S.M.A.S.H O’Reilly Series: Lyndon Bingaman Wins Talladega
- SMASH
- May 9
- 4 min read
By S.M.A.S.H — May 9, 2026
Talladega had one more fight left in it Saturday night.
The S.M.A.S.H O’Reilly Series rolled into Talladega Superspeedway for 50 laps of pack racing, patience, and late-race pressure. With the draft pulling the field together and track position changing in a hurry, the night came down to timing, discipline, and who could stay in control when the race tightened up.
When it was over, Lyndon Bingaman stood on top.
Bingaman started second, led three laps, and took the win in a tight finish over Joe Nordine, who came home second after leading 10 laps. The event featured 16 drivers, a 1704 strength of field, 50 laps completed, one caution for three laps, and two lead changes.
At Talladega, clean air does not come easy.
Neither does a win.
Lyndon Bingaman Gets It Done at Talladega
Lyndon Bingaman did exactly what a driver has to do at Talladega.
He stayed in the fight, kept himself near the front, and made sure he was in position when it mattered most. Superspeedway wins are rarely about controlling every lap. They are about surviving the runs, reading the lines, and being close enough to strike when the race comes back to you.
Bingaman started from the front row and finished the night where every driver wanted to be.
At the checkered flag, he had the win.
That is the kind of race that can build real momentum in the O’Reilly Series.
Joe Nordine Comes Up Just Short
Joe Nordine finished second, and he was right there.
Nordine started third, led 10 laps, and spent a major part of the night showing front-running speed. At Talladega, leading laps is not always the safest place to be, but Nordine proved he had the pace and control to keep himself in the mix.
He crossed the line just behind Bingaman, close enough to know how small the difference was.
One push.
One lane.
One move.
That is Talladega.
Johnny Brown Charges to the Podium
Johnny Brown brought the #0 home third after starting deeper in the field.
That run matters.
Brown started 11th and worked his way into the lead pack by the end of the race. In a superspeedway event, that takes more than raw speed. It takes patience, timing, and the ability to keep yourself out of trouble while the field shifts around you.
That podium finish gives Brown a strong night at one of the most unpredictable tracks on the schedule.
Steven L McDonald and Jesse R Sampson Round Out the Top Five
Steven L McDonald finished fourth in the #8, giving him a strong result after starting sixth.
McDonald stayed steady through the race and put himself in position for a solid points night. Talladega can punish drivers quickly, but McDonald kept the car moving forward and came away with a top-five finish.
Jesse R Sampson finished fifth after leading a race-high 37 laps.
That tells a big part of the story.
Sampson had the car out front for most of the night. He controlled the race for long stretches, showed speed, and had the field chasing him. The final result may not have been the win, but leading 37 laps at Talladega is still a statement.
He had the pace.
The draft just decided the ending.
Post-Race Adjustment Moves the #41 Back One Spot
After review, the #41 of Kalin Wilson was moved back one position for passing under the yellow line.
That adjustment moves Shane Marcum to sixth and places Kalin Wilson seventh in the corrected final results.
Talladega creates tight moments, but the line still matters. Drivers are expected to race hard, but also stay within the boundaries of the track and the league standard.
The final result reflects that review.
Darren T Vale Posts the Fastest Lap
While the win went to Bingaman, Darren T Vale posted the fastest lap of the race with a 50.9152.
That is worth noting.
Talladega results do not always show the full picture of speed. A driver can have pace, find the right draft, and still end up shuffled back by timing, lane movement, or late-race circumstances.
Vale had speed.
The final result just did not show the full strength of the lap time.
Official Race Results
S.M.A.S.H O’Reilly Series
Talladega Superspeedway50 Laps
Lyndon Bingaman — #53
Joe Nordine — #75
Johnny Brown — #0
Steven L McDonald — #8
Jesse R Sampson — #10
Shane Marcum — #47
Kalin Wilson — #41
Lee Richardson IV — #5
Brian Smith — #26
Adrian Featherston — #16
Darren T Vale — #28
Tristan Alexander — #24
Matthew Ulmer — #66
Dean Howard — #09
Eric Morton — #90
Daryl Griffin — #4
The O’Reilly Series Keeps Building
The O’Reilly Series continues to bring a strong mix of drivers, speed, and pressure.
Talladega was a different kind of test. It was not about tire wear or long-run rhythm. It was about racecraft in the draft. It was about knowing when to push, when to stay in line, and when not to force a move that could end the night for half the field.
Some drivers found the front.
Some drivers found trouble.
Some drivers left with momentum.
That is what Talladega does.
It exposes patience, decision-making, and discipline just as much as speed.
Final Word
The S.M.A.S.H O’Reilly Series came to Talladega and delivered another important race in the season.
Lyndon Bingaman wins. Joe Nordine finishes second. Johnny Brown brings a home third. Jesse R Sampson led the most laps, Darren T Vale posted the fastest lap, and the #41 was moved back one spot after a yellow-line review.
Talladega did not hand this one out easy.
The draft was tight.
The margins were small.
And when the race was over, Lyndon Bingaman left with the win.
