Victory at the finish for Chase Elliott at Talladega

In a split second, Chase Elliott jumped on the final lap on the best racing line to win that round, becoming the first playoff-qualified driver this season to win a playoff race.

Talladega is a must-see stop on the calendar NASCAR © Sean Gardner/Getty Images

We were expecting an elimination race on the biggest circuit of the year, the endless asphalt ribbon of Talladega Superspeedway, but we were wrong! The race was exceptionally smooth and highly strategic to win Chase Elliott. With 2,66 miles of development (4,30 km) and 33-degree banked turns, the Talladega Oval is a piece of bravado beloved by spectators but feared by drivers. If speeds were able to exceed 340 km/h at the end of the 80s, the power of the Next Gen is now reduced to 550 hp on this track compared to nearly 700 usually. It requires very technical driving because the accelerator pedal is permanently welded to the floor. All drivers evolving on an equal footing, the difference is made in aspiration, the famous draft, and in the choice of the right racing line. Package racing and welded bumpers, accidents are as frequent as they are destructive.

The draft game

Alex Bowman was out of this round following his accident in Texas and replaced by young hopeful Noah Gragson. In the dynamic of many sports, NASCAR has tightened its concussion protocols this season. A wise decision because the new generation cars are much more rigid than the previous ones and therefore communicate shocks more to their drivers. This is due to the intensive use of carbon fiber, which however has the advantage of better resisting contact and not scattering pieces of bodywork on the track in the event of a hit. We could see this from the 30th lap with a big one involving more than 10 cars which miraculously left only Ty Gibbs and Harrisson Burton behind. NASCAR will soon conduct tests aimed at integrating deformable structures into bumpers.

The deposit is out at @TALADEGA due to this incident in Turn 1. pic.twitter.com/bl2O03Plr7

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 2, 2022

If this pileup was the only notable event at the start of the race, from the start of the second segment, tension rose at the front of the peloton forcing certain drivers to take refuge at the back of the peloton in fear of an incident. like Ryan Blaney, winner of the first segment. Ultimately the only notable incident of this second section won by Chase Elliott was a spin by pole sitter Christopher Bell in the pits. The calm before the storm ?

Elliott as asphalt fox

If the tension remained palpable in the pack from the start of the last segment, it was necessary to wait until the last 28 laps of the race following the final refueling under the green flag for the race to really get going. This final pit stop sequence was particularly spectacular with groups of 20 cars entering the technical lane simultaneously. No notable incidents but penalties for excessive speed for Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick who saw their chances of victory reduced to nothing.

The magic of pit stops in NASCAR © Chris Graythen/Getty Images

It was finally Daniel Hemric who launched the final sprint despite himself by exploding his engine 8 laps from the finish. The race was restarted for 2 short laps and Ryan Blaney, the great leader of the race, took the lead while Chase Elliott led a second line of racing. In the last meters, Elliott jumped on Blaney's line taking advantage of a nice push from Erik Jones and headed towards victory and qualification for the Round of 8.

ELLIOTT EDGES BLANEY AT THE LINE TO WIN! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/NOzWSv9WyX

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 2, 2022

Classement NASCAR from the Yellawood 500 to Talladega:

General Classification after the Talladega round to follow.

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