Talladega Superspeedway is without doubt one of the most unpredictable races on the NASCAR Cup Collection schedule, so it needs to be no shock {that a} dozen totally different drivers have secured their first — and in lots of instances solely — Cup win on the iconic observe.
It hasn’t occurred but within the Subsequent Gen period, however a number of drivers have been near turning into the thirteenth first-time winner at Dega. Of the 41 drivers on the entry checklist for this weekend’s race, 14 of them have but to win on the highest degree of the game.
Here is an in depth look again on the 12 drivers who did attain Victory Lane for the primary time of their Cup careers at Talladega, and the way they acquired the job performed:
Bubba Wallace — 2021
Bubba Wallace wins
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
How he gained: With rain threatening, there was wild motion all through the pack, and Wallace was amongst these attempting to make his technique to the entrance. He took the lead from Kurt Busch on Lap 113, and 5 laps later, a multi-car crash broke out in the course of the sphere. In the course of the warning, raindrops started to fall and the race by no means resumed. It was 23XI Racing’s first ever Cup win and Wallace made historical past as the primary Black driver to win a Cup race since Wendell Scott in 1964.
Profession past first win: Wallace now has three Cup wins, together with the 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. He simply made his three hundredth profession begin, and has positioned as excessive as tenth within the ultimate standings (2023).
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — 2017
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins
Picture by: David J. Griffin – Icon Sportswire – Getty Photographs
How he gained: Driving for Roush on the time, Stenhouse began the race from pole place and led the primary 13 laps of the race. Nonetheless, he didn’t lead one other lap till the very finish. In additional time, he handed Kyle Busch after which held again to the complete subject, blocking all throughout the observe as he captured the checkered flag.
Profession past first win: Stenhouse now has 4 Cup wins, together with the 2023 Daytona 500, however all of his Cup wins have come at superspeedways. His finest factors end result got here in 2017, putting thirteenth, and he now has practically 500 begins on the prime degree of the game.
Brad Keselowski — 2009
Brad Keselowski wins at Carl Edwards flips and Ryan Newman crashes
Picture by: Jerry Markland through Getty Photographs
How he gained: In one of many wildest finishes in Talladega historical past, the 2009 spring race featured tandem drafting, the place pairs of automobiles hooked collectively had been operating far quicker than a big pack ever might. On the finish, Keselowski, who was solely a part-time driver, making a begin with James Finch’s staff. They’d by no means gained earlier than, however he was second, pushing Carl Edwards on the ultimate lap. With the pair of Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. shut behind, Keselowski made his transfer, however Edwards blocked. Keselowski didn’t again down, sending Edwards spinning. his automobile lifted off the bottom and flew skyward after getting run into by Newman, slamming the wrong way up into the catch-fence. Keselowski gained the race, and Edwards jogged throughout from the end line after climbing from the wreckage.
Profession past first win: Keselowski is the one driver on this checklist who earned their first win at Talladega, after which went on to develop into a Cup Collection champion. He has a Corridor of Fame profession with over 600 begins and 36 profession wins, and has gained practically each crown jewel on the schedule barring the Daytona 500. He’s now the co-owner at RFK Racing as effectively.
Brian Vickers — 2006
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers
Picture by: Matthew Stockman / Getty Photographs
How he gained: One other dramatic, and controversial end. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was working with teammate Jimmie Johnson, and attempting to cross Dale Jr. on the ultimate lap. Johnson swung to the within of the enduring Budweiser No. 8, and Vickers tried to observe, however miscalculated. As an alternative, Vickers turned Johnson into the door of Earnhardt’s automobile, spinning each of them out and taking the lead because the warning flew. It was awkward technique to get your first win, and one which wasn’t very fashionable with the Talladega followers.
Profession past first win: Vickers gained three Cup wins, and positioned as excessive as twelfth within the standings in 2009. He 323 begins on the Cup degree, however his profession got here to a untimely finish because of a number of recurring blood clots within the early 2010s.
Kenny Schrader — 1988
Kenny Schrader wins
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: Earlier than Vickers, it’s important to return virtually 18 years to the earlier first-time winner at Talladega. It was one other Hendrick driver, operating fourth on the white flag. He made a daring cost to the surface of Geoff Bodine, Sterling Marlin, after which Dale Earnhardt himself to take the lead earlier than the exit of Flip 2. He then held the lead for the remainder of the lap as they battled two and three vast for the runner-up spot behind him.
Profession past first win: Schrader made 763 begins on the Cup degree — greater than every other driver on this checklist. His profession spanned from 1984 into 2013. He in the end gained a complete of 4 races, and positioned as excessive as fourth within the standings in 1994.
Phil Parsons — 1988
Phil Parsons wins
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: There have been two drivers to attain their first Cup win at Talladega throughout the 1988 season. Parsons was driving for Jackson Brothers Motorsports, and led over 50 laps within the spring race. He took the lead for the final time with 15 laps to go, after which held again Geoff Bodine and Bobby Allison via a late-race restart.
