NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series News & Notes – Off Weekend, Looking Toward Texas

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)

Where To Watch NASCAR This Week:

Friday, April 25

NXS Kennametal Pole Qualifying (CW App at 5:30 p.m. ET)

Saturday, April 26

NCS Busch Light Pole Qualifying (Amazon Prime, MRN, SiriusXM at 10:30 a.m. ET)

ARCA Race: General Tire 200 (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM at 12:30 p.m. ET)

NXS Race: Ag-Pro 300 (CW, MRN, SiriusXM at 4 p.m. ET)

Sunday, April 27

NCS Race: Jack Link’s 500 (FOX & FOX Deportes, MRN, SiriusXM at 3 p.m. ET)

Talladega Storylines and Insights:

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 William 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), Chase Elliott (two), Michael McDowell (two), Austin Dillon (one), Denny Hamlin (one) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (one).
Michael 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.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the Cup Series in consecutive wins at Talladega with four straight from 2001-2003.
Ford led 72% of the laps on drafting tracks in 2025, but has one top-five finish and no wins.
Ford won the last three Cup poles at Talladega, the last time they won four consecutive here was 1996-97.
Josh Berry accounts for two of Ford’s seven top-five finishes in 2025 including the only win.
Ford’s seven top-fives and 21 top-10s are their fewest since 2016 (7 and 15 respectively).
Each of the last three races at Talladega ranks in the top-11 for most lead changes all-time in Cup.
Two of Kyle Larson’s three top-five finishes on drafting tracks came in the last three races.
14 drivers earned their final Cup Series win at Talladega, the most among all tracks.
Stage 2 was caution free in each of the last five Talladega Cup races.
Ten drivers ended winless streaks of 50+ races at Talladega, more than any other track in Cup Series history.
The driver leading the most laps failed to win each of the last nine Talladega races.
Anthony Alfredo’s average finish of 13th at Talladega is the fifth best all-time among drivers with at least four starts (he has four starts there), it also ranks best among active drivers.
Joey Logano is one of only two defending champions without a top-five finish through the season’s first nine races (Bill Elliott – 1989).
2024 NASCAR Cup Champion Joey Logano’s 260 laps led in 2025 are the most for a driver through the first nine races without a top-five finish since 2016 (Matt Kenseth – 308).
Brad Keselowski finished runner-up in both Cup Series Talladega races in 2024.
William Byron currently has the longest active streak of top-10 finishes at Talladega with four straight.
Joey Logano leads all active drivers in laps led at Talladega with 509 laps led, has led in 24 of his 32 starts.
Two full-time teams don’t have a DNF yet in 2025: HYAK Motorsports and Legacy Motor Club.
Three races ended with a last lap pass in 2025, tied for the most ever through nine races with 2014.
Two full-time drivers have yet to score stage points in 2025: Riley Herbst and Cody Ware.
Zane Smith’s average finish through nine races in 2025 is nine positions better than it was through nine races in 2024.
Denny Hamlin is the only driver to finish on the lead lap in all nine races in 2025.
Bubba Wallace’s 78 stage points through nine races in 2025 are his most ever at this point in a season by 26 points.
Ryan Blaney ranks first in 2025 in stage points earned (92), 33% of his total points this season came from stages.
Since the start of 2023, Ford has claimed 77.1% of the top-five qualifying spots at drafting tracks, including five full sweeps of the top five—most recently at Atlanta earlier this year.
Ryan Preece is 14th in points, his career-best through nine races (previously 21st in 2021).
Over the last three races, Ty Gibbs moved from 34th to 20th in points.
Hendrick Motorsports have won the last four stages – the longest streak in series history is five.
Hendrick Motorsports have now won at least three races in every season since 1994, extending their record streak.
The largest point deficit overcome to point into the Playoffs without a win after nine races is 53 points by Tyler Reddick in 2021.
T. Dillon, E. Jones, B. Keselowski, N. Gragson, R. Herbst, S. van Gisbergen, C. Custer, C. Ware are more than 53 points out entering Talladega.
Joe Gibbs Racing (five) and Hendrick Motorsports (three) have combined to win eight of the first nine Cup races of 2025.
William Byron leads the Cup Series point standings by 30 points over second place Denny Hamlin following Bristol.
Kyle Larson swept both stages at Bristol and in doing so has tied Martin Truex Jr. for the most stage wins in the Cup Series with 66 each. Larson hasn’t won a stage at Talladega.
Austin Dillon’s birthday will be this Sunday (race day), he turns 35. Three drivers have won in the Cup Series on their birthdays – Cale Yarborough (twice: N. Wilkesboro in 1977 and Atlanta in 1983), Kyle Busch (twice: Richmond in 2013 and Kansas in 2021) and Matt Kenseth (Las Vegas in 2013).
The Cup Series starts a 28 straight week (189 days) stretch of races to end the season starting at Talladega (includes the All-Star race), the longest stretch of consecutive weeks raced in series history.

