The NASCAR Cup Series will hit the double-digits on the 2026 schedule this weekend as the series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for its 10th points-paying race of the season.<\/p>\n
Falling just one spot short of a trip to victory lane last weekend, Chevrolet\u2019s drivers and teams will turn to a track that has fared well for the manufacturer, with the Bowtie brand leading the series with wins in four of the eight races in the Next Gen era. The doubleheader weekend will also feature the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series, with Chevrolet looking to extend its already record win streak to 13-straight at the legendary superspeedway.
\u200a<\/p>\n
In the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega:<\/p>\n
Since welcoming the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time in 1969, Chevrolet has won 45 of the 113 races held at the track. Its storied history at the Alabama-based venue includes a record-setting streak of 13-straight wins in NASCAR\u2019s top division, captured by five different drivers from April 1999 to May 2005. The Bowtie brand continued that success as the series entered the Next Gen era. Through eight races, four drivers representing four different Chevrolet organizations have tallied a triumph including three-in-row by Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Ross Chastain (Apr. 2022), Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Chase Elliott (Oct. 2022) and Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Kyle Busch (Apr. 2023), and most recently, Hyak Motorsports\u2019 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in Oct. 2024.<\/p>\n
Among the other historic wins that took place at Talladega Superspeedway was Dale Earnhardt\u2019s 76th and final win of his NASCAR career. During the 2000 Winston 500, the NASCAR Hall of Famer drove the legendary No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo entry to victory lane to score his 10th win at the track \u2013 a record that still stands today.
\u200a<\/p>\n
STENHOUSE ON SPEEDWAY\u2019S<\/p>\n
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sees Talladega Superspeedway as a way to make a big gain in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. The Olive Branch, Mississippi, native is a four-time Cup Series winner, all of which have come on a superspeedway. In fact, his first and most recent trips to victory lane at NASCAR\u2019s highest level have come at the 2.66-mile Alabama venue. Stenhouse Jr.\u2019s win in the Oct. 2024 event made the Team Chevy driver one of the eight different winners at the track in the Next Gen era. The No. 47 team earned their season-best finish right out of the gate at the circuit\u2019s other superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway, when they led the Bowtie brigade with a runner-up result in the \u201cGreat American Race\u201d.
\u200a<\/p>\n
LARSON CONTINUES HIS CLIMB<\/p>\n
For the second consecutive weekend, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team took home a podium result and a 54-point day to continue to chip away at the standings. With his season-best runner-up result, the Elk Grove, California, native will lead the Bowtie brigade to Talladega Superspeedway ranked fifth in the standings. Through nine races, Larson\u2019s climb up the standings has come from the team\u2019s exceptional ability to collect stage points, with the reigning champions setting the pace with 91 stage points earned. One year ago at the Talladega spring race, Larson earned his career-best superspeedway finish when he took home a second-place finish.
\u200a<\/p>\n
Speedway Winners in the Next Gen Era<\/p>\n
Chevrolet owns 50 percent of the wins in the drafting-style races during the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, with seven drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations driving the manufacturer to 13 victories on the configuration. Along with its four wins at Talladega Superspeedway, the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 has made five trips to victory lane at EchoPark Speedway (William Byron \u2013 two wins; Chase Elliott \u2013 two wins; Daniel Suarez \u2013 one win), with four coming at Daytona International Speedway (William Byron \u2013 two wins; Austin Dillon \u2013 one win; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. \u2013 one win).
\u200a<\/p>\n
DOUBLE-DIGITS AT DEGA<\/p>\n
Chevrolet\u2019s dominance in the NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway has extended well into the double-digits with the manufacturer entering the weekend with 27 all-time wins, including an active streak of 13-straight. The run began in April 2018 with Spencer Gallagher behind the wheel of a GMS Racing Chevrolet entry, and over the past eight seasons, nine different drivers have added to the Bowtie brand\u2019s double-digit streak. Richard Childress Racing driver and speedway specialist, Austin Hill, owns Chevrolet\u2019s past two Talladega triumphs in the division. If Hill can make it three-in-a-row on Saturday, the feat would tie Martin Truex Jr.\u2019s record for the longest win streak by a driver at the track, which he accomplished in a Chevrolet-powered machine from April 2004-2006.
