The 2022 YellaWood 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 2, 2022, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested for 188 laps on the asphalt superspeedway, it was the 31st race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, fifth race of the Playoffs and second race of the Round of 12. Chase Elliott won the race, his fifth of the season, and 18th of his career.
Report
Background
Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a tri-oval.
Noah Gragson replaced Alex Bowman in the No. 48 car after Bowman suffered from concussion-like symptoms sustained after a rear impact crash on the previous race. Gragson had originally been intended to drive the No. 62 car for this race; Justin Allgaier replaced Gragson in the No. 62 car.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 62 Justin Allgaier (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team ChevroletOfficial entry list
Qualifying Christopher Bell scored the pole for the race with a time of 53.026 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.228 53.026 2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.232 53.048 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.117 53.076 4 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.339 53.166 5 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.202 53.268 6 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 53.282 53.320 7 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.415 53.356 8 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.327 53.388 9 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.410 53.434 10 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 53.345 0.000 11 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 53.422 — 12 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 53.427 — 13 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.433 — 14 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 53.453 — 15 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 53.459 — 16 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.461 — 17 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 53.465 — 18 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 53.468 — 19 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 53.471 — 20 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.493 — 21 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.500 — 22 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.504 — 23 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 53.551 — 24 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.570 — 25 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 53.609 — 26 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.668 — 27 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 53.680 — 28 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.709 — 29 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 53.764 — 30 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 53.781 — 31 62 Justin Allgaier (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 53.862 — 32 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 54.053 — 33 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 54.086 — 34 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 54.098 — 35 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 54.740 — 36 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 54.936 — 37 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 54.940 — Official qualifying results
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 60
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 102 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 75 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 66 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 57 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 010 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 60
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 93 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 75 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 66 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 57 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 08 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 39 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 010 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 68
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 16 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 582 19 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 188 453 29 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 188 344 6 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 188 385 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 416 12 43 Erik Jones Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 188 387 34 38 Todd Gilliland (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 188 308 14 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 188 369 17 2 Austin Cindric (R) Team Penske Ford 188 3510 5 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 2811 33 77 Landon Cassill (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 188 012 9 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 2513 20 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 2414 4 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 2315 21 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 188 3116 27 45 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 188 2117 1 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 2018 2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 3019 7 48 Noah Gragson (i) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 020 26 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 2121 28 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 1622 25 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 188 2023 30 42 Ty Dillon Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet 188 1424 18 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 188 1325 23 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 188 1526 22 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 1127 11 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 188 1628 8 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 187 929 24 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 187 830 31 62 Justin Allgaier (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 186 031 36 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 184 032 37 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 184 533 35 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 182 034 13 16 Daniel Hemric (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 179 035 32 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 44 236 15 21 Harrison Burton (R) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 23 137 10 23 Ty Gibbs (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 23 0Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 57 among 17 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 6 for 25 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 15 minutes and 23 seconds Average speed:
Penalties Kevin Harvick, finishing 29th and already eliminated from the playoffs, was docked 100 owner and driver points when the NASCAR R&D Center discovered illegal alterations to his car's body. His crew chief Rodney Childers was also suspended for four races and fined $100,000. The points penalty meant Harvick had less than 2,000 points (playoff drivers are reset to 2,000 points, plus any bonus points) in the standings as an eliminated playoff driver.
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and six-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
NBCBooth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsKim CoonParker KligermanMarty Snider
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace called the race for MRN when the field races thru the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the action from turn 1, Mike Bagley called the action for MRN when the field races down the backstraightaway, and Dan Hubbard called the race from the Sunoco tower just outside of turn 4. Steve Post, Alex Weaver, Brienne Pedigo, and Jason Toy called the action for MRN from pit lane.
MRN Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff StriegleAnnouncer: Rusty Wallace Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyBackstretch: Mike BagleyTurns 3 & 4: Dan Hubbard Steve PostAlex WeaverBrienne PedigoJason Toy
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 6 1 Chase Elliott 3,103 3 2 Ryan Blaney 3,101 (–2) 1 3 Ross Chastain 3,097 (–6) 2 4 Denny Hamlin 3,090 (–13) 4 5 Joey Logano 3,087 (–16) 2 6 Kyle Larson 3,087 (–16) 4 7 William Byron 3,083 (–20) 8 Daniel Suárez 3,081 (–22) 1 9 Austin Cindric 3,069 (–34) 1 10 Chase Briscoe 3,069 (–34) 11 Christopher Bell 3,036 (–67) 12 Alex Bowman 3,015 (–88) 13 Tyler Reddick 2,116 (–987) 14 Austin Dillon 2,107 (–996) 15 Kyle Busch 2,089 (–1,014) 16 Kevin Harvick 1,971 (–1,132)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 1,147 2 Ford 1,069 (–78) 3 Toyota 1,013 (–134)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes
References