GEICO 500 Race Preview and Pick
NASCAR Cup Series: GEICO 500
Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 3 p.m. ET (FOX) at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama
Big Names
The bigger-named NASCAR competitors are slowly asserting themselves in the race results.
After Denny Hamlin won on April 3 in Richmond, we had a lesser-known guy in William Byron win at Martinsville.
But most recently, Kyle Busch emerged victorious at Bristol.
He needed a very fortunate turn for him to do so. But a win is a win.
It is really hard and rare to win back-to-back races in the NASCAR Cup Series.
So, the fortuitous circumstances leading to his victory notwithstanding, or perhaps because of them, we want to exclude Kyle Busch from our candidates to win this upcoming race.
Race Info
For this Sunday's race, drivers must complete a total of 188 laps.
As has always been the case this season, there will be three stages for this event.
Stage 1 requires drivers to complete 60 laps.
Stage 2 consists in the next 60 laps.
Stage 3 finishes upon completion of the 188th lap.
By now, an entry list has been published for this race.
This event has 39 teams/drivers entered out of 40 possible spots.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we already know which drivers will compete in this race. All of our usual suspects will be present.
As for the starting lineup, that gets determined via qualifying.
On Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET, a 90-minute qualifying session is scheduled to take place.
It is a single-car, one-lap, two-round qualifying.
Track Info
Unlike Daytona, which has a narrower track, Talladega's track is known to be wide, which makes passing easier.
Greater ease of passing has almost an inverse relationship with the degree significance that we should find in the starting lineup.
At Talladega, starting position is not something that should decide whether we like or dislike a certain driver.
Ryan Blaney, for example, won two races at Talladega after finishing ninth in one and 12th in the other.
In terms of the track and its surface, we are back on the usual asphalt surface.
Talladega Super Speedway is the longest oval on NASCAR's Cup Series circuit.
Each lap is 2.66 miles long. Turns 1 and 2 are each banked at 33 degrees.
Turn 3 is banked at 32.4 degrees, Turn 4 at 32.5 degrees. The tri-oval is banked at 16.5 degrees and the back straight is banked at three degrees.
This is all a tremendous level of banking. Banking is important because it helps drivers corral more momentum for their vehicles.
The length of the track, the width insofar as it minimizes obstacles to passing, and the level of banking here all encourage the great speeds that NASCAR fans aptly love to associate with Talladega.
Driver I Dislike
Martin Truex Jr. is absolutely worth fading at this track.
It is true that, in his last effort here, he produced one of his best performances in many years.
However, he still only finished 12th. Before finishing 12th, he failed to finish in the top 20 10 straight times.
There is simply no historical basis for liking Truex Jr. in Talladega.
Brad Keselowski's history at this track makes him a tempting option.
But his form isn't strong in general right now.
For example, he usually does well at Martinsville. But this season he finished 17th there, which is eight spots below his average finishing position there.
Driver I Like
I like Joey Logano. He is rounding into form with two straight top-three finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series circuit.
Logano has also amassed a nice number of very solid performances at Talladega.
Most recently, he finished third here.
Given his combination of form and track history, I like him more than Keselowski.
In head-to-head options, you should join me in wagering on Logano to finish ahead of Keselowski.
Best Bet: Logano to finish ahead of Keselowski at -120 at Bovada
NASCAR Cup Series: GEICO 500
Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 3 p.m. ET (FOX) at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama
Big Names
The bigger-named NASCAR competitors are slowly asserting themselves in the race results.
After Denny Hamlin won on April 3 in Richmond, we had a lesser-known guy in William Byron win at Martinsville.
But most recently, Kyle Busch emerged victorious at Bristol.
He needed a very fortunate turn for him to do so. But a win is a win.
It is really hard and rare to win back-to-back races in the NASCAR Cup Series.
So, the fortuitous circumstances leading to his victory notwithstanding, or perhaps because of them, we want to exclude Kyle Busch from our candidates to win this upcoming race.
Race Info
For this Sunday's race, drivers must complete a total of 188 laps.
As has always been the case this season, there will be three stages for this event.
Stage 1 requires drivers to complete 60 laps.
Stage 2 consists in the next 60 laps.
Stage 3 finishes upon completion of the 188th lap.
By now, an entry list has been published for this race.
This event has 39 teams/drivers entered out of 40 possible spots.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we already know which drivers will compete in this race. All of our usual suspects will be present.
As for the starting lineup, that gets determined via qualifying.
On Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET, a 90-minute qualifying session is scheduled to take place.
It is a single-car, one-lap, two-round qualifying.
Track Info
Unlike Daytona, which has a narrower track, Talladega's track is known to be wide, which makes passing easier.
Greater ease of passing has almost an inverse relationship with the degree significance that we should find in the starting lineup.
At Talladega, starting position is not something that should decide whether we like or dislike a certain driver.
Ryan Blaney, for example, won two races at Talladega after finishing ninth in one and 12th in the other.
In terms of the track and its surface, we are back on the usual asphalt surface.
Talladega Super Speedway is the longest oval on NASCAR's Cup Series circuit.
Each lap is 2.66 miles long. Turns 1 and 2 are each banked at 33 degrees.
Turn 3 is banked at 32.4 degrees, Turn 4 at 32.5 degrees. The tri-oval is banked at 16.5 degrees and the back straight is banked at three degrees.
This is all a tremendous level of banking. Banking is important because it helps drivers corral more momentum for their vehicles.
The length of the track, the width insofar as it minimizes obstacles to passing, and the level of banking here all encourage the great speeds that NASCAR fans aptly love to associate with Talladega.
Driver I Dislike
Martin Truex Jr. is absolutely worth fading at this track.
It is true that, in his last effort here, he produced one of his best performances in many years.
However, he still only finished 12th. Before finishing 12th, he failed to finish in the top 20 10 straight times.
There is simply no historical basis for liking Truex Jr. in Talladega.
Brad Keselowski's history at this track makes him a tempting option.
But his form isn't strong in general right now.
For example, he usually does well at Martinsville. But this season he finished 17th there, which is eight spots below his average finishing position there.
Driver I Like
I like Joey Logano. He is rounding into form with two straight top-three finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series circuit.
Logano has also amassed a nice number of very solid performances at Talladega.
Most recently, he finished third here.
Given his combination of form and track history, I like him more than Keselowski.
In head-to-head options, you should join me in wagering on Logano to finish ahead of Keselowski.
Best Bet: Logano to finish ahead of Keselowski at -120 at Bovada