\u200a<\/p>\n
LOVE LOOKS FORWARD TO CUP SERIES RETURN<\/p>\n
Reigning NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series Champion, Jesse Love, is slated to make his return to the sport\u2019s highest level this weekend \u2013 driving the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet for his second Cup Series start of the season. The Menlo Park, California, native has just six career starts in the division to his name, but this weekend will mark his first on a superspeedway. But it comes at a track where the young Team Chevy driver has already shared a great amount of success. Love earned his first of now three O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series wins at Talladega Superspeedway, which came in his first season alongside Richard Childress Racing in April 2024. In his four starts at the track, Love boasts front-row qualifying efforts in each event, including three-straight poles. His other notable feats include results no worse than 10th, double-digit laps led in each race and top-six points earned in seven of eight stages.
\u200a<\/p>\n
ANKRUM SET FOR NOAPS DEBUT<\/p>\n
Chevrolet\u2019s Tyler Ankrum will spend his off weekend behind the wheel of the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet to make his first career start in the NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series. The San Bernardino, California, native is currently competing in his third campaign with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. Ankrum is a two-time winner in the division, with the 2025 season seeing the young Team Chevy driver reach the series\u2019 Championship Four for the first time in his career. His experience in the NASCAR national level at Talladega Superspeedway includes seven career Craftsman Truck Series starts, with his career-best sixth-place finish coming in the track\u2019s 2025 fall event.
\u200a<\/p>\n
Team Chevy Trio Represents in \u2018Dash 4 Cash\u2019<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway will also mark the third of four \u2018Dash 4 Cash\u2019 races of the 2026 NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts season. Among the four drivers set to compete for the $100,000 prize includes a trio of Team Chevy drivers: Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love. Allgaier and Creed each already have a \u2018Dash 4 Cash\u2019 victory under their belts this season, with this weekend marking Love\u2019s first attempt at the triumph. Each driver has at least one speedway win on their resume with Love leading the way with two wins (Talladega \u2013 Apr. 2024; Daytona \u2013 Feb. 2025). Allgaier has one speedway victory at Daytona (Aug. 2023), with Creed recently becoming a first-time O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series winner just two months ago at EchoPark Speedway.
\u200a<\/p>\n
BOWTIE BULLETS:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway:<\/p>\n
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. \u2013 two wins (2017 & 2024)<\/p>\n
Kyle Busch \u2013 two wins (2023 & 2008)<\/p>\n
Chase Elliott \u2013 two wins (2022 & 2019)<\/p>\n
Ross Chastain \u2013 one win (2022)<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In 113 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet has recorded 45 victories \u2013 four of which have come during the Next Gen era to lead its manufacturer competitors.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Chevrolet holds a winning percentage of 69.2 percent in the NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway with 27 wins in 39 races. The manufacturer enters the weekend with 13-straight wins in the division at the Alabama venue \u2013 a streak that dates back to the April 2018 event.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In 153 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 68 victories \u2013 a winning percentage of 44.4%.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles \u2013 capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.<\/p>\n
\ufeff\u00b7 With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 882 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
\u200a<\/p>\n
TUNE-IN:<\/p>\n
NASCAR Cup Series<\/p>\n
Jack Link\u2019s 500<\/p>\n
Sunday, Apr. 26, at 3 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90<\/p>\n
NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series<\/p>\n
Ag-Pro 300<\/p>\n
Saturday, Apr. 25, at 4 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
\u200a<\/p>\n
QUOTABLE QUOTES:<\/p>\n
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing<\/p>\n
Is Talladega a place where you can build momentum?<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, once we get into the draft, no matter how we qualify, it\u2019ll be equal-ish. The new Chevy, the upgraded Chevy body, definitely pushes and gets pushed better. We saw that at Daytona. So yeah, I\u2019m looking forward to Talladega. I also know going there that I\u2019m probably going to be backwards in the grass at about 180 miles per hour. If I can just get back to pit road, which is tough to do these days with this tire, if we can get back to pit road and put tires on it, I\u2019ll still have a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on racing at Talladega Superspeedway?<\/p>\n
\u201cTalladega Superspeedway presents an opportunity to bring home a trophy. I\u2019m looking forward to getting the new Chevy Camaro out there and ripping the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops\/Winchester Long Beard XR Chevrolet around the track. The new stage lengths are interesting. I hope it promotes a lot of non-fuel saving racing. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing what the race brings.\u201d<\/p>\n
What does it take to win a speedway race like Talladega?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to do what we have done a good job with in the past \u2013 and that\u2019s just putting ourselves in good positions. When we put ourselves in good positions along with that ECR horsepower, it tends to show up. The biggest thing I\u2019ve learned about speedway racing is that you\u2019ve got to pick a direction that you are going to go and stick to it. I\u2019ve not been a fan of the fuel-saving at Daytona and Talladega, so I am curious to see how this race plays out with the changes that have been implemented. Whatever happens, my goal is getting RCR and ECR to Victory Lane.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
