Dawson Sutton's race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega

On Friday, Dawson Sutton participated in the Love's RV Stop 225 race at Talladega Superspeedway, ending up 19th place. He started the race from the 26th position and managed to lead one lap. While he demonstrated good speed in the middle of the race, he faced tire problems towards the end.

Sutton started his day strongly, climbing through the field as the initial stages saw drivers shifting between drafting lanes and adjusting pit strategies. His No. 26 Chevrolet performed well during Stage 2, where he secured seventh place, earning him four crucial points. A well-timed pit stop further helped him advance.

However, the latter part of the race was difficult for Sutton. A tire issue caused him to slow down, leading to a debris-related caution flag. This setback forced him to regain track position during the race's latter stages. Despite the setback, Sutton persevered and avoided a late accident that eliminated several other drivers.

He completed 85 laps and finished 19th, one lap behind the winner Sammy Smith. This result earned him 23 points, which helped maintain his 18th place in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings, with a total of 366 points.