Talladega Superspeedway is famous for its dramatic finishes, and the 2023 GEICO 500 only bolstered that reputation. Kyle Busch stole the win at Talladega after a double overtime restart, staying clear of a last lap crash to win the race under caution.
Busch failed to lead a single lap until double overtime, but he broke through when it mattered most for his 62nd career win, first at Talladega since 2008 and second this season. The RCR Racing driver last reached Victory Lane at Fontana in February.
"Sometimes, you got to be lucky," Busch said after the race. "Some of these races come down to that. You got to take them when they come your way."
Blaney finished second, a heart-breaking result considering he led much of the latter portion of the race. Blaney was involved in the late that led to Busch's win, as then-race leader Bubba Wallace blocked him before spinning and taking out numerous other drivers. If Blaney would've held on for the victory, it would've broken his 55-race winless streak.
After the race, Blaney explained his view of the late contact with Wallace.
"As the leader, Bubba, he's trying to block, which is the right thing to do, but I think he kinda moved three times," Blaney said. "You don't really get a lot of those, I mean I got to go somewhere. I hate that cars got torn up, I hate for us being so close to the win -- and I'm not blaming anybody, it's just hard racing at the end of this thing -- and unfortunately the car got torn up and we just missed out on another win."
Busch saw the action between Blaney and Wallace play out right in front of him, and after the race he likened it to the parting of the seas.
"I see the 23 just turn a little bit sideways and I was like, 'Get out of the way, just miss it' and try to see if I was ahead of the 12 by the time it was called," Busch said.
Busch's win is representative of just how unpredictable finishes at Talladega have been and remain. With Sunday's results, six of the past seven races at Talladega had winners on last lap passes, including three straight.
Kyle Busch wins the race under caution after a last lap crash involving Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace! It's Busch's 62nd career win, second at Talladega and second this season.
Ross Chastain, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin decide to pit for fuel.
Caution is out on the overtime restart! Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece and Noah Gragson all crashed. AMR safety crew is out to check on Preece, who was in a nasty collision with Larson.
Big crash, and a caution is out with six laps to go! Joey Logano, Corey LaJoie, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Harrison Burton, William Byron and Daniel Suarez among those involved. Tough break for Ryan Blaney, who was well on his way to his first win in 56 races.
Green flag out with 41 laps to go. Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney trading the lead.
