# 2021 Sparks 300

The 2021 Sparks 300 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on October 2, 2021, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 107 laps—shortened from 113 laps due to darkness, on the 2.66 mi (4.28 km) asphalt superspeedway, it was the 28th race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the second race of the Playoffs, and the second race of the Round of 12. After "The Big One" occurred late, Brandon Brown was determined as the leader at the time of caution. The race was then called due to darkness, leading to his first career Xfinity series victory.
After the race, Brown unwittingly became associated with politics when NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast's misstating of a crowd chant led to "Let's Go Brandon" becoming a political slogan used against U.S. President Joe Biden.

## 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 is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Absaroka |
| 1 | Josh Berry (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | TMC Transportation |
| 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | TaxSlayer |
| 02 | Brett Moffitt | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Fr8Auctions Camo |
| 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Voyager |
| 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | J. F. Electric |
| 6 | Ryan Vargas (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | MaintenX |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Brandt Professional Agriculture |
| 07 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | G Coin |
| 8 | Sam Mayer (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | QPS Employment Group |
| 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops, Black Rifle Coffee Company |
| 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Nutrien Ag Solutions |
| 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | LeafFilter Gutter Protection |
| 13 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | |
| 15 | Bayley Currey | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Gold Fish Casino Slots |
| 17 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | Black Draft Distillery, Trophy Tractor |
| 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Poppy Bank |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Menards, Little Hug |
| 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | DEX Imaging |
| 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | Carquest |
| 23 | Blaine Perkins | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Circle B Diecast |
| 26 | Santino Ferrucci | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | Screamin' Sicilian Pizza, Hy-Vee |
| 31 | Jordan Anderson (i) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Bommarito Automotive Group |
| 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Can-Am Off-Road |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | CMR Construction & Roofing |
| 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | AAN Adjusters |
| 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | Bowhunters United |
| 48 | Jade Buford (R) | Big Machine Racing Team | Chevrolet | Big Machine Vodka Spiked Cooler |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | All South Electric |
| 52 | Joey Gase | Means Racing | Chevrolet | XEO Cross-Eyed Owl, Sparks Energy |
| 54 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Sport Clips Haircuts |
| 61 | David Starr | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | Whataburger |
| 66 | Jason White | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | A-Game Energy "The Ultimate In Hydration" |
| 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | Larry's Hard Lemonade |
| 74 | C. J. McLaughlin | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | Integrated Recycling Technologies |
| 78 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | Gerber Collison & Glass |
| 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Alpha Prime Bites |
| 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Starbrite |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| 99 | J. J. Yeley | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevy | Figgers Wireless |
| Official entry list |||||

## Qualifying

Justin Allgaier was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula. Timmy Hill did not have enough points to qualify for the race.

### Starting lineup

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 1 | Josh Berry (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 54 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 8 | Sam Mayer (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 02 | Brett Moffitt | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 15 | Bayley Currey (i) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 6 | Ryan Vargas (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 23 | Blaine Perkins | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 48 | Jade Buford (R) | Big Machine Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 78 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 28 | 61 | David Starr | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota |
| 29 | 31 | Jordan Anderson (i) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 31 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 36 | Alex Labbe | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 26 | Santino Ferrucci | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota |
| 34 | 66 | Jason White | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 35 | 17 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 74 | C. J. McLaughlin | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 99 | J. J. Yeley | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 52 | Joey Gase | Means Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 40 | 07 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| 41 | 13 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official qualifying results |||||

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

Stage One Laps: 25
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 54 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 2 | 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 23 | Blaine Perkins | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
Stage Two Laps: 25
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 23 | Blaine Perkins | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 02 | Brett Moffitt | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 54 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 4 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |

### Final Stage Results

Laps:
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points | Status |
| 1 | 19 | 68 | Brandon Brown | Brandonbilt Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 40 | Running |
| 2 | 7 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 107 | 38 | Running |
| 3 | 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 44 | Running |
| 4 | 6 | 18 | Daniel Hemric | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 107 | 34 | Running |
| 5 | 29 | 31 | Jordan Anderson (i) | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 0 | Running |
| 6 | 8 | 11 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 34 | Running |
| 7 | 14 | 10 | Jeb Burton | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 44 | Running |
| 8 | 2 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 107 | 38 | Running |
| 9 | 3 | 1 | Josh Berry | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 28 | Running |
| 10 | 40 | 07 | Joe Graf Jr. | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 27 | Running |
| 11 | 17 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 107 | 26 | Running |
| 12 | 26 | 48 | Jade Buford | Big Machine Racing Team | Chevrolet | 107 | 25 | Running |
| 13 | 23 | 23 | Blaine Perkins | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 36 | Running |
| 14 | 24 | 92 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 23 | Running |
| 15 | 39 | 52 | Joey Gase | Jimmy Means Racing | Ford | 107 | 22 | Running |
| 16 | 38 | 17 | J. J. Yeley | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 21 | Running |
| 17 | 33 | 26 | Santino Ferrucci | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 107 | 20 | Running |
| 18 | 18 | 44 | Tommy Joe Martins | Martins Motorsports | Chevrolet | 107 | 19 | Running |
| 19 | 35 | 17 | Garrett Smithley | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 18 | Running |
| 20 | 25 | 47 | Kyle Weatherman | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 17 | Running |
| 21 | 32 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 107 | 16 | Running |
| 22 | 11 | 54 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 107 | 0 | Running |
| 23 | 30 | 5 | Matt Mills | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 106 | 14 | Running |
| 24 | 15 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 104 | 13 | Running |
| 25 | 9 | 20 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 101 | 22 | Accident |
| 26 | 16 | 02 | Brett Moffitt | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 101 | 20 | Accident |
| 27 | 13 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 101 | 25 | Accident |
| 28 | 34 | 66 | Jason White | MBM Motorsports | Ford | 101 | 9 | Accident |
| 29 | 31 | 0 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 93 | 8 | Accident |
| 30 | 4 | 9 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 88 | 8 | Accident |
| 31 | 10 | 2 | Myatt Snider | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | 11 | Accident |
| 32 | 37 | 90 | Caesar Bacarella | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | 5 | Accident |
| 33 | 22 | 6 | Ryan Vargas | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 88 | 4 | Accident |
| 34 | 36 | 74 | C. J. McLaughlin | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | 3 | Accident |
| 35 | 27 | 78 | Mason Massey | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 88 | 2 | Accident |
| 36 | 20 | 15 | Bayley Currey (i) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 73 | 0 | Driveshaft |
| 37 | 21 | 4 | Landon Cassill | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 | 1 | Engine |
| 38 | 12 | 8 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 24 | 1 | Accident |
| 39 | 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 24 | 1 | Accident |
| 40 | 28 | 61 | David Starr | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 20 | 1 | Engine |
| Official race results |||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 33 among 17 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 5 for 21
* Time of race: 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 55 seconds
* Average speed: 128.486 mph (206.778 km/h)