2025 YellaWood 500

2025 YellaWood 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 34 of 36 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series
Date October 19, 2025 (2025-10-19)
Location Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 2.66 miles (4.28 km)
Distance 193 laps, 513.38 mi (826.204 km)
Scheduled distance 188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.8 km)
Average speed 149.178 miles per hour (240.079 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Spire Motorsports
Time 52.481
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 35
Fastest lap
Driver Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports
Time 48.704
Winner
No. 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Leigh Diffey, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte.
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth announcers Alex Hayden, Kyle Rickey and Todd Gordon
Turn announcers Dave Moody (1 & 2), Tim Catalfamo (Backstretch), and Chris Wilner (3 & 4)

The 2025 YellaWood 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 19, 2025, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 193 laps, extended from 188 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 2.66 mi (4.28 km) asphalt superspeedway, it was the 34th race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, eighth race of the Playoffs, and second race of the Round of 8.

Chase Briscoe won the race. Todd Gilliland finished 2nd, and Ty Gibbs finished 3rd. Bubba Wallace and Cole Custer rounded out the top five, and Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Zane Smith, and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top ten.

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 Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman 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 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km).

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (P) denotes playoff driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford
5 Kyle Larson (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford
7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
11 Denny Hamlin (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney (P) Team Penske Ford
16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford
19 Chase Briscoe (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano (P) Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
35 Riley Herbst (R) 23XI Racing Toyota
38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford
42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota
43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota
45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford
54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford
62 Anthony Alfredo (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
66 Casey Mears Garage 66 Chevrolet
71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

Qualifying

Michael McDowell scored the pole for the race with a time of 52.481 and a speed of 182.466 mph (293.651 km/h).[7]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 52.481 182.466
2 19 Chase Briscoe (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.500 182.400
3 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.558 182.199
4 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 52.563 182.181
5 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 52.582 182.116
6 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 52.614 182.005
7 20 Christopher Bell (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.660 181.846
8 12 Ryan Blaney (P) Team Penske Ford 52.679 181.780
9 35 Riley Herbst (R) 23XI Racing Toyota 52.692 181.735
10 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 52.694 181.728
11 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.769 181.470
12 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 52.773 181.456
13 24 William Byron (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.774 181.453
14 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 52.802 181.357
15 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 52.810 181.329
16 22 Joey Logano (P) Team Penske Ford 52.819 181.298
17 11 Denny Hamlin (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.819 181.292
18 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 52.854 181.178
19 5 Kyle Larson (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.871 181.120
20 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 52.889 181.058
21 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 52.918 180.959
22 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 52.937 180.894
23 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 52.545 180.867
24 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 52.555 180.833
25 9 Chase Elliott (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 52.959 180.819
26 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 52.981 180.744
27 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 52.996 180.693
28 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 53.000 180.679
29 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.009 180.649
30 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 53.022 180.604
31 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 53.098 180.346
32 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 53.113 180.295
33 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 53.115 180.288
34 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 53.122 180.264
35 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 53.245 179.848
36 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 53.327 179.571
37 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 53.430 179.225
38 62 Anthony Alfredo (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 53.483 179.048
39 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 53.632 178.550
40 66 Casey Mears Garage 66 Ford 53.930 177.564
Official qualifying results

Race

Race results

Stage results

Stage One Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 9
3 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 8
4 12 Ryan Blaney (P) Team Penske Ford 7
5 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 6
6 22 Joey Logano (P) Team Penske Ford 5
7 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 4
8 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 20 Christopher Bell (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 19 Chase Briscoe (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 5 Kyle Larson (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 24 William Byron (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 7
5 20 Christopher Bell (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 4
8 12 Ryan Blaney (P) Team Penske Ford 3
9 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 2
10 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 68

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 2 19 Chase Briscoe (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 193 50
2 27 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 193 39
3 18 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 193 49
4 10 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 193 39
5 12 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 193 32
6 32 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 193 41
7 15 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 193 39
8 7 20 Christopher Bell (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 193 36
9 23 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 193 32
10 20 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 193 27
11 31 88 Shane van Gisbergen (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 193 26
12 26 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 193 25
13 24 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 193 24
14 28 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 193 33
15 5 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 193 22
16 16 22 Joey Logano (P) Team Penske Ford 193 26
17 1 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 193 24
18 40 66 Casey Mears Garage 66 Ford 193 0
19 3 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 193 18
20 29 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 193 17
21 38 62 Anthony Alfredo (i) Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 193 0
22 33 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 193 0
23 8 12 Ryan Blaney (P) Team Penske Ford 193 24
24 17 11 Denny Hamlin (P) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 193 13
25 13 24 William Byron (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 193 19
26 19 5 Kyle Larson (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 193 20
27 21 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 191 10
28 39 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 187 0
29 11 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 187 9
30 14 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 186 7
31 35 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 165 6
32 9 35 Riley Herbst (R) 23XI Racing Toyota 141 5
33 6 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 133 4
34 4 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 77 3
35 30 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 55 2
36 36 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 51 1
37 34 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 51 1
38 37 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 51 1
39 22 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 51 1
40 25 9 Chase Elliott (P) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 1
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 77 among 27 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 28
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 26 minutes, and 29 seconds
  • Average speed: 149.178 miles per hour (240.079 km/h)

Media

Television

NBC covered the race on the television side. Leigh Diffey, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Marty Snider, and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

NBC
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Leigh Diffey
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Dave Burns
Kim Coon
Marty Snider
Dillon Welch

Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Kyle Rickey and former championship winning crew chief Todd Gordon called the race for MRN when the field races through the tri-oval. Dave Moody called the action from turn 1, Tim Catalfamo called the action for MRN when the field races down the back straightaway, and Chris Wilner called the race from the Sunoco tower just outside of turn 4. Steve Post, Jason Toy, Jacklyn Drake and PRN Radio's Brad Gillie called the action for MRN from pit lane.

MRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Kyle Rickey
Announcer: Todd Gordon
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Backstretch: Tim Catalfamo
Turns 3 & 4: Chris Wilner
Steve Post
Jason Toy
Jacklyn Drake
Brad Gillie

Standings after the race

References

  1. ^ "2025 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. ^ "Talladega SuperSpeedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Sturniolo, Zach (August 29, 2024). "NASCAR reveals milestone 2025 Cup Series schedule, complete with international flair, return to roots". NASCAR. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "Yellawood 500 Results". Racing-Reference. October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  7. ^ DeGroot, Nick (October 18, 2025). "Michael McDowell earns Talladega NASCAR Cup pole for Chevrolet and Spire". Motorsport.com. Lincoln, Alabama: Motorsport Network. Retrieved October 18, 2025.