The next stop for the NASCAR Cup Series will be a classic. The next race will be in Talladega for the Geico 500. This is the second plate race of the 2021 season and the first in Talladega. This will be a race where the big one will loom at every corner on, on every lap, at any moment. One mistake can take out half the field and drivers will be put to the test on NASCAR’s largest superspeedway.
2020
Last year the NASCAR Cup Series went to Talladega was in the playoffs. It was the second race in the Round of 12. Following a wild race, Denny Hamlin won at Talladega. This race featured many wrecks as 16 cars finished in the garage afterward. Hamlin’s win clinched a spot in the Round of 8. Chase Elliott led the most laps that day when he led 41 out of 200.
Key Starting Positions for Talladega
Once again going into this race there was no prior practice or qualifying. Because of this Denny Hamlin will start in the first position. On the outside of the front row will be Joey Logano. Martin Truex Jr will be on the inside of row two starting 3rd. On the outside of row two in the fourth position will be William Byron. Finishing out the top five will be Byron’s teammate, the last week’s winner Alex Bowman.
Talladega Odds
In a race where every single car in the field has a chance to win it is rather difficult to bet on anyone to win. The Daytona 500 was a perfect example when Michael McDowell won. It goes to show that plate racing is a dream scenario for the underfunded teams. However, the odds for Sunday are still a good help when betting for the Geico 500.
Currently last falls winner Denny Hamlin is favored to win at +650. There is a big gap for the driver with the second-best odds. Second is the 22 of Joey Logano at +900. The third-best odds to win go to the 12 of Ryan Blaney at +1000. There is a tie for the fourth-best odds as both Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott at +1100.
Geico 500 information
Talladega is a 2.66-mile Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It is the largest superspeedway in NASCAR. The green flag is scheduled for 2 pm eastern time, 11 am pacific. Currently, the weather will not be an issue as it will be 73 degrees and partly cloudy. The race distance is 188 laps and 500 miles. Stages one and two will be 60 laps and the final stage will be 68 laps. Pit road speed will be a quick 55 MPH. Caution speed will be 70 MPH. The race will be televised on FOX with coverage beginning at 1:30 pm eastern time and 10:30 am pacific. In Canada, the race will be televised on TSN. The Geico 500 will also be heard on the Motor Racing Network and on SiriusXM NASCAR radio channel 90.
What to expect
The Geico 500 will be a huge opportunity for everyone to win. It is the type of race where anyone can win but trouble still looms large. The big one will remain a threat from the drop of the green flag right up until the checkered flag. It is anyone’s but the drivers will need to go through the extra distance in order to win in NASCAR’s highest level.