Profession past first win: Brother to Cup champion Benny Parsons, Phil ran 203 Cup races, and Talladega was his solely win on the pinnacle of inventory automobile racing. He positioned as excessive as ninth within the standings, additionally in 1988, however he by no means returned to Victory Lane in Cup once more.
Davey Allison — 1987
Davey Allison wins
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: A rising star on the time, this race was shortened by ten laps because of darkness, nevertheless it possible did not change the result. Allison was dominant, main over 100 laps. He snatched the lead from Dale Earnhardt with 9 laps to go and by no means seemed again in his blistering quick No. 28 Yates machine. This win got here in the identical race the place his legendary father Bobby flew into the catch-fence, which later brought about NASCAR to star proscribing the engines at superspeedways.
Profession past first win: A member of one of the crucial historic households in NASCAR historical past, Davey gained 19 Cup races in lower than 200 begins, profitable the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and maybe probably the most memorable All-Star Race with 1992’s ‘One Scorching Evening.’ Whereas he was actually on observe to develop into a Cup champion sooner or later, that by no means occurred. After putting third in factors in each 1991 and 1992, Allison died on the age of 32 in a helicopter crash. The tragic accident passed off whereas attempting to land within the Talladega infield.
Bobby Hillin Jr. — 1986
Bobby Hillin Jr wins
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: Hillin slid up in entrance of Tim Richmond with simply eight laps to go, and held the lead for the rest of the race. He needed to fend off a number of fees from these behind. On the ultimate lap, a crash for third broke the pack aside and Hillin held again Richmond within the race to the road, profitable for Stavola Brothers Racing.
Profession past first win: Hillin ran 334 Cup races between 1982 and 2000, putting as excessive as ninth in factors in 1986. Hillin’s Talladega victory was his solely win on the Cup degree.
Ron Bouchard — 1981
Ron Bouchard beats Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte in a photograph end
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: Bouchard was operating third behind Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip on the ultimate lap of the race. When Labonte moved to the surface of Waltrip within the tri-oval, Bouchard swung underneath each of them and the three drivers drag-raced to the road an exciting three-wide photograph end. Bouchard gained, simply a few week forward of Waltrip, who later stated he thought the No. 47 wasn’t even on the identical lap. It was the primary win for Jack Beebe as a automobile proprietor as effectively.
Profession past first win: In 160 Cup begins, Bouchard’s lone win got here at Talladega in his rookie season, in the end profitable Rookie of the Yr. He positioned as excessive as eighth within the standings in 1982. Bouchard handed away in 2015 on the age of 67 because of most cancers.
Lennie Pond — 1978
Lennie Pond wins
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: Pond took the lead with 5 laps to go and by no means relinquished it. He beat Donnie Allison by simply two automobile lengths on the end line, delivering staff proprietor Harry Ranier his first of two dozen Cup wins.
Profession past first win: Pond ran 234 Cup races, and his solely Cup win got here at Talladega. Regardless of that, he was a really constant driver and place with 39 prime fives, 88 prime tens, and 5 poles (all these poles got here in the identical season). He positioned as excessive as fifth within the standings in 1976, and was the 1973 Rookie of the Yr. Pond handed away in 2016 on the age of 76 after a battle with most cancers.
Dick Brooks — 1973
Dick Brooks wins
How he gained: Within the one and solely win for each Brooks and Crawford Racing, he took the lead from David Pearson with on an eight-to-go restart. Buddy Baker, whose automobile was smoking, completed second, however he was a full 7.2 seconds behind.
Profession past first win: Brooks was the 1969 Rookie of the Yr, and in 358 Cup begins, Talladega was his solely victory. He positioned as excessive as sixth within the standings in 1977, and recorded 57 prime fives and 150 prime tens in one other respectable profession. He handed away in 2006 on the age of 63 because of pneumonia, which adopted problems from a airplane crash a few years earlier.
Richard Brickhouse — 1969
Richard Brickhouse wins
Picture by: ISC Archives – Getty Photographs for NASCAR
How he gained: The winner of the first-ever NASCAR Cup race at Talladega. The occasion was notorious as many prime drivers boycotted it because of security causes. The race wasn’t any much less controversial, as Brickhouse handed Jim Vandiver with ten laps to go. Nonetheless, each Vandiver and even the commentators believes Brickhouse was solely unlapping himself when it seems that it was for the lead. Regardless of some push again from Vandiver, NASCAR asserted that there was no scoring error and the end result remained unchanged.
Profession past first win: Brickhouse solely made 39 begins on the Cup degree, however he’ll endlessly have the title because the inaugural Talladega winner. He by no means positioned increased than twenty fifth in factors, however he additionally by no means accomplished a full season of Cup Collection competitors.
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