TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 13: A general view of the grandstands during Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 13, 2019, in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
TALLADEGA, Ala – In a helter-skelter finish at the end of lap 55, William Byron held the lead to win Stage 1 of Sunday’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway to advance his cause in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 12: Spencer Boyd, driver of the #20 Alabama Roofing Professionals Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Sugarland Shine 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 12, 2019, in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Johnny Sauter did a celebratory burnout. He collected the checkered flag from the flag stand at Talladega Superspeedway.
But Sauter didn’t win Saturday’s Sugarland Shine 250 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Playoff race at the 2.66-mile track. A penalty for blocking Riley Herbst below the yellow line in the final 200 yards of the event cost Sauter the victory and made an unlikely winner of Spencer Boyd.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 29: William Byron, driver of the #24 UniFirst Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 29, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
CONCORD, N.C. – Compared with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman’s stress-laden run to a berth in the Round of 12 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, pole winner William Byron’s path to advancement was relatively pressure-free.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 29: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush/Cummins Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 29, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Clint Bowyer had to restrain himself from his typically aggressive approach to driving in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and it paid off on Sunday with a berth in the Round of 12 of the series Playoffs.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Duracell Ford, during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 28, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Defending race winner Ryan Blaney didn’t have a smooth afternoon in Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, but he salvaged an eighth-place finish-with the help of two timely cautions—and advanced to the second round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.