Tyler Reddick Wins NASCAR Cup Race At Talladega Superspeedway

NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) moves during a collision on the final lap of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Talladega. Ala. (AP Photo/Mi

In a thrilling finish at Talladega Superspeedway, Tyler Reddick emerged victorious in the NASCAR Cup race after a dramatic turn of events on Sunday. The race saw front-runner Michael McDowell's attempt to block Brad Keselowski result in a crash just before the finish line, allowing Reddick to claim his sixth career Cup victory by a margin of 0.208 seconds.

The chaotic finish set off a jubilant celebration on pit road, with team owner Michael Jordan likening the atmosphere to an NBA playoff game. McDowell, who had dominated the closing laps and was poised to secure Ford's first win of the year, saw his efforts to block Keselowski backfire, ultimately leading to both drivers losing out on the top spot.

Reddick's win came after a strategic misstep that eliminated several Toyota contenders, including team co-owner Denny Hamlin. A planned drafting strategy by the Toyota teams went awry when a collision involving John Hunter Nemechek, Bubba Wallace, and Erik Jones led to a multi-car crash, taking out Hamlin in the process.

McDowell's attempt to block Keselowski leads to crash, handing Reddick the win.

Reddick claims sixth career Cup victory in a chaotic race.

Toyota contenders eliminated in a strategic misstep, including Denny Hamlin.

Race featured a caution-free first two stages before multiple incidents in final laps.

Shane Van Gisbergen impresses in NASCAR Cup debut but finishes 27th.

Points leader Kyle Larson penalized, starts from back, finishes 20th.

Next race at Dover Motor Speedway, where Martin Truex Jr. won last year.

Michael Jordan compares pit road celebration to an NBA playoff game.

Clean racing in initial stages gives way to a nail-biting finish.

Visit AP NASCAR for more news and updates on the NASCAR Cup series.

The race, which featured a caution-free first two stages, took a dramatic turn in the final laps with multiple incidents, including a spin involving Justin Haley and Christopher Bell. Despite the clean racing in the initial stages, the finish proved to be a nail-biter with Reddick emerging as the unexpected winner.

Shane Van Gisbergen, known for his success in other racing circuits, showcased his talent in his NASCAR Cup debut on an oval track. While leading laps and avoiding trouble for most of the race, Van Gisbergen was caught up in the late-race chaos and finished 27th.

The race also saw points leader Kyle Larson starting from the back of the field due to a penalty for altering his car's roof rails. Larson, who had to serve a drive-through penalty at the start, faced an uphill battle throughout the race and finished in 20th place.

Next up on the NASCAR Cup series schedule is the race at Dover Motor Speedway, where Martin Truex Jr. emerged victorious last year.

For more NASCAR news and updates, visit AP NASCAR.