Cindric Victorious in Talladega Thriller; Preece, logano disqualified
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Austin Cindric secured his third career NASCAR Cup series victory in a nail-biting photo finish at Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The Team Penske driver edged out Ryan preece by a mere 0.022 seconds in a dramatic end to the race, marking one of the closest finishes of the 2025 season.
However,the party in Cindric’s camp was tempered by post-race inspection drama. Preece, who initially finished second, and Joey Logano, who crossed the line in fifth, were both disqualified after NASCAR officials found infractions related to the rear spoilers on their respective cars.Specific details regarding the nature of the infractions were not immediately released by NASCAR,but the disqualifications significantly altered the final results.
The disqualifications propelled Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports to second place,followed by teammate William Byron in third. Noah Gragson, driving for Front Row Motorsports, earned a career-best fourth-place finish, while Chase Elliott, also of Hendrick Motorsports, rounded out the top five.
“What a wild day,” Cindric said after learning of the disqualifications. “This is Talladega, anything can happen. I’m proud of my team for sticking with it. We had a fast car,and we were in the right place at the right time at the end.”
The race, the tenth of the 36-race Cup Series season, was typical of Talladega, featuring tight pack racing, numerous lead changes, and several multi-car accidents. the first half of the race saw several cautions for spins and minor incidents, keeping the field bunched together. As the laps wound down, the intensity increased, with drivers jostling for position and pushing the limits of their cars.
The final stage of the race was marked by aggressive racing and strategic maneuvering, as drivers attempted to position themselves for the final charge to the finish line. Several contenders emerged, including preece, who led a important portion of the final laps.Cindric’s victory was hard-fought, as he battled through traffic and overcame several challenges throughout the day. The win marks his first of the 2025 season and solidifies his position in the Cup Series playoff standings.
the disqualifications of Preece and Logano sparked considerable discussion in the garage area,with teams and drivers questioning the severity of the penalties. NASCAR officials are expected to release a full statement regarding the infractions and the rationale behind the disqualifications in the coming days.
Official Results of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:
| Fin | Car | Driver | Team | Laps |
|—–|—–|—————–|————————|——|
| 1 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | 188 |
| 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson | hendrick Motorsports | 188 |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 188 |
| 4 | 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | 188 |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 188 |
| 6 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | 188 |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | 188 |
| 8 | 42 | John Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | 188 |
| 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing| 188 |
| 10 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | 188 |
… (and so on,include as many spots as are relevant.)
The NASCAR Cup Series will head to Dover Motor Speedway next Sunday.
