NASCAR at Talladega 2020 Results: Ryan Blaney Edges Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in OT

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Ryan Blaney was victorious in the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday. 

Blaney held off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola in overtime to claim his first win of the 2020 NASCAR Cup season. Mere feet separated Blaney and Stenhouse Jr. as they crossed the finish line, while Almirola's rear bumper was the first piece of the No. 10 car to hit the line as he spun out on the inside of the track. 

FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

THAT close. https://t.co/sMS6l3hynY

It was a dramatic overtime period as Blaney surrendered the lead to Kevin Harvick and slipped into third, only to work his way back into first place. Running in second, Erik Jones looked for whatever opening he could find to move to the top of the field. Jones slammed into the wall, however, and wound up in fifth.

FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

WHAT. A. FINISH. Retweet to congratulate Ryan @Blaney on his WIN at Talladega! https://t.co/GfNSc7g7mB

GEICO 500 Leaderboad

1. Ryan Blaney

2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

3. Aric Almirola

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Erik Jones

6. Chris Buescher

7. Alex Bowman

8. John Hunter Nemechek

9. Kurt Busch

10. Kevin Harvick

Full standings are available at NASCAR.com

Inclement weather forced officials to postpone the race on Sunday. That wasn't the end of the weather-related issues, either, as a brief rain shower halted the proceedings after 57 laps.

Prior to the race, the focus was firmly centered on Bubba Wallace.

NASCAR announced Sunday that a noose was found in the garage of the No. 43 car. The organization said it was “angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act.”

Wallace had advocated for the banning of the Confederate flag at all NASCAR events, a step the organization promptly took.

In addition to an investigation by NASCAR, the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice have involved themselves in the matter as well, per the Associated Press' Jenna Fryer.

As a show of solidarity with Wallace, his racing colleagues helped push his car to the front of pit road.

FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

We rally around @BubbaWallace. Fellow drivers push his No. 43 car to the front in Talladega.

#IStandWithBubba https://t.co/n0YwN1qq5l

Bubba Wallace @BubbaWallace

Together https://t.co/D4zW3jA5y5

Wallace was running near the top of the pack prior to overtime but had to slow down when it became clear he was short on fuel. A 14th-place finish didn't dampen his enthusiasm, though.

Talladega officials allowed up to 5,000 fans to attend the GEICO 500. After the race ended, Wallace walked up to the catchfence to salute some of his supporters who made the trip.

FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

“The sport is changing … Whoever it was, you're not gonna take away my smile.”- @BubbaWallace

What a moment. #IStandWithBubba https://t.co/Z3YajMuBBJ

Jimmie Johnson remains winless in his final season. The No. 48 car was running in second place down the final stretch before getting bumped by Harvick.

NASCAR @NASCAR

Let the drama begin.

@JimmieJohnson goes for a slide off the nose of @KevinHarvick to bring out a caution to set up overtime in the #GEICO500. https://t.co/u8RrVf52L2

Johnson's adventure set the stage for the action-packed overtime period.

The race included nine cautions, most of which proved relatively minor while still disrupting the leaderboard. 

Matt Kenseth was the first driver to hit the garage early. While the point of auto racing is to drive the fastest and finish in the shortest amount of time, brakes are a necessary feature.

FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

“Something's definitely broke. I don't have any brakes.”- Matt Kenseth https://t.co/gVl108J6rQ

Chase Elliott completed 135 laps before getting wedged between Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. A push from Keselowski sent him into Logano and he had nowhere to go.

FOX: NASCAR @NASCARONFOX

A push from Brad Keselowski sends Chase Elliott around! Heavy damage for the No. 9 machine. https://t.co/OEgH7FZ8iv

Drivers will head to Long Pond, Pennsylvania, for what's shaping up to be a physical demanding weekend. Pocono Raceway will stage the Pocono Organics 325 at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and then the Pocono 350 just over 24 hours later on Sunday.