Talladega finish highlights growth of newer teams in Cup

TALLADEGA, Ala. — A new team nearly won Sunday’s Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. Instead, it was a team in its second season that triumphed.

Sunday’s finish was what NASCAR seeks, showing that new teams — or new owners — can succeed quickly. While it’s easy to say that superspeedway racing offers such opportunities, this was not a new occurrence this year.

In eight of the first 10 Cup races this season, there has been at least one newer team in the top five. Richmond is the only race this season that didn’t have any of the newer charter teams — Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, Live Fast Motorsports, Kaulig Racing and Petty GMS Motorsports — in the top 10.

Sunday, Erik Jones lamented coming a “few thousand feet” short in a 500-mile race for Petty GMS Motorsports. The new organization, a combination of Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing, appeared headed for its first Cup win with Jones leading on the last lap. Instead, he finished sixth.

Ross Chastain won the sprint to the finish line, scoring his second career Cup victory and the second for Trackhouse Racing. Justin Marks started the team last year and had its cars based at Richard Childress Racing. After adding Pitbull as a co-owner, Marks bought Chip Ganassi Racing and retained many of the employees, including Chastain. 

Enticed by NASCAR’s charter system that provides teams with a set amount of money based on a variety of factors, including  past performances, and Cup’s move to the Next Gen car this season, the sport has seen an influx of new owners.

That group includes, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin with 23XI Racing, Matt Kaulig at Kaulig Racing, Maury Gallagher at Petty GMS Motorsports, Matt Tifft and BJ McLeod at Live Fast Motorsports and Marks.

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