The 2024 GEICO 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 21, 2024, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66 mile (4.28 km) superspeedway, it was the 10th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Tyler Reddick won the race. Brad Keselowski finished 2nd, and Noah Gragson finished 3rd. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five, and Anthony Alfredo, William Byron, Todd Gilliland, Daniel Hemric, and Harrison Burton rounded out the top ten.
Report
Background
Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, 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. A tri-oval, the track was constructed in 1969 by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking. The track currently hosts NASCAR's Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which is 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km).
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Noah Gragson 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 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 Shane van Gisbergen (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Ryan Preece Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 62 Anthony Alfredo (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Qualifying Michael McDowell scored the pole for the race with a time of 52.609 and a speed of .
Kyle Larson was on the pit-road to put down a qualifying lap but Nascar officials saw something with his car and pulled him to the garage. He was not allowed to qualify as the team made an unapproved adjustment to the roof rails as they pushed the car to the grid.
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 52.741 52.609 2 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 53.020 52.691 3 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 53.000 52.789 4 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.970 52.863 5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.086 52.969 6 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.048 52.992 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 53.027 53.044 8 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 53.122 53.119 9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.168 53.122 10 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.120 53.198 11 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.175 — 12 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.183 — 13 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 53.185 — 14 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 53.186 — 15 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.208 — 16 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 53.211 — 17 16 Shane van Gisbergen (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.226 — 18 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 53.262 — 19 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.298 — 20 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 53.306 — 21 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 53.320 — 22 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 53.322 — 23 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 53.407 — 24 62 Anthony Alfredo (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 53.411 — 25 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 53.414 — 26 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.455 — 27 51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford 53.478 — 28 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 53.480 — 29 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.487 — 30 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 53.532 — 31 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 53.543 — 32 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 53.590 — 33 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 53.686 — 34 15 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 53.720 — 35 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 53.767 — 36 10 Noah Gragson Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 53.811 — 37 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 54.290 — 38 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 0.000 — Official qualifying results
Race
Race results Coming to the checkers, Michael McDowell put a bad block on Brad Keselowski in the tri-oval, triggering a massive wreck behind the leaders, with one car flipping and finishing the race on its side. Tyler Reddick would steal the win from Keselowski and take 23XI Racing to victory lane for the first time in 2024, and the 2nd time at Talladega.
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 60
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 102 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 75 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 66 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 57 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 39 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 210 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 60
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 102 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 93 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 75 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 66 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 57 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 48 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 210 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 68
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 18 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 188 47 2 22 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 188 38 3 36 10 Noah Gragson Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 34 4 33 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 188 335 12 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 33 6 24 62 Anthony Alfredo (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 188 0 7 13 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 38 8 3 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 188 29 9 19 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 188 28 10 16 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 188 32 11 6 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 2612 26 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 25 13 32 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 188 30 14 11 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 2515 9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 34 16 29 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 188 21 17 35 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 188 20 18 31 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 188 19 19 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 188 28 20 21 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 188 2421 38 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 24 22 15 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 188 16 23 2 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 188 33 24 34 15 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 188 13 25 8 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 188 16 26 25 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 188 11 27 4 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 1628 17 16 Shane van Gisbergen (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 188 0 29 30 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 188 830 5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 14 31 1 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 187 6 32 37 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 187 033 20 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 184 4 34 27 51 Justin Haley Rick Ware Racing Ford 184 3 35 28 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 154 2 36 14 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 154 1 37 23 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 154 1 38 10 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 132 5 Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 73 among 23 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 4 for 21 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 13 minutes and 29 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television Fox Sports covered their 24th race at the Talladega Superspeedway. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and 2010 spring Talladega winner Kevin Harvick called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims handled pit road for the television side, and Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.
FoxBooth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst Lap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Clint BowyerColor-commentator: Kevin Harvick Jamie LittleRegan SmithJosh Sims Larry McReynolds
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, & former championship winning crew chief Todd Gordon called the race in the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field raced down the backstretch and Jason Toy called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 4 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Steve Post, Kim Coon, Paul Small and Chris Wilner worked pit road for the radio side for MRN.
MRN RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff StriegleAnnouncer: Todd Gordon Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyBackstretch: Mike BagleyTurns 3 & 4: Jason Toy Steve PostKim CoonPaul SmallChris Wilner
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Kyle Larson 359 2 Martin Truex Jr. 344 (–15) 1 3 Chase Elliott 337 (–22) 1 4 William Byron 335 (–24) 3 5 Tyler Reddick 316 (–43) 3 6 Denny Hamlin 308 (–51) 7 Ryan Blaney 302 (–57) 2 8 Ty Gibbs 296 (–63) 2 9 Ross Chastain 277 (–82) 4 10 Alex Bowman 261 (–98) 2 11 Bubba Wallace 257 (–102) 12 Chase Briscoe 256 (–103) 3 13 Christopher Bell 255 (–104) 3 14 Brad Keselowski 254 (–105) 15 Joey Logano 245 (–114) 3 16 Chris Buescher 245 (–114)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 371 2 Toyota 362 (–9) 3 Ford 332 (–39)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
References