The Progress Group 250 Driver Grades: How Every Driver Scored at Talladega Superspeedway
Oct 24, 2026
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2 min read·
Every driver from the The Progress Group 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, graded on what the scoring loops actually recorded: where they started, where they finished, how many laps they led, and whether they were still running at the end. Sammy Smith grades out best with a A+.
How the grades are calculated
The grade is a formula, not an opinion. Each driver starts from their finishing position, gains credit for passing cars and for leading laps, and loses credit for not finishing:
-
Finish: the single biggest factor, scaled from the win down through the field.
-
Positions gained: starting position minus finishing position, capped so a deep starting spot cannot buy a top grade on its own.
-
Laps led: share of the race led, worth up to a full letter grade.
-
Did not finish: a fixed penalty if they were not running at the checkered flag.
Driver grades
| Grade |
Driver |
Car |
Start |
Finish |
Laps led |
Points |
| A+ |
Sammy Smith |
8 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
63 |
| A+ |
Carson Kvapil |
1 |
4 |
2 |
67 |
54 |
| A+ |
Justin Allgaier |
7 |
14 |
4 |
11 |
51 |
| A+ |
Blaine Perkins |
31 |
36 |
7 |
|
30 |
| A+ |
Dean Thompson |
26 |
27 |
8 |
|
29 |
| A+ |
Sheldon Creed |
00 |
12 |
5 |
|
43 |
| A |
Jesse Love |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
34 |
| A |
Corey Day |
17 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
44 |
| A |
Jeb Burton |
27 |
32 |
11 |
|
26 |
| A |
Brandon Jones |
20 |
16 |
9 |
|
28 |
| A- |
Mason Maggio |
91 |
24 |
12 |
|
25 |
| A- |
Ryan Sieg |
39 |
25 |
14 |
|
23 |
| A- |
Josh Bilicki |
07 |
35 |
16 |
|
21 |
| B+ |
Anthony Alfredo |
96 |
7 |
10 |
|
29 |
| B |
Lee Pulliam |
87 |
38 |
22 |
|
15 |
| B |
Nick Leitz |
42 |
13 |
15 |
|
0 |
| B |
Joey Gase |
55 |
28 |
20 |
1 |
17 |
| B |
Sam Mayer |
41 |
3 |
13 |
|
24 |
| B |
Connor Mosack |
43 |
23 |
19 |
|
0 |
| B- |
Jeremy Clements |
51 |
15 |
18 |
|
21 |
| C+ |
Rajah Caruth |
88 |
6 |
17 |
|
29 |
| C+ |
Brennan Poole |
44 |
34 |
26 |
|
12 |
| C+ |
Taylor Gray |
54 |
17 |
21 |
1 |
20 |
| C+ |
Garrett Smithley |
0 |
37 |
27 |
|
10 |
| C+ |
Will Rodgers |
53 |
30 |
25 |
|
12 |
| C+ |
Josh Williams |
92 |
22 |
23 |
|
14 |
| C |
Harrison Burton |
24 |
19 |
24 |
8 |
17 |
| C |
Kyle Sieg |
28 |
29 |
28 |
|
9 |
| D |
Daniel Dye |
32 |
33 |
33 |
|
0 |
| D |
Parker Retzlaff |
99 |
26 |
31 |
|
6 |
| D |
Ryan Ellis |
02 |
20 |
30 |
1 |
7 |
| D |
William Sawalich |
18 |
9 |
29 |
|
9 |
| D |
Patrick Staropoli |
48 |
21 |
32 |
|
5 |
| D |
Leland Honeyman |
71 |
31 |
36 |
|
0 |
| D |
Brent Crews |
19 |
8 |
34 |
|
6 |
| D |
Austin Hill |
21 |
5 |
35 |
|
9 |
| F |
Caesar Bacarella |
4 |
18 |
37 |
|
1 |
| F |
Lavar Scott ()
|
45 |
41 |
41 |
|
0 |
| F |
Carson Ware ()
|
47 |
41 |
41 |
|
0 |
| F |
Patrick Emerling ()
|
38 |
41 |
41 |
|
0 |
| F |
Jake Finch (Accident)
|
9 |
2 |
38 |
|
4 |
Schedule and standings
See the rest of the season and the updated standings on the NASCAR O'Reilly Series schedule and standings page, or browse every Cup driver and every team.
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