Ever since the 16-driver Playoffs were introduced back in 2014, the biggest problem I had with the reworked 10-race, four round format was the fact that Talladega was a deciding race in the second round.
I had an enormous problem with this because in order for some drivers to advance into the third round, they had to rely on the trust of the remaining field to make the right maneuvers, and the right decisions, because the fact is the way the field is decided is out of the control of the driver at the wheel.
Frankly, I hated this decision and was one that was pushing for it to change.
This year, NASCAR made the smart decision of making this race the second one in the second round. Smart move, because now at least teams that are possibly outside the cutoff now have a chance to make a move in the final race of the round to actually keep their title hopes alive. More importantly, they can do so under their own control, rather than at the control and mercy of so many other factors.
But, at the same time, it’s still a race that can cause many troubles for the playoff drivers.
In Sunday’s race alone there were multiple wrecks that took out several cars, one that took out 16 drivers, six of them being drivers who are in the playoffs. It also included three red flags, meaning a lot of stoppages and a lot of time to contemplate what could, and ultimately would happen.
Let’s face it, Talladega is always going to be an unpredictable, unavoidable, and calamity can occur literally the moment the green flag waves.
You all know from reading my column that I have been to this track, and although I have gained more respect for it, especially with the fact the draft has changed so much since I was there, but not once have I said I no longer fear this place. I still do, and probably always will.
But, I can rest easier knowing there is still one race remaining in this round before the Playoff field goes from 12 drivers down to eight.
STAGE 1 WINNER: Brad Keselowski
STAGE 2 WINNER: Ryan Blaney
RESULTS: 1-Keselowski 2-Newman 3-Bayne 4-Logano 5-Almirola 6-Hamlin 7-Earnhardt Jr. 8-Kahne 9-Gaulding 10-Ragan
NOTABLE FINISHES: 13-Larson 14-Kenseth 16-Elliott 18-Blaney 20-Harvick 23-Truex Jr. 24-Johnson 26-Stenhouse Jr. 27-Kyle Busch 37-McMurray
CAUTIONS: 11 for 47 laps. Laps: 27-36 (1, 15, 18, 33 and 77 Incident-FS); 52-54 (27 Incident-T3); 57-61 (Stage 1 Conclusion); 82-87 (Debris-BS); 112-115 (Stage 2 Conclusion); 153-155 (6, 19, 41 and 88 Incident-T3); 157-159 (14, 43, 47, 72, 83 and 95 Incident-T1); 166-170 (23, 55 and 83 Incident-T2); 173-176 (3, 4, 10, 13, 17, 18, 20, 32, 34, 38, 41, 48, 75, 78, 88 and 95 Incident-T3 [Red Flag: Lap 173, 12 Mins, 31 Secs.]); 179-180 (4, 6, 21, 22 and 75 Incident-T3 [Red Flag: Lap 179, 5 Mins, 45 Secs.]); 184-185 (5, 19, 24, 37,
42 and 88 Incident-T3 [Red Flag: Lap 184, 17 Mins, 14 Secs.]).
LEAD CHANGES: 30 among 16 drivers. D. Earnhardt Jr. POLE; J. Logano 1-13; D. Earnhardt Jr. 14-20; C. Elliott 21-25; M. Kenseth 26-29; A. Allmendinger 30; J. Logano 31-54; B. Keselowski 55-57; K. Kahne 58-61; M. Kenseth 62-63; D. Hamlin 64-66; M. Kenseth 67; K. Kahne 68; B. Gaughan 69-70; M. DiBenedetto 71-82; R. Stenhouse Jr. 83-88; K. Busch 89-91; R. Blaney 92-111; R. Newman 112; B. Gaughan 113-116; D. Hamlin 117; R. Blaney 118-124; C. Elliott 125-144; K. Busch 145-148; J. Logano 149-170; D. Suarez 171-176; C. Elliott 177; D. Suarez 178-182; B. Keselowski 183-185; R. Newman 186-187; B. Keselowski 188.
TIME OF RACE: 3 Hrs, 47 Mins, 52 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED: 131.677 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.210 Seconds
PLAYOFF STANDINGS: 1. Truex Jr, 3120*; 2. Keselowski, -19*; 3. Larson, -24; 4. Harvick, -31; 5. Hamlin, -32; 6. Elliott, -33; 7. Blaney, -44; 8. Johnson, -46; 9. Kyle Busch, -53; 10. Kenseth, -54; 11. Stenhouse Jr, -68; 12. McMurray, -75; 13. Kahne, -1016; 14. Newman, -1017; 15. Dillon, -1021; 16. Kurt Busch, -1031.
*Locked into third round of Playoffs
