The 2019 GEICO 500 was a
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race
Race, RACE or "The Race" may refer to:
* Race (biology), an informal taxonomic classification within a species, generally within a sub-species
* Race (human categorization), classification of humans into groups based on physical traits, and/or s ...
held on April 28, 2019, at
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway, nicknamed “'Dega”, and formerly named Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS) from 1969 to 1989, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base ...
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
The 2019 NASCAR Cup Series (also known as the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for sponsorship reasons) was the 71st season of NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States, and the 48th modern-era Cup series season. The sea ...
season.
Report
Background
![TalladegaSuperspeedway2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/TalladegaSuperspeedway2.jpg)
Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, is a motorsports complex located north of
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega (, also ) is the county seat of Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It was incorporated in 1835. At the 2020 census, the population was 15,861. Talladega is approximately east of one of the state’s biggest cities, Birmingham.
...
. 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
International Speedway Corporation (ISC) was a corporation whose primary business is the ownership and management of motorsports race tracks. ISC was founded by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. in 1953 for the construction of Daytona International ...
, a business controlled by the
France family
The France family is known as the "first family" of NASCAR racing. NASCAR was founded by Bill France, Sr. in 1948 and to this day France family members own and operate NASCAR. Jim France, one of the sons of the founder, is the current chairman an ...
. Talladega is most known for its steep banking. The track currently hosts NASCAR's
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series,
Xfinity Series
The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...
and
Gander Outdoors Truck Series
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of t ...
. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. In addition to NASC ...
, 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 .
Final practice
Ryan Newman was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 46.905 seconds and a speed of .
Qualifying
Austin Dillon
Austin Reed Dillon (born April 27, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver and reality TV show actor. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racin ...
scored the pole for the race with a time of 49.734 and a speed of .
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)
Race
Stage Results
Stage One
''Laps:'' 55
Stage Two
''Laps:'' 55
Final Stage Results
![Chase elliott (33876859598)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Chase_elliott_%2833876859598%29.jpg)
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:
Media
Television
Fox Sports
Fox Sports is the brand name for a number of sports channels, broadcast divisions, programming, and other media around the world.
The ''Fox Sports'' name has since been used for other sports media assets. These assets are held mainly by the F ...
covered their 19th race at the
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway, nicknamed “'Dega”, and formerly named Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS) from 1969 to 1989, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base ...
.
Mike Joy
Michael Joy (born November 25, 1949) is an American TV sports announcer and who currently serves as the lap-by-lap voice of Fox Sports' coverage of NASCAR. His color analyst is Clint Bowyer. Counting 2022, Joy has been part of the live broadcast ...
, six-time Talladega winner – and all-time restrictor plate race wins record holder –
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is an American former professional stock car racing driver, who is the Vice Chairman for Hendrick Motorsports. He raced full-time from 1993 to 2015, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick M ...
and four-time Talladega winner
Darrell Waltrip called the race in the booth for the race.
Jamie Little
Jamie Little (born April 9, 1978) is an American pit reporter for NASCAR coverage on Fox. Little is a former pit reporter for ESPN/ABC coverage of the Indy Racing League, although she returned to her pit reporting duty for the 2007 and 2008 I ...
, Vince Welch and
Matt Yocum
Matthew Yocum (born April 8, 1968) is a long-standing reporter in motorsports, best known for being a NASCAR pit reporter. He works for CBS as a pit reporter to cover the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) as of 2021. He most recently worked in tha ...
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
Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956) is a former American race car driver and current commentator for NBC. He is best known for winning the Daytona 500 three times (in 1993, 1996, and 2000) and winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series champi ...
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
Mike Bagley is an American motorsports commentator who works for the Motor Racing Network. He is the secondary turn announcer for MRN and has worked for the radio network since 1992 and became a turn announcer in 1998. Since 2008, Bagley has bee ...
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
{{2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup
GEICO 500
The GEICO 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at the Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The race is usually held in April or May. The 1997 event stands as the fastest NASCAR race to date ever run with an average speed of ...
GEICO 500
The GEICO 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at the Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The race is usually held in April or May. The 1997 event stands as the fastest NASCAR race to date ever run with an average speed of ...
GEICO 500
The GEICO 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at the Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The race is usually held in April or May. The 1997 event stands as the fastest NASCAR race to date ever run with an average speed of ...
NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway