Asterisk Mark Report – Talladega
Denny Hamlin – Denny Hamlin had one of the best cars this spring at Talladega but he finished an asterisk mark 18th. In the race, Hamlin was the leader with 20 to go (led 9 laps) but then with 4 laps to go while running in 8th, Hamlin had some apparent fuel problem and slowed on the track which nosedived him in the running order late.
Christopher Bell – Christopher Bell looked solid this spring at Talladega, but his race wasn’t incident free and he finished a lack luster 22nd. In the race, Bell finished 3rd in Stage #1, led 7 laps, had an 11.5 average running position but then during the final pit cycle while he was leaving pit road, Bell had contact with Kyle Busch and hit the inside wall while leaving pit road. Just prior to that he was running in 9th.
Brad Keselowski – How strong was 6-time Talladega winner, Brad Keselowski this spring in the #6? It’s hard to say because he got a speeding penalty during the first green flag pit stop and then a speeding penalty during his last. I think there’s no doubt he was better than his 23rd though.
William Byron – This spring, William Byron was arguably the best. In the race he finished 4th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a 4.9 average running position, led a race high 38 laps, earned the 3rd best driver rating but finished 15th. With 5 to go he was running 3rd and at the start of the final lap he was in 5th. It was just a really bad final lap for him.
Bubba Wallace – This spring at Talladega, Bubba Wallace had a strong showing but finished a misleading 17th. In the race, Wallace led 15 laps, won Stage #1, finished just outside the top ten in Stage #2 and was running in 11th at the start of the final lap. Coming to the finish line, Wallace crashed.
Tyler Reddick – This spring at Talladega, Tyler Reddick was an early engine DNF’er which led to his 38th. Reddick only completed 31 laps so it’s hard to have any real takeaways.
Chris Buescher -This spring, Buescher finished 38th after crashing shortly before the end of Stage #1. I don’t think he ever really tried to flex his muscles in the race and shortly before his demise he was running in the high-teens.
Chase Briscoe – This spring, it’s hard to say how good Briscoe was because he wrecked on lap 56 when Hemric blew up and went up the track which marked the end of his race and led to his 37th. Just prior to his demise, Briscoe was running around the mid-teens.
Daniel Hemric – Daniel Hemric looked pretty good this spring at Talladega but on lap 56 while running in 10th he had a sudden engine failure, went up the track and then collected Buescher and Briscoe.
Harrison Burton – This spring, Burton had a short afternoon and finished 34th after being involved in the lap 90 “Restart Big One.” On lap 80 shortly before his demise, Burton was running in 14th.
Ty Dillon – Ty Dillon has been consistent at Talladega and minus this spring his average finish is 12.0. This spring, Dillon was caught up in the lap 90 “Big One” which led to his 33rd. Dillon never really tried to show his hand and on lap 80 which was shortly before his demise he was running in 15th.
Joey Logano – Joey Logano has frequently been down on his luck here and in 3 of the last 4 races he’s finished 26th or worse. This spring, Logano showed speed but crashed on lap 90 while running in 6th which led to his 32nd. “Performance Wise”, there’s no doubt he had a good car.
Daniel Suarez – Daniel Suarez led 28 laps early this spring at Talladega but then on lap 90 he was collected in the “Big One” which led to his 31st. On lap 80, ten laps before his demise he was running in 24th.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – This spring at Talladega, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. showed potential, but he crashed. In Stage #1 he finished 10th but then in Stage #2 he was caught up in the lap 90 “Big One” which led to his 30th.
Cole Custer – This spring, Custer’s engine blew up and he finished 29th. On lap 92 he was running in 24th, but then on lap 99 it blew up!
Austin Cindric – Austin Cindric finished 21st this spring, but I wouldn’t read into his result too much since he was damaged in the lap 90 “Big One.”
Todd Gilliland – This spring at Talladega, Todd Gilliland had a short afternoon and crashed which led to his 27th. On lap 80 he was running in 20th, and then on lap 90 he was caught up in a “Restart Big One.”
