ROSS CHASTAIN finished 20th at Talladega Superspeedway, but his strategy late in the race affected the outcome for several competitors. During the final stage, Chastain positioned his No. 1 Chevrolet in front of a group of Toyota drivers.
The Toyota contingent, which included DENNY HAMLIN in the No. 11, Riley Herbst, Erik Jones, and Bubba Wallace, was utilizing the outside lane during green-flag pit stops. This group appeared to have a speed advantage as laps neared completion.
Chastain, operating at a slower speed, maneuvered in front of the lead Toyota car driven by Hamlin. This forced Hamlin and the other Toyota drivers behind him to check up, disrupting their momentum and eliminating their speed advantage.
The Toyota drivers could not regain their lost speed following the maneuver. Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford eventually secured the Talladega victory. Austin Cindric's No. 2 Ford crossed the finish line first.
Only one Toyota entry, the No. 23 of Bubba Wallace, finished inside the top 10, placing eighth. Other Toyota finishes included Tyler Reddick (14th), Chase Briscoe (15th), Ty Gibbs (17th), Erik Jones (18th), Denny Hamlin (21st), and Riley Herbst (22nd).
Denny Hamlin reportedly commented on the need for NASCAR enforcement after the block by Ross Chastain.
NASCAR Insights data from the race showed Ross Chastain ranked lower in key metrics, including 21st in Passer Rating, 20th in Defense Rating, and 15th in Restart Rating. The data indicated that Toyota drivers held a strength on restarts. Four of the top six drivers in Restart Rating were Toyotas: Reddick (first), Herbst (second), Gibbs (fourth), and Hamlin (sixth).
This metric suggests that if the Toyota group had maintained their position and speed, they might have capitalized on their strength in restarting or maintaining momentum, potentially leading to a victory for the manufacturer.
The maneuver by Chastain, despite his own finishing position and performance metrics, appears to have been a deciding factor in preventing the Toyota drivers from fully utilizing their potential advantage at Talladega. Talladega results show the outcome for all competitors.