Heading back to the second superspeedway of the season, what are your thoughts going to Talladega?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had strong speed at Daytona and the car drove really well, so there\u2019s no reason to expect that to change. Our engineers and everyone on the No. 7 team put in a lot of work to keep the superspeedway package competitive. Still, we need to approach it with the right mindset and adapt to the new stage format. I expect we\u2019ll have good speed again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
Do you think adjusting the stage lengths will make a difference?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think changing the stage lengths will make a difference. The purpose is to make the crew chiefs not have an idea of how to strategize fuel saving. But trust me, they\u2019ll figure out a way to strategize for it. You\u2019re always trying to figure out a way of putting the least amount of fuel as possible when it comes down to pitting. The only true way to pass is when guys are sitting still on pit road, short filling and having the opportunity to jump them there. Because when you get back on track and everybody\u2019s running three-wide part throttle, there\u2019s nowhere to go. And then when we go two-wide, it\u2019s always two-wide around the bottom. It\u2019s hard to get a lane where there\u2019s enough momentum going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on Talladega?<\/p>\n
\u201cTalladega has always been a strong track for me because I\u2019m comfortable with this style of racing. I think the key to Talladega is patience. My wife always preaches patience to me when I come to these superspeedways. You have to avoid trouble. I feel like I\u2019ve got a sense about when things are about to get bad. You have to get to the end of these superspeedway races then anything can and usually does happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the new stage lengths, I think you race the first stage, probably the same way you\u2019ve run the other stages. They\u2019ll be fuel saving. I think at the end of the day, when it comes to the stages, if you have a chance to be up front late in the stage, you go for points and try to make the right decisions there. And if not, be smart and kind of bail out of the pack, but I think the second and third stages now will be a lot more intense. If it stays green, there\u2019s no pit stop, so track position\u2019s always going to be important. So, trying to get up there early in the third stage, have a shot to be near the front. It\u2019s, always super hard to pass. I think it\u2019s a little bit easier in Daytona. You can get an extra lane going, but track position is always critical. I think it\u2019s just about trying to make the right judgment call on when to go, when not to go, and hopefully be there at the end. Good thing is, we showed at Daytona that we\u2019re always going to have fast superspeedway cars. The potential\u2019s there. It\u2019s just about trying to make the right decisions and hopefully survive and get a good finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jesse Love, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What are your expectations this weekend driving at Talladega for the first time in a Cup car?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to learn a new form of superspeedway racing with the Cup car. It\u2019s going to be a lot different to what I\u2019m used to driving in the O\u2019Reilly car. Key for me is to adapt as fast as I can and put ourselves in position for a good result.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cTalladega is always one of the craziest races of the year. I feel like we have had some pretty good speedway races in the past, so hopefully we can bring some of that this weekend and put our Haas\/Autodesk Chevy in position in the end. It\u2019s going to be a lot different racing with the different stage lengths, and I think it is going to be a lot more aggressive. We are going to have to make sure we make it to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some really strong runs at Talladega, so it\u2019s always a race we look forward to. Having Chef Boyardee back on the No. 47 this weekend is exciting, and it\u2019s great to welcome First Bank of Alabama to the team as well. Talladega is one of those places where anything can happen, but if we can stay up front and be there at the end, I think we\u2019ll have a shot at putting together a strong finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time we go to Talladega and Daytona, we inch that much closer to really being in contention for the win. The last couple of races, the end result didn\u2019t reflect our work. Leading laps and being up front, that\u2019s become more consistent each time we\u2019ve been out on track. It\u2019s momentum, and it\u2019s grown my confidence and grown the team\u2019s confidence.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve focused a lot of time and energy on our superspeedway program. Being an alliance partner with RCR (Richard Childress Racing) and having those ECR engines has really been an asset. Kyle Busch showed how fast these Chevrolets are at the superspeedways when he won the pole for the Daytona 500. It\u2019s definitely moved the needle for us. We\u2019ve got a lot of Chevrolet teammates, which means good people to work with and draft with throughout the race. All those things matter when it comes to putting it together on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
How will shortened stage lengths change fuel-saving strategy at Talladega?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re still going to save fuel at some point. That\u2019s going to be part of it. Probably sooner than later in comparison to the years prior. Fuel saving is just going to be part of superspeedway racing. There\u2019s no doubt that\u2019s part of it.\u2029The changes in stage length will make the end of the race more exciting but we\u2019ll still want to bring home as many stage points as possible. I will say, making the last stage shorter should make things more \u2018hammer-down\u2019 in the end. Leading into Stage 3, you\u2019re still going to want the shortest stop you can get. That\u2019s just going to be a part of what we do. Regardless, I feel really good about our chances going into this weekend. We have had a ton of speed here in the past, sat on the pole a few times, led a lot of laps, and had some shots to win the race, but ended up wrecked or just short of the checkered. I\u2019m ready to get there with GUNK and have a shot at it, especially with how Carson (Hocevar) and I worked together in the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n
