Jack Link's 500
Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway is 2.66 miles of controlled chaos: the longest, fastest oval in NASCAR and the place where the draft is king. The 33-degree banking in the turns allows cars to run wide open around the entire track, and with 40 cars packed tight across three lanes, every lap becomes a calculation of when to push, when to pull, and when to simply survive. Since its 1969 opening, Talladega has produced some of the wildest moments in racing history: Bobby Allison's 1987 catch-fence crash that led to restrictor plates, Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s final Cup victory in 2000 after passing 17 cars in the final five laps, and the constant threat of The Big One that makes every lap feel precarious. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin have been the modern masters here, with Penske and JGR drivers combining for a disproportionate share of recent superspeedway wins. The spring race historically kicks off the heart of the 2026 season, and with 188 laps and three tight stages, drafting partnerships and fuel strategy will decide who hoists the trophy. Nobody can win Talladega alone; you need friends, luck, and a car still running at the end.
Your watchlist, historical context, and race-week curiosities.
Your Drivers' Outlook
Historical Context
- Chase Elliott has 24 starts at Talladega Superspeedway with 2 wins and a 15.7 average finish.
- Ryan Blaney has 28 starts at Talladega Superspeedway with 3 wins and a 17.3 average finish.
- Chris Buescher has 24 starts at Talladega Superspeedway with a 18.2 average finish.
Based on Cup Series results at Talladega Superspeedway from 1949-2026.
The narrative arc, drivers to watch, and race-weekend color.
Schedule, predictions, entry list, track history, fantasy, and betting angles.
TV & Start Time
What channel is the Jack Link's 500 on?
The Jack Link's 500 airs on FOX on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET, broadcast from Talladega Superspeedway. The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule splits between FOX, FS1, TNT, NBC, USA, and Amazon Prime Video.
What time does the NASCAR Cup race start this race weekend?
The Jack Link's 500 ran on Sunday, April 26, 2026 with a 3:00 PM ET green flag on FOX.
NR-Rating Track Rankings
| # | Driver | Elo Rating | Last Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase Elliott | 1519 | P4 |
| 2 | Chris Buescher | 1498 | P2 |
| 3 | Ryan Blaney | 1497 | P37 |
| 4 | Kyle Busch | 1496 | P10 |
| 5 | Tyler Reddick | 1496 | P14 |
| 6 | Daniel Suarez | 1495 | P12 |
| 7 | William Byron | 1494 | P35 |
| 8 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 1491 | P6 |
| 9 | Erik Jones | 1486 | P23 |
| 10 | Christopher Bell | 1485 | P17 |
NR-Rating Predictions
Last updated: Sun, Aug 16, 2026, 07:09 AM ET
| # | Driver | Exp. Finish | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase Elliott Best in Field | 13.6 | 11.2% |
| 2 | Ryan Blaney | 10.4 | 11.0% |
| 3 | Chris Buescher | 13.6 | 10.4% |
| 4 | Tyler Reddick | 13.9 | 9.9% |
| 5 | William Byron | 13.9 | 8.9% |
| 6 | Christopher Bell | 15.1 | 7.8% |
| 7 | Daniel Suarez | 15.1 | 7.2% |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | 15.1 | 6.6% |
| 9 | Ross Chastain | 16.0 | 5.3% |
| 10 | Erik Jones | 16.0 | 4.8% |
| 11 | Bubba Wallace | 16.9 | 4.1% |
| 12 | Alex Bowman | 17.4 | 3.9% |
| 13 | Carson Hocevar | 17.4 | 3.3% |
| 14 | Joey Logano | 18.5 | 3.2% |
| 15 | Brad Keselowski | 18.5 | 3.0% |
| 16 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 18.5 | 3.0% |
| 17 | Austin Cindric | 19.4 | 3.0% |
| 18 | Ty Gibbs | 18.9 | 2.8% |
| 19 | Michael McDowell | 19.2 | 2.7% |
| 20 | Casey Mears | 20.0 | 2.4% |
| 21 | Jimmie Johnson | 20.0 | 2.3% |
| 22 | Kyle Larson | 20.1 | 1.6% |
| 23 | Chase Briscoe | 20.5 | 1.3% |
| 24 | John Hunter Nemechek | 20.5 | 1.1% |
| 25 | Austin Dillon | 21.1 | 1.0% |
| 26 | Ty Dillon | 22.9 | 0.9% |
| 27 | A.J. Allmendinger | 22.9 | 0.9% |
| 28 | Kevin Magnussen | 22.8 | 0.9% |
| 29 | Katherine Legge | 22.8 | 0.9% |
| 30 | Ryan Preece | 21.1 | 0.9% |
| 31 | Todd Gilliland | 22.9 | 0.8% |
| 32 | Cole Custer | 22.9 | 0.6% |
| 33 | Zane Smith | 23.4 | 0.6% |
| 34 | Shane van Gisbergen | 23.4 | 0.6% |
| 35 | Connor Zilisch | 23.4 | 0.5% |
| 36 | Riley Herbst | 24.0 | 0.4% |
| 37 | Noah Gragson | 25.2 | 0.4% |
| 38 | Cody Ware | 25.5 | 0.3% |
| 39 | Josh Berry | 24.0 | 0.3% |
| 40 | B.J. McLeod | 25.5 | 0.3% |
Win probabilities reflect full-field Monte Carlo simulations. A 10% pWin means roughly 1-in-10 chance of winning, higher than most bettors realize for a 36-car field where the average driver has ~2.8% odds. Top 5 and Top 10 percentages similarly reflect simulated outcomes, not historical averages. Learn how the model works.
Predictions powered by NR-Rating model (MAE: 8.5 positions)
Prediction Scorecard
Anduril 250: Model picked Chase Elliott at P1 → Actual P12
(1/5 top-5 hits)
37% top-5 hit rate across 13 races
History at Talladega Superspeedway
Cup Series data from 1949-2026 (29 races)
Recent Results
| Year | Race | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jack Link's 500 | Carson Hocevar |
| 2025 | YellaWood 500 | Chase Briscoe |
| 2025 | Jack Link's 500 | Austin Cindric |
| 2024 | YellaWood 500 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 2024 | GEICO 500 | Tyler Reddick |
All Results at This Track
Laps Led Leaders
| Driver | Total Laps Led |
|---|---|
| Joey Logano | 547 |
| Brad Keselowski | 310 |
| Ryan Blaney | 293 |
| Denny Hamlin | 280 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 256 |
Track Type Tendencies
Superspeedway races at Talladega Superspeedway are defined by pack racing and drafting. Results are less predictable than any other track type; the field stays tight and late-race wrecks reshape the outcome.
Manufacturer strategy and drafting alliances matter as much as raw speed. Longshot winners are more common here than anywhere on the schedule.
Fantasy
High laps-led totals at this track
Strong avg finish but no wins: lower ownership