NASCAR Notes
This weekend marks the 112th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Talladega Superspeedway has produced nine different race winners in the last nine NASCAR Cup Series races at the 2.66-mile track, the longest streak of races there without a repeat winner.
The last seven drafting track races in the NASCAR Cup Series were won by different organizations. The pass for the win came in the final two laps in 12 of the 20 drafting track races in the Next Gen car. Nine of the last 16 Cup Series races at Talladega have ended with a last lap pass.
There were 66 or more lead changes in each of the last three NASCAR Cup Series Talladega races. William Byron won three of the last 12 drafting track races, the only repeat winner in the last 12.
Chase Elliott and Byron lead all drivers with 240 points earned at Talladega in the Next Gen car, Kyle Larson ranks third with 190 points. Christopher Bell’s win at Atlanta earlier this year was Joe Gibbs Racing’s first win on a drafting track in the Next Gen car.
· The Talladega pole winner finished 17th or worse in each of the six races there in the Next Gen car. The race winner started 10th or worse in nine of the last 10 races at Talladega (since 2020).
· A total of 48 different drivers have won the pole at Talladega in the Cup Series, six are active this season – Christopher Bell (two), Elliott (two), Michael McDowell (two), Austin Dillon (one), Denny Hamlin (one) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (one).
McDowell won the pole for five of the last seven races on drafting tracks including both poles at Talladega last year
Bill Elliott leads the Cup Series in poles at Talladega with eight and holds the record for most consecutive Cup poles at Talladega with six-straight from 1985 – 1987.
Ten of the 52 NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway race winners are active this season, led by Brad Keselowski with six Talladega victories and followed by Ryan Blaney (three), Joey Logano (three), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (two), Kyle Busch (two), Chase Elliott (two), Denny Hamlin (two), Tyler Reddick (one), Ross Chastain (one) and Bubba Wallace (one).
Three active drivers earned their first career Cup win at Talladega – Brad Keselowski (2009), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2017) and Bubba Wallace (2021). Dale Earnhardt leads the Cup Series in victories at Talladega with 10. Earned his first victory at the track in 1983.
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Jack Link’s 500
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
Track Length: 2.66 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, April 27
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $11,055,250
TV: FOX & FOX Deportes, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 500.08 miles (188 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 188)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Ag-Pro 300
The Place: Talladega Superspeedway
Track Length: 2.66 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, April 26
The Time: 4 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,651,939
TV: CW, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 300.58 miles (113 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 25),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 113)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: SpeedyCash.com 250
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Friday, May 2
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Purse: $782,900
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 250.5 miles (167 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 167)
