NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega (fall race)

(Redirected from Sparks 300)

Stock car races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series has been held at Talladega Superspeedway every fall since 2020 (except in 2023) as one of two second-tier races at the track. The race, currently known as United Rentals 250 for sponsorship reasons, serves as a support race for the NASCAR Cup Series' YellaWood 500.

United Rentals 250 
NASCAR Xfinity Series
VenueTalladega Superspeedway
LocationTalladega, Alabama, United States
First race2020
Distance250.04 miles (402.40 km)
Laps94
Stages 1/2: 20 each
Final stage: 54
Previous names Ag-Pro 300 (2020)
Sparks 300 (2021-2022)
Most wins (team)Kaulig Racing (2)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chevrolet (4)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Turns4

The event was created in 2020 as a temporary round after the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the inaugural running marked the first time that the Xfinity Series raced at Talladega in the fall.[1][2] Justin Haley won the race to complete a sweep of the season's Talladega rounds.[3] The race joined the Xfinity schedule in 2021 and is the second race in the series' playoffs.[4]

Sammy Smith is the defending race winner.

The race was not on the schedule in 2023, as it was replaced by the Chicago Street Race. However, because of logistics of scheduling the second half of the Xfinity Series season in 2024 as part of NBC Sports' forced two-week break for the Olympic Games in Paris, the race return as part of YellaWood 500 weekend. [5]

Past winners

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Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race distance Race time Average speed
(mph)
Report Ref
Laps Miles (km)
2020 October 3 11 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 113 300.58 (483.736) 2:08:24 140.458 Report [6]
2021 October 2 68 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 108* 287.28 (462.332) 2:04:55 128.486 Report [7]
2022 October 1 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 113 300.58 (483.736) 1:53:33 158.827 Report [8]
2023 Not held
2024 October 5 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 98* 260.68 (419.523) 2:05:12 124.927 Report [9]

Notes

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Multiple winners (teams)

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# Wins Team Years Won
2 Kaulig Racing 2020, 2022
1 Brandonbilt Motorsports 2021
JR Motorsports 2024

Manufacturer wins

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# Wins Make Years Won
4   Chevrolet 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024

References

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  1. ^ Albrecht, Peter (August 6, 2020). "Talladega fall weekend adds Xfinity race". WKRG-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  2. ^ Weaver, Matt (August 6, 2020). "Here Is Every Confirmed NASCAR Race through the End of the Season". Autoweek. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Utter, Jim (October 3, 2020). "Justin Haley completes season-sweep of Talladega Xfinity races". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Crandall, Kelly (October 30, 2020). "33 races on tap for 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series". Racer. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "United Rentals Named Entitlement Sponsor of Xfinity Playoff Race at Talladega". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  6. ^ "2020 Ag-Pro 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "2021 Sparks 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "2022 Sparks 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "2024 United Rentals 250". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
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Previous race:
Focused Health 302
NASCAR Xfinity Series
United Rentals 250
Next race:
National Debt Relief 250
  NODES
Note 3