1987

Track Race Record:
Mark Martin, RFK Racing Ford, 188.354 mph, (02:39:18), May 10, 1997

2023 Playoff Pole Winner:
Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, 181.656 MPH, 52.715 secs., September 30, 2023

2023 Playoff Race Winner:
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, 160.097 MPH, (03:07:25), October 1, 2023

HISTORY

• Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968, and today covers nearly 3,000 acres.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on September 14, 1969; the event was won by Richard Brickhouse in a Ray Nichels‘ 1969 Dodge Daytona.
• The first NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on July 25, 1992; the event was won by Ernie Irvan (Chevrolet).
• The first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on October 7, 2006; the event was won by Mark Martin (Ford).
• The name of the track changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
• The track completed its fourth repaving on September 19, 2006.
• In 2019, the track underwent a $50 million renovation, updating the tunnels and infield amenities.
• There have been 110 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one Cup event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970. Twenty of the 110 events have been Playoff races.

STARTS

• A total of 493 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway; 346 have competed in more than one.
• Dave Marcis and NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte lead the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Talladega Superspeedway with 61 starts each.
• Top five in all-time Cup Series Talladega starts: Dave Marcis (61), Terry Labonte (61), Michael Waltrip (60), Ricky Rudd (59) and Bill Elliott (57).
• Martin Truex Jr. leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Talladega Superspeedway with 39 starts.
• Top five in active Cup Series Talladega starts: Martin Truex Jr. (39), Kyle Busch (38), Denny Hamlin (37), Brad Keselowski (31) and Joey Logano (31).
• A total of 72 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have made their first career start at Talladega Superspeedway.
• The most recent driver to make their first Cup start at Talladega was Harrison Burton on April 25, 2021.
• Of the 72 drivers to make their first career Cup start at Talladega Superspeedway, Dick Simon had the best finish with a seventh-place result after starting in 52nd-place on May 6, 1973.

Drivers That Made First Career Cup Start at Talladega Superspeedway

• Bobby Isaac (eight starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 3.625.
• Chase Elliott (17 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 10.235.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

• Since introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022 (five Talladega races total), Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Christopher Bell has the best average starting position at Talladega with a 6.6, followed by Joey Logano (8.2) and Denny Hamlin (9.2).

POLES

• A total of 48 different drivers have qualified on the pole at Talladega Superspeedway, 24 of the 48 have multiple poles at Talladega.
• Bobby Isaac won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 MPH. In fact, Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway (1969 and 1970 sweep).
• This weekend seven of the 48 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Talladega Superspeedway are entered in Sunday‘s race.

• 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).
• Christopher Bell (2022 sweep) and Chase Elliott (2016, 2019) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with two each.
• A total of 12 different drivers have won consecutive poles at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series; Christopher Bell (2022 sweep) is the only of the 12 that is currently active.
• Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive Cup poles at Talladega with six-straight from 1985 – 1987.
• Six drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series pole at Talladega:
  • Brian Scott (May 4, 2014)
  • Juan Pablo Montoya (April 26, 2009)
  • Travis Kvapil (October 5, 2008)
  • David Gilliland (October 8, 2006)
  • Stacy Compton (April 22, 2001)
  • Jeremy Mayfield (September 28, 1996)
• Youngest series Talladega pole winner: Chase Elliott (May 1, 2016 — 20 years, 5 months, 3 days).
• Oldest series Talladega pole winner: Mark Martin (October 23, 2011 — 52 years, 9 months, 14 days).
• In total 31 different organizations have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway.
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with 13 poles among eight drivers: Darrell Waltrip (1988), Terry Labonte (1995), Jimmie Johnson (2002), Jeff Gordon (2007, 2011, 2012, 2015 sweep), Mark Martin (2011), Kasey Kahne (2012), Chase Elliott (2016, 2019) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2017).
• Of the 31 different organizations with a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Talladega, eight are active this weekend.

• A total of eight different manufacturers have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 37 poles; followed by Ford (31), Dodge (12), Toyota (six) Mercury (five), Oldsmobile (five), Pontiac (three), and Buick (two).
• A total of 11 different drivers have won poles in the NASCAR Cup Series in multiple manufacturers at Talladega Superspeedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Buddy Baker, who all three of his poles were in a different manufacturer (Dodge 1973, Ford 1975, and Oldsmobile 1980).

WINS

• A total of 52 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway; 27 of the 52 NASCAR Cup Series winners at Talladega have won multiple times at the 2.66-mile track.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on September 14, 1969 was won by Richard Brickhouse in a Ray Nichels‘ 1969 Dodge Daytona.
• This weekend 10 of the 52 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Talladega Superspeedway are entered in Sunday‘s race.

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with 10 victories (1983, 1984, 1990 sweep, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999 sweep and 2000) in 44 starts — a winning percentage of 22.7%.
• Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with six victories (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021) 31 starts — a winning percentage of 19.4%.
• Nine different drivers have won consecutive Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. — four straight victories (2001-2003)
  • Buddy Baker — three straight victories (1975, 1976 sweep)
  • Ryan Blaney — most recent to do it (2019-2020)
  • Pete Hamilton — first to do it (1970 sweep)
  • Darrell Waltrip — only driver to do it in the '80s (1982 sweep)
  • Dale Earnhardt — only driver to do it three times (1990 sweep and 1993-1994 and 1999 sweep)
  • Ernie Irvan — (1992-1993)
  • Sterling Marlin — (1995-1996)
  • Jeff Gordon — (2007 sweep)
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega with four straight from 2001-2003.
• Youngest series Talladega winner is Bobby Hillin Jr. (July 27, 1986) at the age of 22 years, 1 month, 22 days.
• Oldest series Talladega winner is Harry Gant (May 6, 1991) at the age of 51 years, 3 months, 26 days.
• A total of 25 different starting positions have produced race winners in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway (1969-2024).
• A total of 15 of the 110 NASCAR Cup Series races (13.64%) at Talladega Superspeedway have been won from the pole or first starting position — the most recent driver to accomplish the feat was Denny Hamlin on October 4, 2020.
• A total of 13 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway from the pole or first starting position.

