Author: Official Release

5 KYLE LARSON
 Age: 32 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Week: 26th (Kansas)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 4th (-16)

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• With his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in September., Kyle Larson is now tied for 30th on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list with Rex White and Carl Edwards at 28 wins. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion has the most wins in the Next Gen car with 12.
• The Elk Grove, California, native is in a three-way tie for most top-five finishes this season with 11. He has run a series-high 4,058 laps in the top five through 30 events.
• Larson is the only driver to have eclipsed the 1,000-laps-led barrier in 2024 with 1,551 – 633 more than any other driver. His 12 stage wins lead the Cup Series by two.
• In the Next Gen car, a driver has had an average running position of better than 1.5, 10 times – Larson accounts for seven of those. The 32-year-old driver’s average running position this year is a series-best 10.2.
• Larson is 18 markers ahead of the elimination line entering the penultimate race in the Round of 12. He has 15 more playoff points than any other driver.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
 Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last week: 9th (Kansas)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: T-7th (-30)
 
No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Chase Elliott heads into the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 12 seventh in the standings, four points above the elimination line. He has reached the Round of 8 six times in eight postseason appearances.
• Elliott captured a playoff victory at Talladega Superspeedway in 2022. He is the only Cup Series driver to have previous wins at all three tracks in the Round of 12 (Kansas Speedway, Talladega and Charlotte ROVAL).
• The 28-year-old driver has scored 31 more points than any other driver at Talladega in the Next Gen car. In the most recent race there, he earned the third-most points (34) among playoff drivers.
• The Hendrick Motorsports driver has earned the fourth-most points (127) among playoff drivers across the first four postseason events. On drafting tracks this season, he’s earned the fifth-most points (136) among playoff competitors.
• The 2020 Cup Series champion is tied with teammates William Byron and Alex Bowman for the third-most top-10 finishes this season (15). He also has the third-best average running position in 2024 (11.54).

24 WILLIAM BYRON
 Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Week: 2nd (Kansas)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 1st

No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• William Byron started off the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 12 strong at Kansas Speedway. After qualifying sixth, Byron won stage one, picking up a crucial playoff point, finished stage two in fourth and left the race with a runner-up result. He leads the playoff standings, 34 points above the cutoff point.
• The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has two runner-up results and has finished seventh or better in the last three races at Talladega Superspeedway. Byron holds the longest current top-10 streak among active drivers at the 2.66-mile tri-oval.
• In stage racing era, Byron has averaged 28.62 points at Talladega – third-most among playoff drivers. In the spring event at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Byron scored 38 points, second most by a playoff driver.
• The 26-year-old has the most wins on drafting tracks during the Next Gen era with three and ranks third in points earned by playoff drivers on drafting tracks in 2024 with 166.
• In the last nine drafting races, Byron has seven top-10 finishes, including two wins.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
 Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Week: 6th (Kansas)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 6th (-26)

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Following last weekend’s opening race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 12 at Kansas Speedway, Alex Bowman ranks sixth in the standings, eight markers above the elimination line. Bowman won the second stage on Sunday and earned valuable points in both stages. It marked his first stage win of the season. The Tucson, Arizona, native secured his fifth-consecutive top 10 at the “Sunflower State” track.
• Bowman has earned 24 more points than any other driver in the playoffs (163), leading the way in stage points earned (53) and is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all eight stages.
• With six races remaining in 2024, Bowman has earned seven top-five finishes, one shy of his personal best of eight in 2021. His 15 top-10 finishes place him in a three-way-tie for third-most alongside Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Chase Elliott.
• Bowman finished fifth and earned 33 points at Talladega Superspeedway in the spring. He is one of two drivers in the Round of 12 to finish in the top five at Talladega in April. Bowman has earned the fourth-most points (162) among remaining playoff drivers on drafting tracks this season with three top fives.
• Bowman is one of four active drivers with a second-place finish but no win at Talladega (spring, 2019).
• For four years, Bowman and Ally have teamed up to support Best Friends Animal Society and their vast network of partners. Every race weekend, the pair donates $4,800 to help homeless pets. This weekend, the charitable donation will go to Greenville Animal Shelter located in Greenville, Alabama.

Hendrick Motorsports
 

*Most
**Tied for most

• Hendrick Motorsports leads all NASCAR Cup Series organizations in nearly every major statistical category at Talladega Superspeedway including wins (14), poles (13), top fives (65), top 10s (101) and laps led (3,087).
• This marks the fourth time all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers made the Round of 12 (2014, 2021, 2022, 2024), the most times any team has advanced four drivers through the opening round.
• Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane 59 times in playoff races, 22 more than any other team. The organization’s 10 wins in 2024 are the most by four over any other team.
• All four Hendrick Motorsports pit crews rank in the top eight in terms of average time for a four-tire pit stop. The No. 9 over-the-wall squad of Chase Elliott leads the organization and is second in the Cup Series at 10.83 seconds.

 
QUOTABLE /
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on heading to Talladega Superspeedway: “Cliff and the entire group at Hendrick Motorsports do a great job with pit strategy at drafting tracks. We’ll work with our Chevrolet teammates to hopefully score points in both stages. While we always seem to run well at Talladega, we just don’t have the results to show for it. I would really just like to see the checkered flag with a solid finish.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Talladega Superspeedway in the playoffs: “Talladega, whichever round it falls in every year, is always unpredictable. You just don’t know what’s going to happen. There’s a lot out of your hands in that race.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the points situation heading to Talladega Superspeedway:
“It’s a good feeling knowing how many points we got in Kansas before heading into Talladega this weekend, but we can’t relax any just because of that. It’s the playoffs so every point is going to matter even more. Talladega is a track we’ve always run well at. It’s a superspeedway that handling is a bigger factor than it is at say Daytona. It’s still a place where anything can happen though. Hopefully we can have another solid points day and be sitting in a really good spot heading into the (Charlotte) ROVAL.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on playoff momentum and Talladega Superspeedway: “We have been OK, for sure. We have had better pace in the playoffs than where we were prior, and it’s made my job a little easier. So, yeah, we are not perfect by any means, and we have got a lot of things we need to improve on. But we are kind of headed in the right direction right now and doing the right things. Talladega is certainly the wild card of this round so hopefully we can continue this positive momentum and come out on the good side of it.”

ANTHONY ALFREDO
Talladega Advance
No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet Camaro

Event Overview

● Event: YellaWood 500 (Round 31 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 6
● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway
● Layout: 2.66-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Last Call and the Big 3-0. The 2024 NASCAR season is winding down with only six races remaining. For Beard Motorsports, it’s already last call as the YellaWood 500 Sunday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway serves as its final NASCAR Cup Series race of the year. The family-owned team runs a limited Cup Series schedule, entering its signature No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the series’ four superspeedway races – the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, the April 21 GEICO 500 at Talladega, the Aug. 24 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, and the YellaWood 500 at Talladega. Sunday’s 188-lap race around the massive 2.66-mile Talladega oval will commemorate Beard Motorsports’ 30th Cup Series start.

● The Beard Motorsports Resume. Since making its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2017 Daytona 500, Beard Motorsports has been a fixture at Talladega and Daytona, scoring seven top-10 finishes across the two racetracks. Of Beard Motorsports’ 29 previous starts, 12 have come at Talladega, with Anthony Alfredo’s sixth-place finish in April being the team’s best result at the track. Brendan Gaughan scored Beard Motorsports’ first top-10 at Talladega in April 2019 when he finished eighth in the GEICO 500.

● Back in the Saddle. Alfredo returns to Beard Motorsports this weekend at Talladega for his third NASCAR Cup Series start of the year and the 41st of his career. The Ridgefield, Connecticut, native made his last Cup Series start at Talladega in April, finishing sixth to record Beard Motorsports’ best Talladega result. It was also Alfredo’s best Cup Series finish, and the 25-year-old earned it by carrying the patience and poise of a Cup Series veteran. He avoided two multicar accidents to run with the leaders in the closing laps, allowing Alfredo to better his previous best career finish, 10th in the 2021 YellaWood 500 at Talladega.

● Fortified by a New Partner. The newest brand to align with Beard Motorsports is Fortify Building Solutions. The company is part of Cornerstone Building Brands and offers North America’s most extensive selection of high-quality metal roofing, wall panels and building solutions. Tailored for local builders, contractors and homeowners, the brand’s 20-plus branch locations supply professionals and homeowners with hometown service and support, backed by a nationwide manufacturing and distribution network.

● Family Business. This year marks Beard Motorsports’ eighth season in the NASCAR Cup Series. What started out as a passion project for the late Mark Beard Sr., has become a tribute to the family’s patriarch. Linda Beard, along with her children, Amie Beard-Deja and Mark Beard Jr., have remained committed to the vision laid out by Mark Beard Sr., and have done so with notable success. Today, their No. 62 NASCAR Cup Series operation is just one of their family-owned entities. Beard Oil Distributing is the foundation of the Beard family-owned business portfolio and it is recognized as a women-owned certified organization through the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

● A Peak Under the Hood. Since making its debut in the 2017 Daytona 500, the No. 62 Beard Motorsports team has been powered by ECR-built engines. The team has leveraged the power of those engines to post solid finishes, with its best result being a fifth-place finish by Noah Gragson in the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Beard comes into Talladega on a roll with back-to-back top-10 finishes at Talladega in April (sixth) and Daytona in August (seventh).

Anthony Alfredo, Driver of the No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet Camaro:

It’s been since April at Talladega when you made your last start for Beard Motorsports. What are your thoughts heading into your return trip to Talladega this weekend?

“I certainly have high expectations because the last time I was in the car, we finished sixth. We certainly want to go back there and improve on that finish. Beard Motorsports always brings a really fast Chevrolet Camaro. I’m proud to represent their family and be part of the team. I always have a ton of fun driving their racecars. I will be doing double duty for the third time this year with both the Cup and Xfinity Series races. And I really enjoy superspeedway racing. It’s just right up my ally. I’m prepared to go there and compete for the win in both races.”

You’ve talked about your love of superspeedway racing. What is it about this type of racing that you enjoy?

“That’s a great question because I think there are two parts to this. One is that it’s like high-speed chess. As action-packed and as exciting as it is, you have to be very patient and methodical. And I think it takes a certain type of racer to excel at it. In driving for smaller teams the last few years in the national series, this type of racing presents a really great opportunity for me to go to victory lane because the playing field is a little bit more level. So I put a lot of time and effort into studying and preparing for these races and I’ve gotten quite good at it. I’m always in contention late in the running. We’ve had great pace and that’s the first step – bringing fast cars. I’m confident we’re going to have another rocket ready to go, so it’s just going to be up to us putting ourselves in position in the end and ultimately executing on the final lap.”

This will be your third race driving the No. 62 Chevrolet. What have you learned during the first two races that may help you this weekend?

“I think a lot of what I’ve learned is actually about the fuel strategy because the Cup Series races are so different now with the NextGen car on superspeedways. There is a lot of fuel saving. You really need to be patient and smart not to charge to the front and use up too much fuel. You’re almost better off staying in the pack and having good fuel conservation compared to the other guys. But at the same time, track position is still really important because it’s actually quite difficult to pass in the NextGen car at superspeedways. I want to be sure to execute the fuel strategy well, but also put us in position to be up front toward the end so that we can have a shot to win the race because it’s not that easy to just drive to the front. I think I learned a lot more about that. I’m also hoping that my strong performances in the first two races that I did in the No. 62 Chevy would allow some of the competition to work with me a little more because you do need some teammates to help push you and make moves. Hopefully that works to my favor when people see my name above the door and on the window again on the No. 62 car.”

You have a new partner on board with Fortify Building Solutions and you’ve been able to spend some time with them since announcing the partnership in June. What is it like working with a partner that’s new to the sport?

“This is a really special relationship because I actually grew up in the construction industry and learned a whole lot about operating heavy equipment and seeing steel buildings put up long before I ever climbed into a racecar. It’s kind of back to my roots. I even studied civil engineering in college because that’s what I was going to do if I didn’t become a racecar driver. That kind of bridges the gap between industries. To be able to represent a company that does projects of all sizes for people’s steel building needs is very neat.”

Linda Beard, Owner of the No. 62 Fortify Chevrolet Camaro for Beard Motorsports:

The YellaWood 500 at Talladega marks the 30th NASCAR Cup Series start for Beard Motorsports. What does it mean to you and the family to reach this milestone?

“When Mark (Beard, Sr.) started this, we didn’t really have any idea how far this would go or how far we could take it. Racing was important to my husband and was something he loved and enjoyed. We love it and enjoy it because he did. And it’s not any one thing but all of it – being at the track, competing and being competitive. And all of it is because of him. We wouldn’t be here making our 30th start without Mark and it’s really a credit to him and his dreams.”

The team is wrapping up its 2024 campaign this weekend. How has this season been for the family?

“By all measures, it’s been a pretty successful season. When we show up, we show up to compete and we expect to be up front. We have done that and more. We’ve had the good fortune to welcome new partners and have been able to give the opportunity to compete at the highest level of NASCAR to some young drivers. And to do it with success has been very rewarding for all of us.”

No. 62 Beard Motorsports Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Anthony Alfredo

Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Darren Shaw

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Deandre Smith

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Spotter: Keith Barnwell

Hometown: Wilkesboro, North Carolina

President: Linda Beard

Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Chase Masterson

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Chris Jackson

Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jeremy Holcomb

Hometown: Whitesburg, Kentucky

Jack Man: Brandon Derby

Hometown: Coopersburg, Pennsylvania

Fuel Man: James Kelley

Hometown: Luray, Virginia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Jack Gagnon

Hometown: Quebec, Canada

Mechanic: Mark Sanders

Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Tire Technician: Mike Harrold

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jason Watkins

Hometown: Ridgeway, Virginia

Mechanic: Nic Hill

Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida

Transporter Driver: Roger Lankford

Hometown: Lexington, North Carolina

Race Notes

Talladega Superspeedway
YellaWood 500
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, October 6 at 2:00PM EDT
NBC | MRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

• Kaulig Racing has made 13 NCS starts at Talladega Superspeedway.
• The team has earned three top-10 finishes and led 16 laps at Talladega.
• So far in the 2024 season, Kaulig Racing has earned one runner-up finish, eight top 10s, 21 top 20s and led 54 laps.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 13 Strive Camaro ZL1

• AJ Allmendinger has made 20 NCS starts at Talladega Superspeedway. He has led 11 laps and earned one top five and three top-10 finishes.
• Allmendinger has made 13 NCS starts in the 2024 season and has earned three top-10 finishes and led 13 laps.

“It’s always great to bring a new sponsor into the sport and we’re excited to show Strive what NASCAR racing is all about. We’re not racing for points in the No. 13 Chevy, so we can have the mentality of taking whatever strategy we need to have a shot at the win.” – AJ Allmendinger on Talladega Superspeedway

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 WeatherTech Camaro ZL1

• Shane van Gisbergen will pilot the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet for the ninth time this season, his second at Talladega Superspeedway.
• At Talladega in the spring, Van Gisbergen started 17th and finished 28th, while leading three laps in his first superspeedway race in the Cup car.
• Van Gisbergen’s best result of the season came at Watkins Glen International, where he earned a runner-up finish.
• The New Zealand native will carry the white-and-red WeatherTech livery this weekend at Talladega. For decades, WeatherTech has delivered on its promise of quality and craftsmanship through a commitment to American-made auto, home and pet products. More information can be found at weathertech.com.

“Talladega in the Cup car this weekend is going to be epic! I raced there for the first time earlier this season, and it was really cool to get the feel for superspeedway racing, we even led a couple laps which was awesome. It will still be a challenge for me as I continue to learn on the ovals, but I know what to expect a little more heading into Sunday. Excited to see how my WeatherTech Chevy stacks up with the rest of the field and hoping for a solid result this weekend.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Talladega Superspeedway

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

• Daniel Hemric has made five NCS starts at Talladega Superspeedway and has earned one top five and two top-10 finishes.
• Hemric led eight laps in the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this year and finished ninth.
• So far in the 2024 NCS season, Hemric has earned four top 10s, 11 top-20 finishes and has led 14 laps.
• Hemric has currently completed more laps than any other driver in the 2024 season with 8,053 of 8,094 laps completed (99.5%).

“Talladega is a place where we feel we have an equal opportunity to go out and win. Kaulig Racing always brings strong superspeedway cars, and we have shown speed at each of those races this year. Hopefully we have a strong showing in our No. 31 Cirkul Chevy.” – Daniel Hemric on Talladega Superspeedway  

Race Details

Talladega Superspeedway
United Rentals 250
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, October 5 at 4:00PM EDT
The CW | MRN | SiriusXM

Team Notes

• Kaulig Racing has made 29 starts at Talladega Superspeedway in the NXS, earning four wins, nine top fives and 16 top-10 finishes.
• The team won three-straight NXS races at Talladega from 2020 to 2021. Justin Haley swept both events in 2020, and Jeb Burton won the spring race in 2021.
• So far in the 2024 NXS season, Kaulig Racing has earned three wins, 11 top fives, 29 top-10 finishes and led 223 laps.

Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

• Josh Williams has made 10 starts in the NXS at Talladega Superspeedway. He has recorded three top-10 finishes there, which includes a seventh-place result in 2020.
• Williams was in contention for the win late in the series’ first trip to the track in 2024, restarting on the outside of the front row for the race’s first overtime restart. He was clipped in the left rear heading into turn one, causing him to lose control of the No. 11 and relegating him to finish in 20th.
• Williams sits 17th in the NXS points standings with four top 10s and 14 laps led.

“We’ve got a really great superspeedway program at Kaulig Racing, and it almost ended up with us in victory lane last time we were here. I still think about that finish, what I could’ve done different at the end there, but hopefully, we can make up for it this time around.” – Josh Williams on Talladega Superspeedway

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Morris-Shea Chevrolet Camaro

• AJ Allmendinger has made seven NXS starts at Talladega Superspeedway with Kaulig Racing. He has earned one win, three top fives and four top-10 finishes. Allmendinger has led 36 laps and has an average finish of 13.7.
• So far in the 2024 NXS season, Allmendinger has earned five top fives, 14 top-10 finishes and led 116 laps. Allmendinger is currently scored 10th in playoff standings.

“Talladega is a great opportunity to gain some points and have a shot at a win. Our superspeedway package has been really good the second half of the year so I’m looking forward to the challenge of trying to win at Talladega for the second time.” AJ Allmendinger on Talladega Superspeedway

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

• Shane van Gisbergen and the No. 97 WeatherTech team head to Talladega Superspeedway for his second-career NXS start on the 2.66-mile tri-oval track.
• Last weekend in Kansas, Van Gisbergen earned his ninth top-10 finish of his rookie season.
• With Van Gisbergen’s eighth-place finish in Kansas, he is currently sixth in the playoff standings.
• The New Zealand native will carry the white-and-red WeatherTech livery this weekend at Talladega. For decades, WeatherTech has delivered on its promise of quality and craftsmanship through a commitment to American-made auto, home and pet products. More information can be found at weathertech.com.

“I’m excited to get back to Talladega this weekend and see how much we have improved as a team. In the spring, we had such a strong run until the overtime restarts when we ran out of gas, but we learned every lap and improved. Talladega is an iconic place, and I hope we can keep my WeatherTech Chevy up front and can be there for a great result at the end.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Talladega Superspeedway  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

This Week in Motorsports: September 30 – October 4, 2024

NCS/NXS/NCTS: Talladega Superspeedway – Oct. 4-6
ARCA: Toledo Speedway – Oct. 5

PLANO, Texas (Oct. 2, 2024) – NASCAR is at Talladega Superspeedway for the second time this season as the postseason continues across its three national series. Both the Cup and Xfinity Series enter their second race of the Round of 12, while the Truck Series begins its Round of 8.

The ARCA Menards Series is also in action, wrapping up its 2024 season at Toledo Speedway on Saturday.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Bell, Hamlin remain above the cutline … With two races remaining in the Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin find themselves above the cutline going to Talladega this weekend. Bell is tied for second in the points standings, 28 points above, while Hamlin is fifth, and 11 points to the good. The other Toyota Camry XSE in the Playoffs and regular season NCS champion, Tyler Reddick, comes into the weekend four points under the cutline.

Reddick aims for Talladega sweep … Reddick and his No. 45 23XI Racing team return to Talladega Superspeedway in search of a season sweep after his dramatic win in April. The victory was Reddick’s first top-10 or better finish at Talladega since 2021 and the first of his two wins so far this season. Another triumph for the California native would lock him into the next round of the Playoffs as he looks to make the Round of 8 for the second consecutive year.

Bell aims to continue strong runs … After coming home seventh at Kansas last weekend, Bell now has seven top-10 finishes in the last nine races coming to Talladega. The strong results have kept the Oklahoma native toward the top of the points standings throughout the Playoffs so far, currently sitting tied for second. Another such finish this weekend would be his third career top-10 at Talladega and first since the spring of 2023.

Smith, Creed rise in Xfinity Series points … The first Playoff race for the Xfinity Series last weekend was a productive one for Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed as both climbed up the points standings coming into Talladega. Smith grabbed pole, led 114 laps and finished third to put himself second in the standings, 36 points above the cutline. Creed earned his 14th top-five finish of the season, rising four spots to fifth in the points standings, 10 points to the good.

Dean Thompson doing double duty … For the second time this season and in his career, Dean Thompson will be doing double duty this weekend by running the Xfinity Series and Truck Series races. Saturday afternoon, the 23-year-old will be piloting the No. 26 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing for the second time after his debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He’ll also take the wheel of his regular No. 5 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage in the Truck Series race on Friday.

Round of 8 begins for Heim and Gray … With the Truck Series Round of 8 beginning Friday at Talladega, Corey Heim and Taylor Gray are closer to their ultimate goal of a series championship. Coming off his victory at Kansas last weekend, Heim is the points leader and sits 38 above the cutline. Taylor Gray enters the round in eighth position and is 15 points below.

Sauter back in No. 16 Tundra TRD Pro … For the fourth time this season, Johnny Sauter will pilot the No. 16 Tundra TRD Pro for Hattori Racing Enterprises this weekend at Talladega. Sauter’s best finish of his three starts so far in 2024 is a 17th-place finish at Texas in the spring. Sauter has made 14 previous starts at Talladega in the Truck Series, which includes his 2013 victory.

Sawalich makes superspeedway debut … This weekend marks the 13th career Truck Series start, seventh this season, for Toyota Development Driver, William Sawalich, but it will be his first NCTS start on a superspeedway. Thursday is the Minnesotan’s 18th birthday, allowing him to take on the 2.66-mile oval this weekend in the No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage. Sawalich is coming off his best Trucks finish of the season of 11tth at Bristol two weekends ago.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Sawalich seeks Toledo repeat … Coming off his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championship, and his eighth victory of 2024 at Bristol, Sawalich returns to Toledo Speedway to end the ARCA season searching for a repeat victory at the Ohio track. The soon-to-be 18-year-old led 111 of the 200 laps on his way to victory a season ago.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

