The NASCAR Cup Series Talladega event, scheduled for Sunday, October 19 at the Talladega Superspeedway, promises an unpredictable contest as drivers compete in the YellaWood 500, an event known for producing surprise winners. This race, part of the crucial Round of 8, is set to determine which contenders may advance in the Playoffs and will feature a purse exceeding $9.7 million for competitors.
The race will take place on Talladega’s 2.66-mile asphalt oval, challenging the field over 500.08 miles and 188 laps, with stages ending on laps 60 and 120, and the final stage concluding on lap 188. Fans can watch live through NBC at 1:30 p.m. ET, while radio coverage will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90, emphasizing the event’s broad appeal and national spotlight.
Weekend Racing Schedule and Broadcast Details
The Talladega weekend features an extensive slate of racing, beginning Friday, October 17, with NCTS Practice and Pole Qualifying airing on FS2 at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the NCTS Love’s RV Stop 225 race later at 4 p.m. ET on FOX. Saturday’s events include NXS practice and qualifying via the CW App at 11:30 p.m. ET, and NCS Practice along with Busch Light Pole Qualifying on truTV with coverage on PRN and SiriusXM at 1:30 p.m. ET. The NXS United Rentals 250 takes the green flag on CW, MRN, and SiriusXM at 4 p.m. ET.
On Sunday, October 19, the main event—the NCS YellaWood 500—will be televised by NBC at 2 p.m. ET, accompanied by MRN and SiriusXM radio. This scheduling ensures fans do not miss any action, highlighting Talladega’s significant role in the season’s climax.
Historic Insights and Statistical Trends for Talladega
This weekend marks the 113th NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway and is the 34th race of the 2025 season, making it the second contest in the Round of 8. Traditionally, Talladega has been a staple of the Playoffs for 22 years, but this is the venue’s debut in hosting a Round of 8 race, signifying a reshuffle in the postseason calendar.
The April Talladega race initiated a 28-week consecutive run of NASCAR events—a record streak that includes the All-Star Race and intensifies the end-of-season pressure for teams and drivers. Qualifying at Talladega uses a two-round format, with only the fastest 10 drivers in the first round advancing for a shot at prime starting spots in round two.
Ford has dominated recent Talladega qualifications, earning the pole position in each of the last four races, with Front Row Motorsports achieving pole victories in the last three. Additionally, Ford drivers have claimed 63% of the top-10 starting positions in this period, underscoring the manufacturer’s qualifying strength at this superspeedway.
A Tradition of Varied Winners and Late-Race Drama
One prevailing storyline for the NASCAR Cup Series Talladega is its distinction for producing different winners. The last ten races at this track have each had a unique victor—a streak without a repeat winner unmatched at this venue. Of these, just two were current Playoff participants: Ryan Blaney, who triumphed in October 2023, and Chase Elliott, who captured victory in October 2022.
This trend extends beyond Talladega, as the last ten drafting track races have each been won by different drivers. Talladega is further known for races where the event’s leader fails to secure the win, with the victor leading 19 laps or fewer in each of the last nine races and the driver leading the most laps unable to clinch the win in the past ten outings.
Other distinctive features include consistently long final green-flag stretches, such as the 62-lap run to the finish in April, which was the second-longest in the past 45 races. Caution frequency has been notably low, with just four cautions in each of the last four events, contributing to races filled with unpredictable momentum shifts and numerous lead changes—four of the twelve races with the most lead changes in NASCAR Cup history have occurred at Talladega in the past four years.
Stage Wins, Qualifying, and the Path to Victory
Success in early stages has rarely translated to overall victory at Talladega, as the Stage 1 winner has only gone on to claim the race twice, and Stage 2 winners have only triumphed three times. Even starting from the pole offers little assurance; every Talladega pole qualifier in the Next Gen era has finished 17th or lower in seven appearances.
In April, Austin Cindric secured victory after starting in seventh, which was the strongest starting position of any Talladega winner in the last nine events. Fourteen drivers have recorded their final Cup Series win at this iconic track, more than any other venue, reinforcing Talladega’s status as a setting for memorable career moments. Additionally, Stage 2 has run caution-free for six consecutive Talladega races.