Historical & Significant Events at Talladega Superspeedway:

Dream Big: Anniston, AL race car driver and insurance sales associate Bill Ward has a casual conversation at Daytona with International Speedway Corporation and NASCAR founder William H.G. (Bill) France about the possibility of building a speedway in Alabama.
The 1968 Meeting of the Minds: Bill Ward orchestrates a meeting between then-Talladega Mayor James Hardwick and other city officials to consider the idea of building a major race track on land owned by the City of Talladega. After a trip to Daytona, the men were convinced.
May 23, 1968 – Construction begins on what will become the Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS).
Sept. 14, 1969 – Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS) opens with its first race, the Talladega 500, named in honor of the local people who helped bring the track from vision to reality. Richard Brickhouse won the inaugural event. Richard Childress makes his first NASCAR Cup Series career start and later credits his winnings with getting the ball rolling on forming Richard Childress Racing. The day before, Ken Rush won the first race ever run at AIMS in the BAMA 400 NASCAR Grand Touring event in a Chevrolet Camaro.
In late 1969 and early 1970, Talladega Super Speedway undergoes its first repave.
In 1970, Don Naman becomes the first general manager of Alabama International Motor Speedway.
March 24, 1970 – Buddy Baker becomes the first driver to officially eclipse the 200 mph mark on a closed course while testing at AIMS driving the blue No. 88 winged Dodge Charger Daytona. His speed of 200.447 mph was a world record at the time.
April 12, 1970 – The second NASCAR Cup Series race – the Alabama 500 – is held at AIMS, marking the beginning of twice-a-year visits by the sanctioning body’s top series.
May 16, 1971 – Donnie and Bobby Allison, famed “Alabama Gang” brothers finish 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the 1st Winston 500 at AIMS. Winston begins a race sponsorship at AIMS that endures until 2000.
May 5, 1974 – Energy Crisis: Neil Bonnett makes his first Talladega start in the 1974 Winston 500. The race is stopped twice by rain but is shortened in laps because of the international energy crisis. Although it is scored as a 188-lap race, only 170 are run because it is one of 15 events NASCAR voluntarily cut short for the sake of fuel conservation in cooperation with the energy council. David Pearson ended that day the winner, capturing his 3rd career Winston 500 victory.
August 9, 1975 – Mark Donohue replaces A.J. Foyt as the world record holder for speed on a closed course by driving a Porsche 917-30 owned by Roger Penske around AIMS at 221.160 mph. Donohue’s world record stood for four years until it was broken in Italy. His national record stood until 1986 when it was broken by Rick Mears at Michigan International Speedway.
May 2, 1976 – Buddy Baker takes a third consecutive Talladega win, a streak that goes unbroken until 2003 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. racks up four straight wins.
In 1979, the 2.66-mile Talladega tri-oval is paved for the third time since the track was constructed (including initial construction and then repaving in late 1969-early 1970).
April 29, 1982 – Benny Parsons becomes the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to break the 200 mph mark in qualifying at a speed of 200.176 mph.
July 31, 1983 – Dale Earnhardt posts his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega in the Talladega 500. Earnhardt had the momentum, with the lapped Bobby Allison in tow, to shoot past Darrell Waltrip on the final lap to win. Waltrip was 2nd, Allison was 9th. Earnhardt will go on to become the track’s winningest driver with 10 premier series victories.
May 6, 1984 – The Winston 500 firmly establishes AIMS as NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track, setting the all-time NASCAR record for lead changes with 75 that stands until 2011 when the track breaks its own record in the Aaron’s 499 with 88 lead changes. After starting the race on pole, Cale Yarborough passed Harry Gant on the last lap to win the race.
May 5, 1986 – Miraculous Win: In one of the greatest comebacks NASCAR has ever seen, Bill Elliott comes from nearly 2 laps down under green after a lengthy pit stop to repair a loose oil line to spectacularly take the 1985 Winston 500 win, turning an average speed of 186.288 mph.
November 26, 1985 – Lyn St. James sets the record as the first woman to exceed 200 mph, driving a Ford Mustang Probe Prototype at Talladega Superspeedway.
May 4, 1986 – All but one of the 42 starters in the May 4, 1986 Winston 500 qualified at more than 200 mph. Positions 41 and 42 made the field on provisionals, thus the event technically became the first “All-200” field in stock car history.
July 27, 1986 – Record Leaders: 26 drivers lead laps in the Talladega 500, setting an all-time series record that will stand until the Talladega fans again see 26 different leaders in the 2001 Aaron’s 499.
May 1, 1987 – Bill Elliott sets an all-time series qualifying record by winning the pole for the 1987 Winston 500 at a blazing speed of 212.809 mph, which still stands to this day.
