Talladega Superspeedway is known for the ‘Big Ones’ for a reason. The 2.66-mile oval forces drivers to push the pedal to the metal, take risks, and rely on gutsy strategy calls to get a result. And with a spot on the Championship 4 at stake, things can get pretty ugly. But it’s not always a wreck that can derail a driver’s race. Sometimes it’s simply a bad call that can backfire spectacularly. And that’s a lesson a NASCAR veteran was forced to learn the hard way.

With intense drafting battles and late-race moves proving to be the difference maker, teams faced the classic Talladega dilemma: when to make bold moves and when to hold back. Amid fast-paced pack racing and “Big One” crash threats, every decision could make or break a race. And it seems Lady Luck was not on J.J. Yeley’s side a

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