NASCAR weekend at Talladega always delivers. The wrecks, the excitement, the playoff drama – it was all there and then some this week. We had three races of non-stop action on the high banks of the biggest and baddest track in all of stock car racing.
There were winners and losers this weekend. With so much at stake for the remaining playoff drivers in all three series, the racing was intense. No one was giving anyone else an inch.
Two races remain in the season. Who will be crowned champion at Phoenix?
It was only a few laps until we had our first wreck of the weekend in the NASCAR Truck Series. Grant Enfinger was involved. It wasn’t long before there was a second wreck invovling playoff drivers as well.
It wouldn’t be Talladega without the wrecks and you could say the same about the Truck Series. This race got wild and wacky, but ultimately ended with a solid run to the finish.
A massive win for Gio Ruggiero. He is no longer in the running for the Truck Series Playoffs, but getting his first career win in NASCAR is a milestone to celebrate.
Corey Heim pushed Ruggiero to the win. Gio got to play a bit of spoiler ahead of Martinsville and Phoenix.
Norm Benning said he will race Martinsville next week. Suffered smoke inhalation. Said feels sunburned but no blisters. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/XvIlYNGjae
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 17, 2025
During the Truck Series race, Norm Benning had to get out of his truck quickly. It caught fire after an engine failure.
After the race, Benning was released from the care center. He was non chalant about the ordeal. In fact, he’s racing again this weekend at Martinsville and can’t wait to do it all again. Not the fire part, though.
As everyone else debates the NASCAR championship format of the future, Brad Keselowski has weighed in. He feels that the growing momentum for a 36-race format such as prior to 2004, is for good reason.
Keselowski went on to say he supports a full-season format. Will we ever see the playoffs go away?
During the Xfinity Series race, William Sawalich was involved in a nasty wreck. He hit the outside wall and after evaluation at the infield care center, was taken to a nearby hospital.
Thankfully, Sawalich was able to leave the hospital the next day. Hopefully, we see him racing the last two weeks of his rookie season.
.@_AustinHill wins in overtime and goes 2-for-2 this season at @TALLADEGA! pic.twitter.com/yJtYlo5jI3
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) October 18, 2025
When it comes to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Austin Hill is the superspeedway GOAT. He swept the Talladega races this season and now has 10 wins on drafting tracks.
Even when it looks like he’s at his lowest, Hill can pull out a dominant performance. He was great on Saturday and earned that win over the remaining playoff drivers.
During the NASCAR Cup Series race, there was a multi-car wreck involving AJ Allmendinger. He had to stop on the track as his car caught on fire and escaped after a violent hit.
Allmendinger lay on the ground for a few moments before standing up and walking to the ambulance. Turns out, Allmendinger had the wind knocked out of him. Outside of soreness, he should be just fine.
Also involved in that wreck was Chase Elliott. It resulted in a DNF and last-place finish for the 9 team. Going to Martinsville, there is only one goal in mind.
Elliott has stepped up in big moments before. He will have to pull out all the stops to win at the Paperclip.
CHASE BRISCOE IS A @TALLADEGA WINNER!
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 19, 2025pic.twitter.com/pwfiMdP9w1
Three wins this season with JGR, Chase Briscoe is on his way to Phoenix and the Championship 4. His last-lap move to take the inside line is what sealed the deal on Sunday.
With a previous win at Phoenix when he was still with Stewart-Haas, can Briscoe tap into that once again? Along with Denny Hamlin, JGR has two of the four spots locked up already with one race to go before the championship.
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