Playoff Drivers and Team Performance
Among active competitors, Brad Keselowski holds the most Talladega wins with six and has been a runner-up three times since his last victory in April 2021. Playoff drivers have proven successful at drafting tracks in 2025, capturing victories in four of five such races. Joey Logano leads all drivers with 228 laps led on drafting tracks this season, though his best finish is 12th, revealing the unpredictable nature of this racing style.
Since 2017, only two drivers—bell in 2022 and Reddick in 2024—have advanced to the Championship Four after failing to finish the opening Round of 8 race. In 2024, 11 of the 12 Playoff drivers faced issues at Talladega, affirming the race’s hazards for championship hopefuls.
Late-race action is a hallmark of Talladega, with seven of the last 11 races decided by a pass on the final lap. There have already been seven last-lap passes for the win in 2025, a new season record.
Key Drivers and Milestones Mark the Event
Kyle Larson made history at Las Vegas by gaining 31 points towards the cutline in the opening Round of 8 contest, the most ever gained by a driver at this stage. In contrast, Ryan Blaney dropped 37 points in the same race and had previously lost 43 points at Las Vegas in 2024, only to secure a must-win at Martinsville to advance to the Championship Four after being 47 points below the cutline—a series record comeback.
The drivers currently below the Playoff cutline hold a combined 17 wins at Talladega and Martinsville, including three of the last four at Martinsville, highlighting the depth and experience of contenders on tracks pivotal to Playoff advancement.
Historically, nine of the Talladega Playoff races under the elimination format have been won by Playoff drivers, and seven of those winners began the event at or below the cutline.
Notable Contributions from Teams and Crew Chiefs
Kyle Larson, poised to make his 400th Cup start this weekend at Talladega, leads all drivers with 1,100 laps led this year—marking his third consecutive season surpassing 1,000 laps led, and his fourth such performance in five years with Hendrick Motorsports. Larson’s recent dominance on drafting tracks includes three stage victories across seven events, his only wins of that type.
Denny Hamlin, who has already clinched a spot in the next Playoff round, and Ryan Blaney together have won four of the last eight races in 2025. Hamlin also reaches a milestone with his fifth Championship Four berth, aided by crew chief Chris Gayle, who makes his maiden Championship 4 appearance.
Strong team performances shape this track’s legacy. Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske have together claimed 13 victories at drafting tracks with the Next Gen car, outpacing all other organizations combined. Team Penske and Wood Brothers have spent a remarkable 249 laps running first and second on drafting tracks this year—more than double any other team, showcasing their drafting dominance.
Joe Gibbs Racing has achieved four of the last seven victories in 2025, using three different drivers: Denny Hamlin twice, Christopher Bell once, and Chase Briscoe once, demonstrating depth and flexibility in their lineup.
Playoff Scenarios and Pathways at Talladega
Heading into Talladega, one driver, Denny Hamlin, has already secured a spot in the Championship Four, taking some pressure off but leaving the rest of the field with everything to race for. Other contenders, including Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, could only clinch on points with assistance, depending on the winner and points scenario. Larson and Bell require specific point margins, such as being at least 57 points ahead of the next-highest winless driver if the winner does not impact the cutline directly.
Should a new winner emerge from lower-ranked winless drivers, or from those hovering near the cutline like Chase Briscoe, similar point requirements come into play for those seeking advancement. However, the simplest route remains a race win—drivers including Larson, Bell, Briscoe, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney would secure their Championship Four place with a victory at Talladega.
The Road Ahead as Talladega Approaches
The upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Talladega event stands as one of the season’s most pivotal and unpredictable contests, with each lap presenting a fresh opportunity for surprise and strategy to shape the Playoff picture. Both veterans and emerging talents are poised to seize this chance, while team dynamics and late-race moves are expected to dictate who advances toward the coveted Championship Four. All eyes turn to Talladega, where the only certainties are excitement and the likelihood of witnessing yet another new winner cross the finish line first.