• The outside front row (second starting position) is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. The most recent driver to win from the second starting position was Jimmie Johnson in 2011.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Talladega Superspeedway

• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega is 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the 2000 spring race.
• The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Talladega is 34th, by Denny Hamlin in the 2014 spring race. Last season, the Talladega race winner, Ryan Blaney, started 10th.
• A total of 12 drivers have won their first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway:

• Martin Truex Jr. leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway without visiting Victory Lane at 39; followed by Michael McDowell with 27 and Austin Dillon (22).
• A total of 31 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway; 10 of the 31 are active this weekend.

Active Organization with Wins At Talladega Superspeedway

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins by an organization at Talladega Speedway with 14 victories among seven different drivers — Ken Schrader (1988), Jeff Gordon (1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007 sweep), Terry Labonte (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2011), Brian Vickers (2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Chase Elliott (2019, 2022).
• Nine different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Chevrolet with 44 wins; followed by Ford (32), Mercury (7), Buick (6), Oldsmobile (6), Toyota (6), Dodge (4), Plymouth (3), Pontiac (2).
• Chevrolet also leads the NASCAR Cup Series in consecutive wins at Talladega Superspeedway with 13 straight victories among five drivers from April 25, 1999 to May 1, 2005.

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 54 different drivers have finished runner-up at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart lead the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Talladega Superspeedway with six second-place finishes each.
• Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, William Byron and Kyle Busch lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with two runner-up finishes at Talladega Superspeedway each.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 129 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top fives with 23 top-five finishes.
• Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top fives at Talladega with 10 each.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 215 different drivers have finished in the top-10 at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top 10s with 27 top-10 finishes.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Talladega with 16.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finish:

• Pete Hamilton (five starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 5.6.
• Anthony Alfredo (3 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 9.333.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

• Chase Elliott (17 starts) leads all active Playoff drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 13.706.
• Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, the top three in average finish at Talladega (five races) is Ryan Blaney (7.2), Chase Elliott (8.4), William Byron (8.2), Todd Gilliland (12.8) and Alex Bowman (13.2, four races).

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 216 different drivers in series history have led at least one lap at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in laps led at Talladega with 1,377 in 44 starts.
• Joey Logano leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Talladega with 490 in 31 starts.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

• The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway by the race winner was 153 of the scheduled 188 laps (81.4%) by Pete Hamilton on August 23, 1970 — he started the race in the fourth position.
• The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway by a driver that did not win the race was 142 of the scheduled 192 laps (73.9%) by Matt Kenseth on May 5, 2013 — he started the race in the sixth position and finished eighth.
• Three times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway has led only one lap — the final lap:
  • Jeff Gordon in 2007, started 34th and led just the final lap to win the race beating his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson to the line by 0.66-second.
  • Brad Keselowski in 2009, started ninth and led just the final lap to win the race beating Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the line by 0.175-second.
  • Aric Almirola in 2018, started fourth and led just the final lap to win the race beating his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer by 0.105-second.
  • Brad Keselowski earlier this season, started 10th and led just the final lap to win the race beating William Byron to the line by 0.102-second.

TRACK / EVENT SPECIFIC STATS

• Three of the 110 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:

• Qualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway eight times: 2002 (Fall), 2009 (Fall), 2010 (Spring), 2013 (Spring & Fall), 2020 (Playoffs — Metric Qualifying), 2021 (April – Metric Qualifying) and 2021 (Playoffs — Metric Qualifying).
• There have been 18 NASCAR Cup Series races resulting in NASCAR Overtime at Talladega (the most of any track):

• Three times the NASCAR Cup Series race held at Talladega Superspeedway was not run on its originally scheduled date:
  • The April 27, 1997 race was postponed due to inclement weather to May 10, 1997 — Mark Martin won the event.
  • The April 26, 2020 race was postponed to June 22, 2020 due to the stoppage in sports as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — Ryan Blaney won the event.
  • The October 3, 2021 race was postponed to Oct. 4, 2021 (Monday) due to weather.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway is the April 17, 2011 race won by Jimmie Johnson over second-place Clint Bowyer with a Margin of Victory of 0.002 second — the MOV is tied with the 2003 Darlington race as the second closest finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series using electronic scoring — Kansas-1 (2024) holds the series MOV record at 0.001-second.

Top Five NASCAR Cup Series Margins of Victory at Talladega Superspeedway

FEMALE COMPETITOR STATS

• Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.

NASCAR IN ALABAMA

• There have been 183 NASCAR national series races held in the state of Alabama among seven different tracks:

• The very first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Alabama was a NASCAR Cup Series event held at Lakeview Speedway (Mobile) in 1951 — the race was won by Tim Flock (Oldsmobile).
• The first race held at Talladega Superspeedway was in 1969 — the event was won by Richard Brickhouse (Dodge).

ALABAMA DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 76 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Alabama.
• 11 drivers from Alabama have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series; seven have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison (Hueytown) is the winningest driver from Alabama posting the fourth most NASCAR Cup Series wins all-time at 84.

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