Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR
Despite Hendrick controlling the final restart, it was Chase Briscoe who dashed to the front to win his way into the Championship 4 in Talladega.
It was Briscoe’s third win of the year and first at a superspeedway.
As it unfolded
For the second year in a row, Michael McDowell led the field away for the Fall Talladega race. Within two laps, Josh Berry found his way up front.
Kyle Busch, with help from Shane van Gisbergen, saw his way into the lead on Lap 19. The field then spread out single-file.
Green flag pit stops for fuel began on Lap 43 with the Toyotas and a few scattered Fords. When everything cycled out, Noah Gragson held the lead over Joey Logano and AJ Allmendinger.
Notably, Chase Briscoe suffered a penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
The first caution for cause came out on Lap 52 with only nine laps remaining in the stage. In Turn 3, Noah Gragson received a tap from Erik Jones that sent him into a spin in front of the pack. This crash collected Justin Haley, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse and others.
Logano led the way with only two laps remaining in Stage 1. But, Ty Gibbs managed to hang on for stage victory. Tyler Reddick and John Hunter Nemechek followed suit.
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 45 – Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 23 – Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)
No. 22 – Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 38 – Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 71 – Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)
No. 77 – Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)
No. 20 – Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
Chris Buescher led the field back to green on Lap 66. Only two laps later though, Josh Berry and Kyle Busch found their way back out front.
The field remained clean all the way through green flag pit stops on Lap 101.
When the main pack came down pit road, Shane van Gisbergen locked the rears and spun on entry. Although Van Gisbergen suffered no damage, his tyres went flat and caused him to stop in the grass. The caution came out.
Chase Briscoe led the way with only a few laps remaining in Stage 2, and he held on to take victory over Kyle Larson and Carson Hocevar.
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 5 – Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 77 – Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)
No. 24 – William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 20 – Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 34 – Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 48 – Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
Nemechek led the way on Lap 127.
Logano and Ryan Blaney each found their way to the front by Lap 135.
Just before pit stops began, a spin by Cody Ware with only 23 laps to go brought out the caution.
Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland led the way with 17 laps remaining.
The jostling for the lead continued for 15 laps, but with two laps to go, the battle for the lead proved too much for Chris Buescher, who was spun from the lead by William Byron. This set up a NASCAR overtime attempt.
Byron and Larson led the way with only two laps remaining. Whilst the two Hendrick cars were shuffled out of line – with Byron notably spinning through the tri-oval on the final lap – Chase Briscoe snuck through to take a season-saving victory.
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 34 – Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 23 – Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)
No. 41 – Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)
No. 77 – Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)
No. 45 – Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
No. 20 – Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 38 – Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 6 – Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)
No. 88 – Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 99 – Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 1 – Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 60 – Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
No. 22 – Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 71 – Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)
No. 66 – Casey Mears (Garage 66)
No. 8 – Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 10 – Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing)
No. 62 – Anthony Alfredo (Beard Motorsports)
No. 33 – Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 11 – Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 24 – William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 5 – Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 3 – Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 78 – BJ McLeod (Live Fast Motorsports)
No. 48 – Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 17 – Chris Buescher (RFK Racing) [DNF]
No. 51 – Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) [DNF]
No. 35 – Riley Herbst (23XI Racing) [DNF]
No. 21 – Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) [DNF]
No. 2 – Austin Cindric (Team Penske) [DNF]
No. 43 – Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club) [DNF]
No. 4 – Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) [DNF]
No. 16 – AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]
No. 47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Hyak Motorsports) [DNF]
No. 7 – Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports) [DNF]
No. 9 – Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [DNF] [Playoffs]
After a chaotic event in Talladega, the new playoff standings are as follows:
Provisional Playoff Grid:
No. 11 – Denny Hamlin: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]
No. 20 – Christopher Bell: +37
No. 5 – Kyle Larson: +36
No. 24 – William Byron: -36
No. 22 – Joey Logano: -38
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney: -47
No. 9 – Chase Elliott: -62