Asterisk Mark Report – Talladega #1 2023
Bubba Wallace – This spring at Talladega, I wouldn’t argue with anybody who said Bubba Wallace had the best car, but he finished an asterisk mark 28th after crashing while leading in overtime #2. In the race, Wallace finished 4th in Stage #2, led the 2nd most laps (35), had the 2nd best average running position (9.4) and earned the 3rd best driver rating.
Aric Almirola – This spring at Talladega, Almirola had one of the best cars but finished an asterisk mark 22nd. In the race, Almirola won Stage #2, had the best average running position (8.9), led 11 laps, was running in 2nd at the start of overtime #2 but then during the final overtime the #10 was on fumes and Almirola dropped back like a rock.
Ty Gibbs – This spring at Talladega, Ty Gibbs was near the front at the end but he finished an asterisk mark 31st. At the start of overtime #2 while running in 5th, Ty Gibbs ran out of gas which led to his misleading finish.
Martin Truex Jr. – Talladega has been brutal to Martin Truex Jr. This spring, Truex looked poised to get a top ten but on the last lap while running in 8th he crashed which led to his 27th.
Austin Dillon – This spring at Talladega, Austin Dillon didn’t show much but he wasn’t 38th place bad. On lap 141 while running in the 30’s he crashed.
Zane Smith – This spring in the #38, Zane Smith crashed and finished 35th. On lap 141 he was collateral damage in the Burton/Gragson bump gone bad. One lap prior to his demise, Smith was running in 27th.
Harrison Burton – This spring at Talladega, Harrison Burton actually looked great, but he crashed and finished 36th. In the race, Burton led 11 laps, finished 5th in Stage #2 but on lap 141 while leading the inside lane, Burton crashed after a bad bump from Gragson.
Michael McDowell – How good was Michael McDowell this spring? I don’t know but he certainly wasn’t 35th place bad. On lap 2 while running in 18th, McDowell slid into the wall and spun which brought out the first caution. McDowell reported to his team, something broke so there’s absolutely no takeaways from his afternoon.
Ryan Preece – This spring, Ryan Preece showed potential but late in the race when Kyle Larson spun, Preece nailed him which led to his 34th. In the race, Preece finished 9th in Stage #1, 7th in Stage #2 but then in overtime he nailed Kyle Larson while running around 20th.
Kyle Larson – This spring at Talladega, it looked like Kyle Larson would sneak in a good result but he still ended up crashing at the end which led to his 33rd. In the race, Larson finished 5th in Stage #1, was running in 6th before the start of overtime but then shortly after a restart in overtime, Larson was collected in Chastain caused carnage which led to him getting plowed into by Preece.
Joey Logano – This spring, Joey Logano was a top ten contender but finished an asterisk mark 30th after having multiple problems in the second half of the race. In the race, Logano finished 8th in Stage #1, was running in 6th on lap 100 but then on lap 103 during green flag pit stops, Logano was caught speeding on pit road. From that point on, Logano just seemed to log laps. Late in the race, on lap 182 when he was starting to move forwards a little (17th), Logano crashed.
AJ Allmendinger – This spring at Talladega, AJ Allmendinger was a last lap crasher and finished 29th. At the time of his demise, Allmendinger was running great in 6th.
Austin Cindric – This spring at Talladega, Austin Cindric was poised to finish well but on the last lap while running in 4th he crashed which led to his 26th.
Ross Chastain – This spring at Talladega, the #1 was racy and a top five contender but Ross Chastain finished an asterisk mark 23rd. At the start of overtime #1 he was in 5th but then he crashed Noah Gragson which had him pitting which ruined his afternoon.
Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick was a top five contender this spring at Talladega at the end but he finished an asterisk mark 21st. At the start of overtime Harvick was running in 4th but he was damaged in the Gragson/Chastain crash which led to his misleading finish.
Denny Hamlin – This spring at Talladega, Denny Hamlin was a top five contender but finished an asterisk mark 17th. In the race, Hamlin finished 8th in Stage #2, led 7 laps and was running in 5th with 10 laps to go. Late in the race, Hamlin was low on gas and had to come in for it during an overtime caution.
