Bubba Wallace won NASCAR’s playoff Cup race at Talladega to become the first Black driver in nearly 60 years to win a race at NASCAR’s top level. Wendell Scott last won a Cup race in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1963.
Monday’s superspeedway event was red-flagged for rain with around 70 laps remaining and Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota, in the lead.
The race was considered official after reaching the halfway point, and NASCAR called drivers to a stop when more rain hit the track following an earlier rain-related delay. Lightning in the area compounded the weather hold, and eventually the call was made to end the race early just before 4:30 p.m. ET. Wallace watched atop his team’s pit box, then hugged his teammates as 23XI crew members cheered from below upon receiving the news.
Wallace won his first race in the Cup Series in 143 starts and his first race with the Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin co-owned team, 23XI Racing, which is in its first year in the series.
Penske teammates Brad Keselowski finished in second and Joey Logano finished in third.
NASCAR Talladega race results
