LINCOLN, Ala. — The NASCAR Xfinity Series is racing on the big, wide and fast Talladega Superspeedway for the fifth race of the playoffs.
Follow here for live race updates on the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway.
Who won the stages in today’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Talladega?
Austin Hill won both stages in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega. He did that back in 2022 — but did not win.
STAGE TWO TOP-10 (LAP 50): Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Jesse Love, Aric Almirola, Sammy Smith, Daniel Dye, Jeb Burton.
STAGE ONE TOP-10 (LAP 25): Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Connor Zilisch, Aric Almirola, Sammy Smith, Blaine Perkins, Dean Thompson, Carson Kvapil, William Sawalich.
FINAL STAGE
The final stage ends on lap 94, the scheduled endpoint of the race. Sunset is at 7 p.m. ET, which is just an hour away. They will need to get these final 40 laps in quickly.
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STAGE TWO Winner: Austin Hill
Photo by Marcus Leno/TRE
STAGE TWO TOP-10 (LAP 50): Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Jesse Love, Aric Almirola, Sammy Smith, Daniel Dye, Jeb Burton.
LAP 48: Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, Austin Hill, Nick Sanchez, Aric Almirola, Jesse Love, Jeb Burton, Joey Gase and Blaine Perkins is the top 10 with two to go in the stage.
LAP 45: Dean Thompson, William Sawalich, Connor Zilisch, Connor Mosack and Leland Honeyman Jr. have crashed in turn one. Zilisch’s top-five finish streak could come to an end at 18.
LAP 44: Taylor Gray to pit road with a mechanical issue that could be terminal. In the pack, Jesse Love is back to 10th. Aric Almirola took the middle lane and is up to fifth. They are racing hard!
LAP 41: Justin Allgaier takes the lead but Austin Hill on the inside lane and Christian Eckes are hot on his heels. Allgaier and teammate Connor Zilisch could possibly each clinch a Championship 4 spot today.
Connor Zilisch clears Jesse Love for the lead, lap 33! That was impressive! Now Love takes it back and leads lap 34.
The second stage ends on lap 50. The winner of the second stage of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega has gone on to win in two of the last four races — Austin Hill (April 2025), Jeb Burton (April 2023).
Joseph Eigo/TRE
STAGE ONE Winner: Austin Hill
Photo by Dominic Aragon/TRE
STAGE ONE TOP-10 (LAP 25): Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Connor Zilisch, Aric Almirola, Sammy Smith, Blaine Perkins, Dean Thompson, Carson Kvapil, William Sawalich.
LAP 24: Jesse Love for the lead after getting pushed out of line by Justin Allgaier. They pushed Love out of line again as here comes Connor Zilisch with new tires.
LAP 22: Hill and Love lead but here comes Kvapil!
LAP 20: Nick Sanchez, Austin Hill, William Sawalich, Jesse Love, Connor Mosack, Justin Allgaier, Christian Eckes, Aric Almirola, Sammy Smith and Carson Kvapil make up the top 10 on the track coming to the green on lap 21. Sam Mayer is done for the day.
LAP 18: Red flag is lifted and 88 54 26 53 pit, among others. Connor Zilisch, in the 88 car, could possibly clinch a spot in the Championship 4 after Talladega. He needs to be 60 points ahead of the first driver above the cutline to do so.
CBS Sports’ Steven Taranto shared these photos on social media of Creed’s car going to the garage during the red flag:
LAP 17: Sheldon Creed is destroyed after hitting the wall basically head-on, Brandon Jones is in it, as is Sam Mayer, Harrison Burton, Jordan Anderson and others. That started when Jeb Burton gave a bad push to Creed when the line accordioned. Ryan Sieg, Jeremy Clements, Brenden Queen and others got a piece of that.
LAP 16: Nick Sanchez to the lead! He takes it from Jesse Love who he had beef with last week as the big one breaks out in the tri-oval!
LAP 10: The two outside lanes dropped back with some siding and moving. Now, Austin Hill and Aric Almirola go to the outside lane to renew the effort and go to the lead. Jesse Love successfully defended the lead.
LAP 7: William Sawalich clears Jesse Love but Love fights back. The third lane is moving, now up to the third car on the inside lanes.
LAP 5: William Sawalich for the lead with Carson Kvapil pushing
LAP 4: Jesse Love leads after William Sawalich led lap 1. They are racing two-wide for about six rows and then they are three-wide. Sheldon Creed leads the third lane.
Blaine Perkins, Taylor Gray and Mason Maggio will go to the rear of the field for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega. Jesse Love will lead them and others to the green flag.
The first stage ends on lap 25. The winner of the first stage of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega has gone on to win the race just twice in the last 10 races — Jesse Love (April 2024), Justin Haley (June 2020).
Joseph Eigo/TRE
RACE INFO
Photo: Dominic Aragon/TRE
Eight drivers could earn a Championship 4 berth Saturday with a win — but 30 other drivers will be going after that too.
Richard Childress Racing drivers Austin Hill and Jesse Love have won the last two spring Talladega races, while Sammy Smith won here a year ago. Love and Smith are still in driver’s championship contention.
Lineup: