# 2023 YellaWood 500

The 2023 YellaWood 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 1, 2023, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66 mi (4.28 km) asphalt superspeedway, it was the 31st race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, fifth race of the Playoffs, and second race of the Round of 12.

## Report
### Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
* (P) denotes playoff driver.
* (OP) denotes owner’s playoffs car.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 13 | Chandler Smith (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Brennan Poole (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | Riley Herbst (i) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Aric Almirola scored the pole for the race with a time of 52.715 and a speed of 181.656 mph (292.347 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 52.944 | 52.715 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 52.761 | 52.719 |
| 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 52.949 | 52.724 |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.867 | 52.746 |
| 5 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 52.951 | 52.757 |
| 6 | 36 | Riley Herbst (i) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 52.716 | 52.790 |
| 7 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 52.721 | 52.823 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.984 | 52.926 |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 52.942 | 52.934 |
| 10 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 52.933 | 52.968 |
| 11 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 52.992 | — |
| 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.021 | — |
| 13 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 53.039 | — |
| 14 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.048 | — |
| 15 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.052 | — |
| 16 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.073 | — |
| 17 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 53.085 | — |
| 18 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 53.100 | — |
| 19 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 53.105 | — |
| 20 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.121 | — |
| 21 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 53.128 | — |
| 22 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 53.129 | — |
| 23 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.142 | — |
| 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 53.143 | — |
| 25 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.216 | — |
| 26 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 53.232 | — |
| 27 | 51 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 53.242 | — |
| 28 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 53.266 | — |
| 29 | 15 | Brennan Poole (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 53.281 | — |
| 30 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 53.281 | — |
| 31 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 53.341 | — |
| 32 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 53.365 | — |
| 33 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.449 | — |
| 34 | 13 | Chandler Smith (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 53.470 | — |
| 35 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 53.505 | — |
| 36 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.731 | — |
| 37 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.841 | — |
| 38 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 0.000 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race
### Race results
#### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 68
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 10 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 188 | 50 |
| 2 | 8 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 53 |
| 3 | 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 188 | 34 |
| 4 | 36 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 34 |
| 5 | 7 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 188 | 37 |
| 6 | 30 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 35 |
| 7 | 23 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 43 |
| 8 | 19 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 188 | 31 |
| 9 | 6 | 36 | Riley Herbst (i) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 188 | 0 |
| 10 | 28 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 32 |
| 11 | 34 | 13 | Chandler Smith (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 0 |
| 12 | 17 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 188 | 25 |
| 13 | 3 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 188 | 28 |
| 14 | 15 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 188 | 23 |
| 15 | 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 33 |
| 16 | 13 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 188 | 22 |
| 17 | 1 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 188 | 20 |
| 18 | 16 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 188 | 19 |
| 19 | 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 188 | 18 |
| 20 | 31 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 17 |
| 21 | 18 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 188 | 16 |
| 22 | 35 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 15 |
| 23 | 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 188 | 14 |
| 24 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 188 | 24 |
| 25 | 25 | 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 188 | 12 |
| 26 | 26 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 188 | 11 |
| 27 | 33 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 12 |
| 28 | 20 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 188 | 15 |
| 29 | 37 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 187 | 0 |
| 30 | 29 | 15 | Brennan Poole (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 186 | 0 |
| 31 | 21 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 175 | 6 |
| 32 | 5 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 161 | 15 |
| 33 | 14 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 161 | 11 |
| 34 | 22 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 161 | 3 |
| 35 | 38 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 161 | 0 |
| 36 | 27 | 51 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 83 | 0 |
| 37 | 32 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 59 | 1 |
| DSQ | 11 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 188 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 70 among 24 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 4 for 19 laps
* Red flags: 1 for 9 minutes and 57 seconds
* Time of race: 3 hours, 7 minutes, and 25 seconds
* Average speed: 160.097 miles per hour (257.651 km/h)
* Margin of victory: 0.012 seconds

## Media
### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and six-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Dillon Welch, and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
NBC :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Kim Coon Dillon Welch Marty Snider |

### Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace called the race for MRN when the field races thru the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the action from turn 1, Mike Bagley called the action for MRN when the field races down the backstraightaway, and Kurt Becker called the race from the Sunoco tower just outside of turn 4. Steve Post, Georgia Henneberry, Brienne Pedigo, and Jason Toy called the action for MRN from pit lane.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Backstretch: Mike Bagley Turns 3 & 4: Kurt Becker | Steve Post Georgia Henneberry Brienne Pedigo Jason Toy |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | William Byron | 3,136 |
| | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 3,108 (–28) |
| 1 | 3 | Christopher Bell | 3,080 (–56) |
| 7 | 4 | Ryan Blaney | 3,078 (–58) |
| 2 | 5 | Chris Buescher | 3,077 (–59) |
| 1 | 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3,075 (–61) |
| 1 | 7 | Kyle Larson | 3,073 (–63) |
| 1 | 8 | Brad Keselowski | 3,060 (–76) |
| 1 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | 3,058 (–78) |
| 1 | 10 | Bubba Wallace | 3,051 (–85) |
| 5 | 11 | Ross Chastain | 3,050 (–86) |
| | 12 | Kyle Busch | 3,034 (–102) |
| 2 | 13 | Joey Logano | 2,111 (–1,025) |
| | 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 2,111 (–1,025) |
| 1 | 15 | Michael McDowell | 2,103 (–1,033) |
| 3 | 16 | Kevin Harvick | 2,103 (–1,033) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,145 |
| 2 | Toyota | 1,076 (–69) |
| 3 | Ford | 1,065 (–80) |