NASCAR News: Stenhouse wins photo finish Cup race at Talladega

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway in a photo finish by 0.006s over Brad Keselowski.

Stenhouse Jr. survived the late-race calamity that struck with five laps to go and involved eight playoff drivers. The ‘Big One’ came after Austin Cindric got spun from the lead after an aggressive push, triggering a 23-car pileup on the backstretch.

Stenhouse Jr. earned his second win at Talladega and first there since 2017. The victory is also Stenhouse’s first since winning the 2023 Daytona 500.

William Byron, Kyle Larson and Erik Jones rounded out the top five.

Christopher Bell, Justin Haley, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin all completed the top 10.

With his third-place result, William Byron becomes the first driver to lock into the Round of 8 thanks to the points buffer he attained by the checkered flag of Sunday’s race.

Defending race winner and reigning champion Ryan Blaney was on pace for solid points day until a push from the No. 48 of Alex Bowman sent the No. 12 Ford out of shape and wrecking into Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano on the final lap of Stage 2, ending Blaney’s day and scored with a 39th-place finish in a 40-car field.

The Round of 12 concludes next Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course

ANOTHER PHOTO FINISH AT TALLADEGA!

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. WINS by 0.006 seconds over Brad Keselowski. |#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/nTdbahfbdZ

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 6, 2024

Winner Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Boy, Ricky, 6 one thousandths of a second. What was your take on that final really half lap?

RICKY STENHOUSE JR.: It felt really good. We had our Chevy teammates behind us, and I was hoping Kyle wasn’t going to push the 6 that hard. I knew the 24 was probably going to try and get to the line there.

But, man, this team has put a lot of hard work in. Obviously we haven’t won since the 500 in ’23. It’s been an up-and-down season.

It was a lot of hard work this season just trying to find a little bit of speed, but we knew that this track is one of ours to come get. So for all of our Southern Mississippi people, appreciate you all coming. This means a lot, winning here.

Got to say we’re thinking about everybody in Western North Carolina. Brad Dougherty, his family right where he grew up there in Black Mountain, a lot of people are struggling.

I wish my wife and son, Stetson, were here. They didn’t come this weekend. I’ll see you all at home, and man, what I day.

Just proud of this group. The whole Kroger, Palmolive, NOS Energy Drink. There are so many people. SunnyD. There are so many people that helped this. You know, Campers Inn. Man, there’s just so many great product partners in this Kroger program. Glad to give them another win.

THE MODERATOR: Madyson and Stetson didn’t make the trip, but what do you think that hug is going to be like from the big guy when he is back at the track, Brad Dougherty?

RICKY STENHOUSE JR.: Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing him. I’m looking forward to going to North Carolina and helping the clean-up. We’re working on that you now with Team Rubicon to go out there and help clean-up. Looking forward to that. This win is really, really special.

1. What a finish. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gets back to victory lane here at Talladega.

2024 YellaWood 500 at Talladega Race Results