Daytona Motor Mouths: Kurt Busch to NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2026?
Will the NASCAR Cup Sequence return to Rockingham within the close to future? What about Kurt Busch and his 2026 Corridor of Fame possibilities?
Austin Cindric snapped a 30-race winless streak with a victory at Talladega Superspeedway.Kyle Larson earned his greatest profession end at Talladega (third).
Wait. What is that this?
Clear racing late at Talladega Superspeedway?
The situations felt ripe for mayhem throughout Sunday’s Jack Hyperlink’s 500 — No. 1, as a result of situations are at all times ripe for mayhem at ’Dega, and No. 2, as a result of the Cup Sequence drivers might’ve been somewhat rusty and somewhat antsy after NASCAR paused for Easter final week.
It was aggressive. Twenty-three automobiles led laps.
However the Large One by no means arrived, and the ultimate minutes went off with out a hitch. Austin Cindric beat Ryan Preece by a foot or two to take the checkers.
And a Kyle Larson third-place end at a superspeedway?
Let’s speak about it.
1. Austin Cindric wins at Talladega
In his No. 2 Ford, Cindric claimed the lead after the quickest pit cease within the final cease of the race and prevailed by 0.022 seconds over Preece. He fronted the pack for seven whole laps.
The 26-year-old additionally snapped a 30-race winless streak courting again to his victory in final June’s Get pleasure from Illinois 300 at World Extensive Know-how Raceway. His first profession win got here within the 2022 Daytona 500.
Previous to Sunday, he had tallied two top-10s in six profession Cup Sequence begins at Talladega.
“We speak about in each single a type of conferences why we haven’t received one in every of these races,” stated Cindric, who started seventh. “Simply actually happy with the hassle.”
2. Kyle Larson turns in trend-bucking superspeedway efficiency
Larson gave Cindric a rear bump on the ultimate lap, making an attempt to create a window for a successful transfer.
It didn’t work. Larson trailed Cindric on the within and settled into third. However it was a step in the appropriate path.
Larson, who received two weeks in the past at Bristol, entered this weekend with 42 Cup Sequence begins at Talladega and its sister observe, Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
With zero wins and simply two top-fives.
Sunday, he secured his first profession stage win at Talladega, capturing Stage 1, and submitted his greatest end ever on the observe. Not too shabby.
3. From Talladega to Texas for NASCAR
It would not decelerate subsequent week as NASCAR turns left and heads west to Texas Motor Speedway.
The observe in Fort Price is 1½-miles round, greater than a mile shorter than Talladega, however get this: It is quicker. Why? No restrictor-plate guidelines.
Anyway, all three collection — Cup, Xfinity and Vans — waltz throughout Texas subsequent week. And whereas it’s going to be quicker in a miles-per-hour sense, it’s going to be somewhat extra sane with out the plate-racin’ guidelines bundle.
— Ken Willis contributed to this story.