How do you believe handling matters compared to speed at Talladega? Furthermore, how do you utilize the drivers around you to make moves?<\/p>\n
\u201cA good handling car helps you take a push, which is really important to moving your line forward. Ultimately, you hope you don\u2019t get a push at the wrong time. If there is a big gap and you have guys pushing three deep behind you, it\u2019s really easy to get turned off their bumper if your car isn\u2019t handling right. You\u2019re just hoping you get the right push and know your stuff is handling as good as possible when you take that push.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s racing, it is tough because you rely on those around you. Everybody kind of helps everybody most of the race, but when it gets close to the end, they look for who their friends are and who they can trust. For me, it is different than a normal weekend where you can just be on offense the whole time. You need friends at Talladega to help you move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talk about the opportunity to not only have Chili\u2019s supporting your Cup Series car this weekend, but also on the dirt late model.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited about it. We finally have a dirt late model race close to where we are for the weekend. We have had a few sprint car events close by, and it has been fun to go out and support Gio (Scelzi) and the team, but I am ready to go racing. It is too easy and too much fun not to do, and this will kind of jump start our dirt late model schedule for the year. It is super cool that Chili\u2019s will be not only on the Cup car, but also the dirt car, all in one weekend. I know they are excited, and hopefully we can put on a good show for them three days in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
What do you expect this weekend at Talladega since the lengths of the stages have been changed?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a lot of saving fuel and I think it\u2019s going to make the last 45 laps better. The only thing that might change that is the fact that you can flip Stage 2. You can still find track position that way and get yourself out front and then you still have to save a little fuel in the final stage to make it to the end. You\u2019re going to try to make it on one stop in Stage 1 and to do that you\u2019re going to have to save fuel. Hopefully, it\u2019s going to make the end of the race better, but at the end of the day, track position is so crucial with the Next Gen cars. I think you\u2019re going to have to do what you can to give yourself the best shot at the end of the race and put yourself forward in the track position game.\u201d<\/p>\n
This has been a challenging start to the season. How have you and the team at Trackhouse been able to stay mentally focused through this tough stretch?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone is down on themselves. I\u2019d say we\u2019re hungry and ready to do whatever it takes to make things better. Being upset isn\u2019t going to make things better. I think there is a lot to be excited about for what we\u2019re going to learn. Obviously, I wish I was up running front and winning races, but it\u2019s exciting to be a part of something that\u2019s challenging and that I have to work to make better. I can be a part of our return to success. It\u2019s definitely an opportunity for me to learn a lot and that part of it excites me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n
Are you looking forward to Talladega?<\/p>\n
\u201cYes and no. I enjoy that kind of racing, until it goes wrong (laughs). It will be interesting to see what the new strategy does and how that works. I\u2019ve been studying this week. I feel like that type of racing I\u2019m getting better at too. We\u2019ve got some things in the works to try to make our cars quicker. We normally qualify in the thirties, so hopefully we see a step there on Saturday. That will mean we have a faster car and it\u2019s easier to make moves, I feel like we are a bit hamstrung there, so hopefully we are a bit quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talk about your superspeedway progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe superspeedway racing, I feel like I\u2019ve gotten better at, but my results aren\u2019t great yet. It\u2019s hard to finish these races, there is so much unpredictability, but you still see those guys that are there every time and put their selves in good places. I\u2019m getting better at it, just need to keep getting those finishes and experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
GM PR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NASCAR Cup Series will hit the double-digits on the 2026 schedule this weekend as the series heads…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1168,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,718,925,374,77,634,1702,721,1704,722,82,13258],"class_list":{"0":"post-621823","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nascar","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-craftsman-truck-series","11":"tag-daytona","12":"tag-fox","13":"tag-international","14":"tag-nascar","15":"tag-ricky-stenhouse-jr","16":"tag-series","17":"tag-speed","18":"tag-speedway","19":"tag-sports","20":"tag-sprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/621823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=621823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/621823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=621823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=621823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=621823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}