JOSH BERRY
Talladega Advance
No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: YellaWood 500 (Round 31 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 6
● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway
● Layout: 2.66-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The NASCAR Cup Series will tackle the largest oval track on the circuit during Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at the 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing, has one previous Talladega start behind the wheel of a NextGen car, which took place in April. The 33-year-old driver from Hendersonville, Tennessee, started the race in 29th and navigated his way through the field to the sixth position coming to the checkered flag. But before he crossed the finish line, an on-track incident collected nearly half the field, including Berry’s No. 4 machine. Berry slid across the finish line to take the checkered flag 16th with his car stacked on top of the No. 7 entry of Corey LaJoie.

● Berry has five Talladega starts with JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, netting one top-five finish, two top-10s and an average starting position of 10.1. Best of those outings was his fifth-place finish from the seventh starting position in the October 2022 race. After finishing 10th in Stage two, he deftly maneuvered the draft lanes to score his solid top-five.

● Crew chief Rodney Childers will climb atop the No. 4 pit box Sunday for his 36th NASCAR Cup Series start at Talladega. He’s called the shots for six different drivers at the track, tallying one pole award (April 2018 with Kevin Harvick), four top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, an average starting position of 18.6, an average finish of 17.1, with only five DNFs (did not finish).

● With six NASCAR Cup Series races left in his rookie campaign, Berry has two top-five finishes, four top-10s, and 96 laps led. He has finished third on two occasions this season: at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May and again at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in August. Through 30 races, Berry is ranked 26th in the driver standings. He is second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, 66 markers behind Carson Hocevar.

● SUNNYD returns for another ride with Berry and the No. 4 team Sunday at Talladega, bringing back the vibrant orange-and-blue SUNNYD colors in its first race since March at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. SUNNYD has been an associate partner of the No. 4 team throughout the 38-week season, featured on Berry’s firesuit and the team’s hauler and toolboxes.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Talladega always has the component of luck, but it takes a lot of skill to run competitively. How do you balance pushing the pace versus being reserved?

“When you look at the guys who consistently run well at superspeedways, you see them making moves that keep them advancing and they never seem out of control. I think, for me, Daytona in August was some of my best superspeedway racing. We just had an unfortunate outcome that day because the car was really good, and Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and Eddie (D’Hondt, spotter) kept me focused for the whole race. It just felt like we had some sense of control in a race that is typically chaotic.”

You had a pretty intense accident in Daytona. Does that make you rethink making aggressive moves when you need to?

“As a racecar driver, we all get into some pretty bad wrecks, whether that’s when we were younger or now in the Cup Series. But I think anyone who drives knows that is part of the job and being competitive. It can happen. The wreck that happened at Daytona looked violent, but the car did its job to protect me, we didn’t have to change any of the harnesses or belts, so I am just as confident to make those moves and be aggressive and try to win.”

You have six races left, including Talladega, in your rookie season. Does it feel like it went by quickly, and how do you evaluate yourself?

“This season has been crazy, to say the least. With the situation Stewart-Haas is in, and having to audition for a ride, signing with the Wood Brothers, and then having to stay focused on competing the best we can as a group, all in my rookie year, it wasn’t something I had on my Bingo card. But I don’t regret any of my decisions and I am overall happy I made it this far. For a while, I thought I would just be a Late Model racer and that would be my life, so to have even made it in a Cup car for a season surpassed any of my expectations. Now that I have another shot next year, I am going to have to reevaluate my goals and keep chasing my racing career for as far as it will carry me.”

No. 4 SUNNYD Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Josh Berry

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer

Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Billy Kuebler

Hometown: Saline, Michigan

Spotter: Eddie D’Hondt

Hometown: Levittown, New York

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala

Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal

Hometown: Holland, Michigan

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tyler Trosper

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Mechanic: Chris Capaldi

Hometown: Armada, Michigan

Tire Specialist: Zac Lupien

Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Jake Zierhoffer

Hometown: Billerica, Massachusetts

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell

Hometown: Woodville, Ohio