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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Big, bad Talladega

JHby: Jonathan Howard10 hours agoJondean25
NASCAR Chase Briscoe Talladega
Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

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?

Talladega strikes early in NASCAR Truck Series

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.

Gio Ruggiero earns first career NASCAR win

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 is nonchalant after escaping truck fire

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.

Brad Keselowski addresses 36-race debate

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?

William Sawalich taken to hospital after wreck

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.

Austin Hill is unstoppable on NASCAR superspeedways

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.

AJ Allmendinger has scary moment in NASCAR Cup race

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.

Chase Elliott finishes dead last in vital NASCAR race

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 makes last-lap pass for win

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.