Please clap for Jeb Burton in Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega’s Victory Lane. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
LINCOLN, Ala. – Saturday’s Ag-Pro 300 was one of the longest NASCAR Xfinity Series races in Talladega Superspeedway history, typically translating to stock car carnage, excitement and a triumphant victor once the madness subsided.
Prior to the ninth round of this Xfinity Series season, only four of the 34 past races at the 2.66-mile behemoth exceeded the scheduled distance. Namely, the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 editions needed some Overtime action which ultimately saw Elliott Sadler, Spencer Gallagher and Noah Gragson emerge victorious.
For the 32nd edition of this race, perhaps cues from the 2006 film, Talladega Nights, were followed to the letter. About every conceivable moment for a race at Talladega happened except for the top two drivers running to the stripe in a footrace.
However, it looked like it would be a mild and tame race with seven lead changes among six different drivers. From Parker Retzlaff to Justin Allgaier, the action was frantic but relatively calm for Talladega standards.
Allgaier used his guile to win Stage 1. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
On Lap 24, Allgaier used his veteran guile to pass Sheldon Creed for the lead, holding off the pack for the Stage 1 win.
Once Stage 2 was underway, chaos and mayhem ensued with two savage backstretch crashes on Laps 39 and 49. Namely, Parker Chase and Anthony Alfredo’s afternoons were cut short after being collected in a backstretch fracas that also involved Derek Kraus and Parker Retzlaff on Lap 39.
Just 10 laps after the first multi-car accident of the afternoon, Jade Buford, Dexter Stacey and Blaine Perkins were involved in separate breathtaking wrecks. Stacey pancaked the inside retaining SAFER barrier on the backstretch while Buford and Perkins tangled, resulting in a red flag period lasting 11 minutes and 55 seconds.
Perkins got the worst of the backstretch melee as his car barrel rolled on multiple occasions before coming to a rest, right side up. Buford, Stacey and Perkins emerged from their wrecked machines although Perkins was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation as of press time.
The heartstopping backstretch crash effectively ended Stage 2 with Jeb Burton taking the victory.
Stage 3 offered more madness with seven incidents that eliminated more would be contenders in cruel fashion.
John Hunter Nemechek, a winner twice over thus far in 2023, crashed driver’s side first into the inside retaining frontstretch SAFER barrier. The crash knocked the toe out of alignment, ending the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s afternoon with a DNF in 32nd.
It was a frustrating series of events of JR Motorsports on Laps 95 and 102 with Josh Berry, Sam Mayer and Justin Allgaier getting involved in incidents respectively in Turns 3 and 4. Notably, Mayer’s intent was to avoid running into Truex to prevent a big wreck.
Instead, Mayer found himself in a violent crash that eliminated him, Allgaier, Berry and Derek Kraus from the race.
Another horrifying crash occurred on Lap 112 when Daniel Hemric, who led the late moments of the race, attempted to block Creed in Turn 3. Like Mayer, a preventative measure resulted in a grinding wreck with torn up cars.
Hemric’s car flipped while Kaz Grala, Ryan Sieg and Riley Herbst saw their race efforts end in frustrating fashion. This incident resulted in a 13 minute and 53 second red flag period.
Total chaos ensued on the final lap at Talladega. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
At last, once the dust settled, it was an Overtime duel to the finish with Burton leading the field ahead of a determined Creed, Parker Kligerman, Brennan Poole and Cole Custer. As the lead pack made their way toward the stripe, a hard, multi-car accident followed which involved Jeremy Clements, Kyle Sieg, Garrett Smithley, CJ McLaughlin, Ryan Ellis and Brett Moffitt.
Meanwhile, Jeb Burton, who channeled his father, Ward, with his 2002 Daytona 500 triumph, held off Creed, Kligerman, Custer and Poole to the line for his first win of the year.
Moreover, it was Burton’s first victory since this event in 2021 and the debut triumph for Jordan Anderson Racing.
Needless to say, Burton did not hold back with his excitement after a hard day’s work at Talladega.
“The only thing I’m disappointed about is that I didn’t get to do the burnout,” Burton said to FOX NASCAR‘s Regan Smith. “I blew the transmission out of it! Man, I’m pumped up. I’m out of breath from yelling.
“Just went through some stuff from the offseason. And I’m more focused now than ever. These guys have made racing fun again for me. Jordan Anderson, John Bommarito, our little team, you have no idea how big this is.”
On the other hand, Creed, who scored his best finish of the season, could not help but wonder about the decisive restart and a decision from the officials.
“It goes back to the last restart,” Creed said to FOX NASCAR‘s Josh Sims. “We were leading when the caution came out. And they gave it to the 27 which (was) no big deal. I was still in contention and I thought I was in the place to be. Going through (Turns) 3 and 4, I let the 27 (J. Burton) get way out there. I had the 00 right on me, getting ready for a big run.
“I think the 48 (Kligerman) peeled the 00 (Custer) back off of me. And it just killed the run that I had and let the 27 have it easy there. Nonetheless, it was a great day. Plate racing is not my best. And I’ve been trying to get better at it. Just to have a solid day like that is really good for us.”
It was arms raised in victory for Burton with his No. 27 team. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
By all means, it was a good day for Creed but it was even better for Burton and his No. 27 Solid Rock Carriers Chevrolet Camaro team. Unlike the 2021 victory, Burton won the race going beyond the scheduled distance.
“This is huge,” Burton said. “We’re locked in the Playoffs. I can promise you one thing. We’re gonna drink a lot of beer tonight. My buddies better be ready when we get home cause we’re gonna burn it down!”
Stage 1 Top 10 Finishers
Allgaier-Creed-Mayer-J. Burton-Hill/Kligerman-R. Truex-C. Smith-Berry-Herbst
Stage 2 Top 10 Finishers
J. Burton-C. Smith-Truex-Berry-Hemric/Hill-Kraus-Creed-B. Jones-Allgaier
Ag-Pro 300 Top 10 Finishers at Talladega
J. Burton-Creed-Kligerman-Custer-Poole/Bacarella-Retzlaff-Gaulding-Gase-Williams
