Winners: Ross Chastain (Cup); Noah Gragson (Xfinity); Nick Sanchez (ARCA Series) plus Landen Lewis (ARCA Series West)
NASCAR Cup
Ross Chastain Converts Last-Lap Pass, Wins Talladega Thriller
One lap. That’s all it took for Ross Chastain to drop a watermelon and raise a trophy in celebration. The 29-year-old Floridian led only the last — typically frantic — lap in the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday to take his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory.
Chastain was running third behind Erik Jones and Kyle Larson with one lap remaining. Larson pulled out of line to the outside, poised to make a pass for the lead. But Jones pulled in front of Larson to block the momentum while Chastain kept his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet steady below them maintaining pace, ultimately pulling away to the win as the other two cars lost momentum battling each other.
“Holy cow, we didn’t do anything,’’ Chastain yelled on his team radio after taking the checkered flag by a mere 0.105 seconds. “We just stayed down there.’’
Appreciation.
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) April 25, 2022
1 million @MooseFraternity members, America’s 🍉 farmers, all the men and women at Trackhouse. These wins are for all of us. @TeamTrackhouse @TeamChevy @WatermelonBoard #WatermelonEveryday | #FeelWhole pic.twitter.com/HCzdWHaGqv
Pole: Christopher Bell
Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, May 1 for the DuraMAX Drydene 400 presented by RelaDyne at Dover Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Xfinity
Noah Gragson Holds Off Jeffrey Earnhardt, Wins in Talladega Overtime
It was an Earnhardt Saturday in Earnhardt country.
Grabbing the lead on a restart in the third overtime, Noah Gragson — driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports — won the Ag-Pro 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway.
Gragson beat Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, who was driving a black No. 3 Chevrolet in a special appearance for Richard Childress Racing, which fielded Dale Sr.’s car during his heyday.
“This team at JR Motorsports, they never quit,” Gragson said. “We’ve had a kind of a rough last month, just not getting the finishes that we wanted … I couldn’t make moves on the top there very much at the beginning of the race, so I just kept running the bottom — running the bottom — and we‘d get shuffled back and keep moving back up.
“I‘m living the dream here — I‘m just so thankful to get this opportunity,” said Earnhardt, whose crew chief, FOX Sports broadcaster Larry McReynolds, was serving his first stint on a pit box since 2000. “Thanks to RCR for building this amazing race car. We were fast all weekend long. “We just fell a little short there, but congrats to Noah. He‘s good at plate races.”
Great race today @NoahGragson! https://t.co/ZzKF4Qh9PE
— Bass Pro Shops (@BassProShops) April 23, 2022
Pole: Jeffrey Earnhardt
Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, Apr. 30 for the A-GAME 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Trucks
Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, May 6 for the Dead On Tools 200 at Darlington Raceway.
ARCA
Nick Sanchez Slips Through to Steal Victory at Talladega for Second ARCA Menards Series Win
When Nick Sanchez got shuffled out of the lead pack with 11 laps to go in Saturday’s General Tire 200, it appeared his shot at winning at Talladega Superspeedway was over.
Two laps later, Sanchez made a daring, three-wide move to take the race lead moments before a caution flag waved to end the race early, allowing him to claim his second ARCA Menards Series victory dating back to last year and first of the 2022 season.
The ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega ended nine laps early so Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race could start on time. Prior to a restart with 13 laps left, teams were informed that the next flag – checkered or caution – would end the race.
“They told me the last caution was going to end it, so I was driving pretty aggressive just trying to get to the front before someone wrecked,” Sanchez said.
“It was kind of every man for himself right there,” Sanchez said. “Me and my Max Siegel No. 2 did great. Thank you Max Siegel, everyone from NASCAR Drive for Diversity and Team Chevy.”
Rev'd up for the #GeneralTire200 victory 🏆@Nicksanchez080 | @RevRacin pic.twitter.com/CFdiBTuvPX
— Talladega Superspeedway (@TALLADEGA) April 25, 2022
Pole: Drew Dollar
Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, May 14 for the Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway.
ARCA - West
Landen Lewis Leans on Mentor Ron Hornaday Jr.’s Advice, Wins West Series Debut at Kern County
Less than a year after winning in just his second ARCA Menards Series appearance at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois, Lewis managed to take home a checkered flag in his ARCA Menards Series West debut Saturday evening in the Salute to the Oil Industry NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California.
Although Kern County is more than 2,500 miles away from his hometown of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, Lewis quickly took a liking to the half-mile facility during the weekend and is eager to make more trips to the West Coast following his victory.
“I’m kind of speechless at the moment,” Lewis said in Victory Lane. “This place is pretty freaking awesome, and I’m definitely going to be making a trip back while also running on the West tour some more.”
Hear from @landenlewis99 after his @ARCA_Racing West win @KernRaceway in the #NAPAAUTOPARTS150 pic.twitter.com/XKP8z1AMmu
— Steven Blakesley (@StevenBlakesley) April 24, 2022
Pole: P.J. Pedroncelli
Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, June 4 for the Portland 100 at Portland International Raceway.
Superstar Racing Experience
Next Race: The SRX Series will return on 06/18/2022 for the SRX Series Season Opener at Five Flags Speedway.
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