2019 GEICO 500

The 2019 GEICO 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on April 28, 2019, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66 mile (4.28 km) superspeedway, it was the 10th race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

Background

Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, 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. A tri-oval, the track was constructed in 1969 by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking. The track currently hosts NASCAR's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors 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 is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km).

Entry list

Practice

First practice

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 47.249 seconds and a speed of 202.671 mph (326.167 km/h).^[10]

Final practice

Ryan Newman was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 46.905 seconds and a speed of 204.157 mph (328.559 km/h).^[11]

Qualifying

Austin Dillon scored the pole for the race with a time of 49.734 and a speed of 192.544 mph (309.870 km/h).^[12]

Qualifying results

• Tyler Reddick practiced and qualified the No. 62 for Brendan Gaughan, who was attending his son’s first communion.
• Eight cars failed post-qualifying inspection and would be forced to drop to the rear at the start (Nos. 6, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27, 51)^[13]

Race

Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 55

Stage Two Laps: 55

Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 78

Race statistics

• Lead changes: 37 among 15 different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 6 for 21
• Red flags: 1 for 8 minutes and 47 seconds
• Time of race: 3 hours, 5 minutes and 59 seconds
• Average speed: 161.331 miles per hour (259.637 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports covered their 19th race at the Talladega Superspeedway. Mike Joy, six-time Talladega winner – and all-time restrictor plate race wins record holder – Jeff Gordon and four-time Talladega winner Darrell Waltrip called the race in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the action on pit road for the television side.

Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and two-time Talladega winner Dale Jarrett called the race in the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform inside the backstretch when the field raced down the backstretch. Kurt Becker called the race from the Sunoco spotters stand outside turn 4 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Winston Kelley, Kim Coon, Steve Post, and Dillon Welch worked pit road for the radio side.

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings

• Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
• . – Driver has clinched a position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

References

1. ^ "2019 schedule". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. May 5, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
2. ^ "Talladega Superspeedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
3. ^ "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
4. ^ "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
5. ^ "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
6. ^ "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
7. ^ "GEICO 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
8. ^ "Points standings". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
9. ^ "GEICO 500 ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
10. ^ Utter, Jim (April 26, 2019). "Kurt Busch tops first Cup practice at Talladega at over 202 mph". Motorsport.com. Lincoln, Alabama: Motorsport Network. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
11. ^ Utter, Jim (April 26, 2019). "Despite rule changes, Ryan Newman tops 204 mph at Talladega". Motorsport.com. Lincoln, Alabama: Motorsport Network. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
12. ^ Utter, Jim (April 27, 2019). "Austin Dillon tops Almirola to win Cup pole at Talladega". Motorsport.com. Lincoln, Alabama: Motorsport Network. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
13. ^ "Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Fenway cars to the rear at Talladega | NASCAR.com". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2019-04-28.