# 2021 YellaWood 500

The 2021 YellaWood 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 4, 2021, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Originally scheduled for 188 laps on the 2.66 mi (4.28 km) asphalt superspeedway, the race was shortened to 117 laps by rain. It was the 31st race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the fifth race of the Playoffs, and the second race of the Round of 12. The race was postponed from Sunday, October 3 to Monday, October 4, due to rain. Bubba Wallace took his first victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. It was the first time since the development of the 2014 NASCAR Playoffs format that a driver not in either level of playoffs had won a race, and the first non-playoff driver to win a race since the 2013 Talladega playoff race, as well the first win for an African-American driver in the Cup Series since Wendell Scott's win in 1963.
It was the shortest Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, and only the fourth Cup Series race to be shortened at Talladega (the May 1974 race was shortened to 170 laps due to the Energy Crisis, the May 1987 race was shortened to 178 laps by darkness after catch fencing had to be repaired, and the July 1996 race was shortened to 129 laps because of a long rain delay and subsequent darkness). It was the third of five national series races to be shortened in 2021 at Talladega.

## 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 Camping World 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 are ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Justin Haley (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 66 | James Davison | MBM Motorsports | Ford |
| 77 | Justin Allgaier (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 96 | Landon Cassill (i) | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 8 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 9 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 21 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 23 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 31 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 33 | 77 | Justin Allgaier (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 35 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 53 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 15 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 16 | Justin Haley (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 66 | James Davison | MBM Motorsports | Ford |
| 40 | 96 | Landon Cassill (i) | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 57
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 19 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 117 | 50 |
| 2 | 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 117 | 52 |
| 3 | 8 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 117 | 51 |
| 4 | 14 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 42 |
| 5 | 12 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 117 | 38 |
| 6 | 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 117 | 46 |
| 7 | 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 117 | 34 |
| 8 | 9 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 117 | 39 |
| 9 | 26 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 117 | 30 |
| 10 | 30 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 117 | 28 |
| 11 | 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 26 |
| 12 | 6 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 117 | 25 |
| 13 | 28 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 117 | 24 |
| 14 | 17 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 117 | 23 |
| 15 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 117 | 27 |
| 16 | 21 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 21 |
| 17 | 22 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 117 | 20 |
| 18 | 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 117 | 23 |
| 19 | 35 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 18 |
| 20 | 38 | 16 | Justin Haley (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 0 |
| 21 | 25 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 117 | 16 |
| 22 | 29 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 117 | 15 |
| 23 | 18 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 117 | 14 |
| 24 | 40 | 96 | Landon Cassill (i) | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 117 | 0 |
| 25 | 36 | 53 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 117 | 0 |
| 26 | 20 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 117 | 11 |
| 27 | 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 117 | 10 |
| 28 | 31 | 51 | Cody Ware | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 0 |
| 29 | 37 | 15 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 117 | 0 |
| 30 | 32 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 117 | 0 |
| 31 | 34 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 117 | 6 |
| 32 | 27 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 116 | 5 |
| 33 | 23 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 116 | 7 |
| 34 | 39 | 66 | James Davison | MBM Motorsports | Ford | 116 | 3 |
| 35 | 15 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 115 | 2 |
| 36 | 10 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 1 |
| 37 | 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 1 |
| 38 | 11 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 97 | 2 |
| 39 | 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 97 | 1 |
| 40 | 33 | 77 | Justin Allgaier (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 55 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||
NOTE: The final stage was cancelled. By NASCAR rule, the top ten earned stage points at the point the race was terminated late in the second stage.

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 35 among 19 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 5 for 27
* Red flags: 2 (1 for weather, 1 for 18 minutes and 20 seconds)
* Time of race: 2 hours, 23 minutes and 24 seconds
* Average speed: 130.218 miles per hour (209.566 km/h)

## 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, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties from pit lane. Rutledge Wood handled the features from the track.
NBCSN :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | Features reporter |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty Snider Kelli Stavast | Rutledge Wood |

### 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 Kyle Rickey called the race from the Sunoco tower just outside of turn 4. Steve Post, Kim Coon, and Hannah Newhouse 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: Kyle Rickey | Steve Post Kim Coon Hannah Newhouse |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 3,116 |
| 1 | 2 | Kyle Larson | 3,097 (–19) |
| 4 | 3 | Joey Logano | 3,096 (–20) |
| 4 | 4 | Brad Keselowski | 3,095 (–21) |
| 1 | 5 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3,095 (–21) |
| 1 | 6 | Ryan Blaney | 3,090 (–26) |
| 1 | 7 | Chase Elliott | 3,084 (–32) |
| 1 | 8 | Kyle Busch | 3,084 (–32) |
| 1 | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 3,075 (–41) |
| 2 | 10 | Christopher Bell | 3,056 (–60) |
| 2 | 11 | William Byron | 3,040 (–76) |
| 1 | 12 | Alex Bowman | 3,032 (–84) |
| 1 | 13 | Kurt Busch | 2,146 (–970) |
| 1 | 14 | Tyler Reddick | 2,125 (–991) |
| | 15 | Aric Almirola | 2,104 (–1,012) |
| | 16 | Michael McDowell | 2,064 (–1,052) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Chevrolet | 1,136 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 1,070 (–66) |
| 1 | 3 | Ford | 1,068 (–68) |