Elliott Sadler Wins In Wild Talladega Finish

It took a wild finish, a big crash and a long review, but Elliott Sadler finally returned victory lane.

Not bad a bad way to celebrate a 41st birthday.

Sadler got the better end of a late-race crash with Joey Logano and benefitted from the caution flag coming out before being passed by Brennan Poole to win the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, his first win since May 4, 2014, and another victory at the Alabama track.

Sadler’s victory came drenched in controversy. Having pushed leader Logano from the beginning of a two-lap overtime sequence, Sadler found himself in position to make a move coming to the tri-oval.

First, Sadler went high. Logano blocked.

Sadler tried to dive low, but caught Logano’s bumper. Suddenly, Logano was sent sideways, bouncing off of Sadler and careening into the outside wall in a vicious crash that also caught Blake Koch. Both drivers were evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Trying to seize the moment, Poole and Justin Allgaier jumped outside of the slowed Sadler and battled to the finish line for what they thought was the win. Poole won the battle, and began celebrating what he thought was his first career victory.

Unbeknownst to Poole, the caution had flown when Logano crashed. Despite slowing heavily from the contact, Sadler was leading when the caution flew and therefore credited with the win.

Here's another look at the field when the caution lights lit up.#SparksEnergy300 pic.twitter.com/1uCvNUYqQa

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 30, 2016

Allgaier ended the day in second to give JR Motorsports a 1-2 finish, and their second-straight restrictor plate victory after Chase Elliott‘s win in Daytona. Poole closed out a wild afternoon in third, his first-career top five.

Jeremy Clements rallied in the late stages after leading seven laps to score a career-best fourth-place finish for his Jeremy Clements Racing team.

Brendan Gaughan rounded out the top five, with Austin Dillon slotting sixth to give Chevrolet the top six finishers. Daniel Suarez, Matt Tifft, Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola rounded out the top 10.

The day started on a rough note for Garrett Smithley. Running his first restrictor-plate race, Smithley was involved in an incident that sent Chris Cockrum and Joey Gase spinning toward the inside wall. However, Smithley rallied to score a 12th-place result, his career-best finish.

The reason why we are under caution. #SparksEnergy300 pic.twitter.com/hewT1mS6oH

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) April 30, 2016

With his victory, Sadler becomes just the second driver to clinch a birth in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase, joining Erik Jones.

There were six cautions over the course of the 116-lap event.

The NXS will return to action on May 14, when the series heads to Dover International Raceway.

Results, via NASCAR