News

Jack Link's 500
Talladega, Alabama - April 25, 2026

Austin Cindric, driver, No. 2 Menards/FrogTape Ford Mustang Dark Horse - 13th

Ryan Blaney, driver, No. 12 Würth Ford Mustang Dark Horse - 15th

Joey Logano, driver, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse - 25th

QUALIFYING: Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway was canceled due to inclement weather, resulting in the starting lineup being set according to the NASCAR Rule Book.

TEAM PENSKE AT 'DEGA: Team Penske has recorded 12 Cup Series wins at Talladega Superspeedway, including Austin Cindric's victory in this event one year ago. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney have also found success at the 2.66-mile track, with each driver earning three Cup Series wins at Talladega. The organization has now won at least one race on a drafting track in 12 consecutive seasons (2014-2025). In the Next Gen era, Team Penske leads all teams in laps led on drafting tracks (26 races) with 1,462 - more than 660 laps ahead of the next closest team.

300: When Blaney takes the green flag in Sunday's Jack Link's 500, he will make his 300th Cup Series start with Team Penske. He will become the fourth driver in organization history to reach the milestone, joining Rusty Wallace, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.

CHANGING THINGS UP: Stage lengths for Sunday's Jack Link's 500 have been adjusted. Stage 1 will now conclude on Lap 98, followed by Stage 2 ending on Lap 143. The final stage will run 45 laps to Lap 188, the scheduled distance for the 10th points-paying race of the 2026 season. The original stage format was set at 60-120-188. The revised structure is intended to limit fuel-saving strategies typically seen at superspeedways and introduce additional strategic variables throughout the race.

UP NEXT: Sunday's 500-miler from Alabama goes green at 3 p.m. ET, airing live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.