2021 Sparks 300

{{Short description|28th race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=CUST|Details ref={{cite web

| title = Entry List

| url = https://www.jayski.com/xfinity-series/2021-talladega-fall-nxs-entry-list/

| website = jayski.com

| date = September 29, 2021

| access-date = October 1, 2021}}

|Description = Race 28 of 33 in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season

|Fulldate = October 2, 2021

|Race_Name = Sparks 300

|Year = 2021

|Location=Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama

|Course_mi=2.66

|Course_km=4.80

|Distance_laps=113

|Distance_mi=300.58

|Distance_km=483.74

|Avg={{convert|128.486|mph|km/h}}

|Pole_Driver=Justin Allgaier

|Pole_Team=JR Motorsports

|Grid_from_prev_perf = yes

|Most_Driver=Riley Herbst

|Most_Team=Stewart-Haas Racing

|Most_laps=26

|Car=68

|First_Driver=Brandon Brown

|First_Team=Brandonbilt Motorsports

|Network=NBCSN

|Announcers= Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte

|Image= Talladega Superspeedway.svg

|Caption=Talladega Superspeedway|Radio=Motor Racing Network}}

The 2021 Sparks 300 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on October 2, 2021, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 107 laps—shortened from 113 laps due to darkness, on the {{convert|2.66|mi|km|abbr=on}} asphalt superspeedway, it was the 28th race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the second race of the Playoffs, and the second race of the Round of 12. After "The Big One" occurred late, Brandon Brown was determined as the leader at the time of caution. The race was then called due to darkness, leading to his first career Xfinity series victory.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-02|title=Brandon Brown scores emotional Xfinity playoff race at Talladega - NBC|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2021/10/02/brandon-brown-brandon-jones-justin-allgaier-daniel-hemric-wins-xfinity-playoff-race-at-talladega/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=NASCAR Talk {{!}} NBC Sports|language=en-US}}

After the race, Brown unwittingly became associated with politics when NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast's misstating of a crowd chant led to "Let's Go Brandon" becoming a political slogan used against U.S. President Joe Biden.

Report

=Background=

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of {{convert|2.66|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long|0}} tri-oval.

= Entry list =

(R) denotes rookie driver.
(i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !{{Tooltip\|No.\|Car number}} !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor
0 \|Jeffrey Earnhardt \|JD Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Absaroka
1 \|Josh Berry (R) \|JR Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|TMC Transportation
2 \|Myatt Snider \|Richard Childress Racing \|Chevrolet \|TaxSlayer
02 \|Brett Moffitt \|Our Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Fr8Auctions Camo
4 \|Landon Cassill \|JD Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Voyager
5 \|Matt Mills \|B. J. McLeod Motorsports \|Toyota \|J. F. Electric
6 \|Ryan Vargas (R) \|JD Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|MaintenX
7 \|Justin Allgaier \|JR Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Brandt Professional Agriculture
07 \|Joe Graf Jr. \|SS-Green Light Racing \|Chevrolet \|G Coin
8 \|Sam Mayer (R) \|JR Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|QPS Employment Group
9 \|Noah Gragson \|JR Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Bass Pro Shops, Black Rifle Coffee Company
10 \|Jeb Burton \|Kaulig Racing \|Chevrolet \|Nutrien Ag Solutions
11 \|Justin Haley \|Kaulig Racing \|Chevrolet \|LeafFilter Gutter Protection
13 \|Timmy Hill (i) \|MBM Motorsports \|Toyota \|
15 \|Bayley Currey \|JD Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|JD Motorsports
16 \|A. J. Allmendinger \|Kaulig Racing \|Chevrolet \|Gold Fish Casino Slots
17 \|Garrett Smithley \|SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing \|Chevrolet \|Black Draft Distillery, Trophy Tractor
18 \|Daniel Hemric \|Joe Gibbs Racing \|Toyota \|Poppy Bank
19 \|Brandon Jones \|Joe Gibbs Racing \|Toyota \|Menards, Little Hug
20 \|Harrison Burton \|Joe Gibbs Racing \|Toyota \|DEX Imaging
22 \|Austin Cindric \|Team Penske \|Ford \|Carquest
23 \|Blaine Perkins \|Our Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Circle B Diecast
26 \|Santino Ferrucci \|Sam Hunt Racing \|Toyota \|Screamin' Sicilian Pizza, Hy-Vee
31 \|Jordan Anderson (i) \|Jordan Anderson Racing \|Chevrolet \|Bommarito Automotive Group
36 \|Alex Labbé \|DGM Racing \|Chevrolet \|Can-Am Off-Road
39 \|Ryan Sieg \|RSS Racing \|Ford \|CMR Construction & Roofing
44 \|Tommy Joe Martins \|Martins Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|AAN Adjusters
47 \|Kyle Weatherman \|Mike Harmon Racing \|Chevrolet \|Bowhunters United
48 \|Jade Buford (R) \|Big Machine Racing Team \|Chevrolet \|Big Machine Vodka Spiked Cooler
51 \|Jeremy Clements \|Jeremy Clements Racing \|Chevrolet \|All South Electric
52 \|Joey Gase \|Means Racing \|Chevrolet \|XEO Cross-Eyed Owl, Sparks Energy
54 \|John Hunter Nemechek (i) \|Joe Gibbs Racing \|Toyota \|Sport Clips Haircuts
61 \|David Starr \|Hattori Racing Enterprises \|Toyota \|Whataburger
66 \|Jason White \|MBM Motorsports \|Toyota \|A-Game Energy "The Ultimate In Hydration"
68 \|Brandon Brown \|Brandonbilt Motorsports \|Chevrolet \|Larry's Hard Lemonade
74 \|C. J. McLaughlin \|Mike Harmon Racing \|Chevrolet \|Integrated Recycling Technologies
78 \|Mason Massey \|B. J. McLeod Motorsports \|Toyota \|Gerber Collison & Glass
90 \|Caesar Bacarella \|DGM Racing \|Chevrolet \|Alpha Prime Bites
92 \|Josh Williams \|DGM Racing \|Chevrolet \|Starbrite
98 \|Riley Herbst \|Stewart-Haas Racing \|Ford \|Monster Energy
99 \|J. J. Yeley \|B. J. McLeod Motorsports \|Chevy \|Figgers Wireless
colspan="8" \|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/9/29/28xfinity-2021-entry-update.pdf Official entry list]

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"

!{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

!Driver

!Team

!Make

!Sponsor

2021 Sparks 300

Report

=Background=

= Entry list =

Qualifying

= Starting lineup =

Race

= Race results =

== Stage Results ==

= Final Stage Results =

= Race statistics =

References