NASCAR News: Cindric wins Cup Race photo finish at Talladega

Helped by a big push from Kyle Larson, Team Penske’s Austin Cindric nipped RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece at the start/finish line to capture the Jack Link’s 500 NASCAR Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday.

The win was Cindric’s third of his NASCAR Cup Series career and his first since World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in June 2024.

Preece finished runner-up, with Kyle Larson, William Byron and Joey Logano rounding out the top five.

Noah Gragson, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace completed the top 10.

Polesitter Zane Smith ran near the front most of the race, but faded to 21st at the finish.

Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney were dealt irreparable damage after a Lap 43 wreck while slowing down to enter pit lane, while Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher suffered heavy damage following a spin on Lap 52.

“I’m just so proud of this team from the [pit] cycles to the fast cars to the fuel-only stops,” said the 26-year old Cindric, whose team — with 17 laps remaining — turned in the fastest final pit stop putting him back out front and able to contend for the win in a race that featured 67 lead changes among 23 drivers.

“It definitely wasn’t easy,” Cindric said of holding off the Hendrick teammates for the checkered flag. “I give a lot of credit, Kyle [Larson] did a lot to take care of me, pushing me at the right times in the tri-oval, and as mad as I was at him after Atlanta [race], I feel like we’re good now. That was great and having a photo-finish at Talladega and get in the playoffs in front of this amazing crowd, beautiful day in Alabama.”

As thrilling as the win was for Cindric, it was a heartbreaking runner-up for the 34-year-old Preece, who came a literal split-second away from his first Cup Series victory.

“I’m happy, but as a racer, you want to win, right?” Preece said. “Coming through the tri-oval, I felt like, all right, we’re all sticking together, and nobody was leaving me.

“It’s not easy. I felt like this was the most aggressive I’ve raced on a superspeedway and really pushing the issues because you’ve got to figure out who’s gonna have that fast car, and obviously, it was all Fords today. The right holes opened at the right times, but ultimately, just 22 thousandths short.”

Kyle Larson had a fast car but failed to win. “I wanted to take it, but just felt like the gap was too big,” said Larson, who ran directly behind Cindric in the closing laps. “I was just second row inside and just going to do everything I could to try and advance our lane and maybe open it up so maybe then I could get to the outside, but we were all pushing so equally that it kept the lanes kind of jammed up.

“I needed something else to kinda happen, maybe them to get blocking each other or something, but still a great day. A stage win, P3 in the second stage, and P3 in the final, so great points day and best career finish on a superspeedway, so happy with the performance in the Hendricks.com Chevy.”

2025 Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Race Results