NASCAR GEICO 500 race at Talladega: How to watch, starting lineup and predictions

Superspeedway racing is back at Talladega this weekend, and although NASCAR has issued new safety rules aimed at slowing down the cars and reducing the likelihood of drafting, Cup drivers said they’re not easing up.

“When it comes to an incident like what happened at Daytona, you don’t let that change any move you’re going to make,” No. 32 driver Corey LaJoie said Friday. “Especially when you get down to it and you’re racing for the win.”

NASCAR issued a list of car safety enhancements in light of Ryan Newman’s crash at this year’s Daytona 500, which will be implemented at superspeedway races beginning with Sunday’s GEICO 500.

Changes include eliminating aeroducts at superspeedways, shrinking the throttle body to reduce the horsepower — and therefore car speed — and adding more internal structural support pieces to the roll cage.

“You kind of leave the safety of the cars up to NASCAR,” LaJoie said. “(They) do a great job with evaluating the data they have at hand and making our cars safe (and) the competition as close as they reasonably can.”

Fans are also getting a safety update from NASCAR. The sport is allowing 5,000 guests in the frontstretch grandstands and tower at Talladega with a set of COVID-19 event protocols, including staggered entry to the race, required temperature forehead scan and mask-wearing onsite as well as no coolers.

NASCAR released a video to ticket holders explaining the coronavirus procedures.

“We’re committed to doing everything we can to keep you safe and to make sure you have a spectacular race day,” the video said.

Close competition among Joe Gibbs Racing drivers could deliver that excitement for Father’s Day, as three of the team’s drivers — Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch — are starting in first, second and third on the grid, respectively, by random draw. While Busch and Hamlin both have wins at Talladega, a victory for the No. 19 driver would be a first for him at the superspeedway in the Cup Series. A win on Sunday would be the first checkered flag of the season for reigning Cup champion Busch.

Two-time Daytona 500 winner Hamlin should be a strong contender at the superspeedway, as he is also leading the field with three race wins this season. But don’t count out Team Penske drivers. Although Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano each have three wins over the last 11 events at the track, and their Penske teammate Ryan Blaney won the last race at Talladega last October.

While the 500-mile race, which is running without any practice on the 2.66-mile track, will be anyone’s race, an experienced Cup driver like Jimmie Johnson or Kevin Harvick could also return to Victory Lane. Those two drivers round out the top-six in the starting order. Last year’s race winner, Chase Elliott, is starting 11th.

HOW TO WATCH NASCAR GEICO 500 AT TALLADEGA

• Race: GEICO 500

• Distance: 500 miles, 188 laps (stages end on laps 60, 120 and 188)

• Where: Talladega Superspeedway

• When: 3 p.m.

• TV: FOX (broadcast starts at 2 p.m.)

• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

• 2019 Race Winner: Chase Elliott

• Worth Mentioning: The Xfinity race at Talladega Superspeedway runs 5:30 p.m. Saturday on FS1.

STARTING ORDER FOR NASCAR’S RACE AT TALLADEGA

This story was originally published June 21, 2020 at 6:00 AM.

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription