TALLADEGA − For two stages the NASCAR Cup Series Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway was quiet, but the third stage lived up to the track's reputation.

The first two stages went caution-free outside of the stage breaks, but that changed with Christopher Bell hitting the wall. Most of the race was two- or three-wide racing, but most of the cars were trying to save fuel, running laps slower than average. After the Bell crash with 32 to go, four of the other Toyotas, including those driven by Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, crashed out of the race.

23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick held off late runs from the field including Michael McDowell, who spun out, to earn his first win at the track. It was the sixth win of his career and first of the year.

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Fords make push for first win, come up short

In the leadup to Talladega, a lot was made about how the Fords have been winless to start the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, and with the weekend being the 60th anniversary of the Mustang, the model the manufacturer's driver use in the cup series, it seemed like a perfect day to get Ford's first win. The manufacturer, led by Penske, swept the stages and had three of the top 10 stage point-leaders. Michael McDowell, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric were some of the lap leaders for the day as well.

Strong day for Hendrick

With three of the Hendrick drivers outside the top-10 at the start of the day, including Kyle Larson starting last and serving a pass through, the cars responded in the opening stage. Larson recovered and took a free pass at the end of the stage, remaining the first car a lap down while the other three drivers earned stage points. Larson would go on and earn stage points in stage two alongside Chase Elliott and William Bryon.

Alex Bowman and Byron had top-10 finishes.

Shane Van Gisbergen makes oval debut

Gisbergen made his cup debut last year, winning the Chicago street race, which led to him leading Super Cars in Australia and joining Trackhouse racing but ran in the Kaulig racing No. 16 car. This season he is running in the Xfinity series and making spot starts in the cup series. In his first-ever on an oval, Gisbergen was leading the race at one point and was running inside the top five at times.

Gisbergen ended the day in 27th place, one lap down.

Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Tyler Reddick wins NASCAR Cup Series Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway