The playoffs’ round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte Roval is just around the corner, however, NASCAR fans are still buzzing after the intense superspeedway showdown in Alabama. The 500-mile race concluded in a heart-pounding side-by-side race to the finish line. What was anticipated to be a classic Chevy versus Ford showdown took an unexpected turn when the final lap began, with Team Penske‘s Ryan Blaney and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick leading the charge.

Ryan Blaney, who led only for 8 laps, clinched his 3rd Talladega win, narrowly edging out Harvick with a mere 0.012-second margin. Even after the chequered flag waved more drama unfolded as the Stewart-Haas Racing veteran did not end the race in P2.

Twists, turns, and turmoil: Talladega’s unpredictable showdown

Amid the post-race turmoil in Talladega, Harvick seemed poised for a solid P2 finish. However, post-race, his hopes were dashed as he was disqualified due to an unexpected issue: the #4 Ford’s windshield wipers were not properly secured. This in turn pushed the lone Toyota driver in the Top 10, Denny Hamlin, into a surprising P3 finish.

Denny Hamlin’s journey to the podium was far from smooth sailing. Mid-race, he found himself trailing the front runners, a whole lap behind. All because of a speeding penalty on Lap 105, which saw him dropping to 33rd place and off the lead lap. But, a chance at redemption came when a multi-car wreck unfolded, damaging the safer barrier and prompting a 10-minute red flag period. This granted him a free pass to restart the race along with the rest of the pack.

This chaotic incident however marked a tragic turn in Brad Keselowski‘s day. Despite winning Stage 2 and collecting crucial points, his race ended prematurely on Lap 163. In a bold attempt to push rookie Carson Hocevar on the outer lane, Keselowski’s move backfired as Hocevar lost control. The ensuing mayhem collected several other drivers, with Keselowski’s car spinning dangerously towards the inside wall before finally coming to a rest on the track.

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Talladega once again lived up to its reputation for unpredictability. The 188 laps witnessed 70 lead changes and an action-packed spectacle. Fans wasted no time in tearing Twitter apart with their opinions, debating whether the race was a snoozefest or an absolute banger.

Talladega’s polarizing spectacle ignites debate in the NASCAR community

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In the wake of the Yellawood 500, the battleground was set on social media igniting a storm of opinions among racing enthusiasts. One fan commented, “For anybody that voted no, I would like to know why?” The race witnessed 4 cautions, 7 DNFs, and fire in the pitlane, which had some declaring it as the “best Gen7 race at Dega.”

Echoing the sentiment of those who found the race to be an exhilarating spectacle with the photo finish being the icing on the cake., “Heck yes,” exclaimed another fan, “because they were three wides for multiple laps and a photo finish!” 

Yet, not everyone’s glasses are rose-colored. Critics argued that modern cars struggled on superspeedways, with one fan advising, “For all the yes voters, go watch the 2000 Talladega race, it blows yesterday’s “race” away. These cars absolutely suck on superspeedways.” They lamented the strategic nature of the race, where track position seemed to be king.

Another critic shared, “I thought it was mostly boring. Track position races at superspeedways are not ideal. As some drivers said, 3rd lane only worked if the other two lines were on fuel save, and as soon as they picked up the pace the 3rd line dropped like a rock.”

Another added, “Nothing really happened and then we had a good finish. I dunno, these races bore the shot out of me even when there’s consistent two, three wide racing. Eventually, you realize how few of the laps in these races actually matter.”

Kyle Busch “Pegged” Ahead of Talladega, Exposing the Unfortunate Reality of the Next Gen Car

As the superspeedway left fans split in their opinions, we now turn our attention to the final race on the calendar before the playoff round of 8 grid is unveiled.