May 3, 1987 – High Speeds: Alabama native Davey Allison celebrates his first career NASCAR Cup Series in front of his hometown fans. The average qualifying speed of the field was 207.049 mph, the fastest field in stock car history.
In early 1988, Mike Helton becomes the new General Manager of AIMS and in less than one year becomes president of the facility. Don Naman becomes Executive Director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Early 1989, AIMS becomes officially known as “Talladega Superspeedway.” The announcement is made at the Talladega Country Club, where members of the media have gathered for an “unveiling” but see nothing within the room to unveil. However, the darkness outside the room’s large windows successfully cloak a large-scale rendering of the track’s new name and logo, until spotlights illuminate it for all to see.
January 23, 1990 – Patty Moise breaks the women’s speed record again by going 217.498 mph around Talladega Superspeedway in a Buick.
In February 1993, Grant Lynch becomes the third GM of Talladega Superspeedway and is promoted to President in November of that year. Mike Helton relocates to Daytona Beach, FL at the start of the next year to become NASCAR’s VP of Competition.
April 23, 1999 – When teams and fans arrive for the first Talladega race of the year, they are greeted by a new entrance to the track’s tunnel and main parking areas, the first of several facility improvements that have occurred in the off season. In the infield, a new NASCAR Cup Series garage awaits to accommodate up to 62 cars, as well as a new care center. Also, a big announcement is made to herald even more facility improvements. Track officials announce that a new and improved grandstand will replace the one existing out of Turn 2 and will be named “Allison Grandstand” after the legendary Alabama racing family of Bobby, Donnie, Davey and Clifford Allison.
January 2001 – Rick Humphrey is promoted from Director of Operations to become the fifth VP/GM of Talladega Superspeedway after having joined the staff in 1997 as the Director of Public Relations.
October 2002 – Recording artist Sheryl Crow and her band perform for fans just before the start of the race in support of her “C’mon C’mon Tour.” Legendary quarterback Ken Stabler serves as Grand Marshal, and the musical group Little Big Town performs the National Anthem. Jamie McMurray fills in for the injured Sterling Marlin in the EA SPORTS 500, making his NASCAR Cup Series debut.
October 3, 2004 – Talladega Superspeedway officially celebrates its 35th anniversary with the running of the EA SPORTS 500. Grand Marshals of the event, Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. of Orange County Choppers unveil a custom motorcycle commissioned by the track to commemorate the occasion. The bike is later auctioned on eBay, with proceeds benefiting Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, NC. Dale Earnhardt Jr. grabs his fifth Talladega victory that day.
July 12, 2005 – Amazing Race Coms To Talladega: Eight families competing in the three-time Emmy Award winning television show “The Amazing Race” found a clue at the world’s largest office chair in Anniston, AL that directed them to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and then inside Talladega Superspeedway to compete against one another acing multiple-rider “party bikes” around the track. The Bransen family of Park Ride, IL was the first family to successfully complete the challenge at TSS to earn the next clue. The “Think Like an Office Chair” episode aired October 18, 2005 on CBS.
September 2005 – History was both made and remembered when David Donohue and NBC Television’s “The Tonight Show” host Jay Leno set a series of Grand American speed records at the track, driving a Porsche Carrera GT production car. David is the son of Mark Donohue, who set a similar series of records in a Porsche here three decades ago. The younger Donohue set three flying speed records in the production category, including a closed-course speed record here of 196.301 mph. Donohue also set records for the measured mile at 198.971 mph and the measured kilometer at 195.755 mph. Leno set three standing-start speed records in the same car, the fastest being 156.603 mph over the closed-course.
November 2005 – Filming begins at Talladega Superspeedway for the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Amy Adams, Jane Lynch, Michael Clark Duncan, Gary Cole and Leslie Bibb.
September 19, 2006 – TSS officials announce the official completion of the 2006 Paving Project. Repave #3.
July 3, 2007 – Rick Humphrey is named President of Talladega Superspeedway. Former track president Grant Lynch to serve as Senior VP of Business Development for International Speedway Corporation.
2009 – Grant Lynch returns to Talladega Superspeedway as Chairman of the track.
May 2, 2014 – The first “Big One on the Blvd” parade was held on Talladega Blvd in the track’s infamous infield. Four drivers- Clint Bowyer, Austin Dillon, Kevin Harvick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – were a major part of the Mardi Gras style event that featured a Moon Pie eating contest and BBQ Sauce Wrestling. The tradition continues each race weekend with different activities available for fan participation.
October 20, 2016 – It takes nerves of steel to circle Talladega Superspeedway at nearly 200 mph. The now traditional Vulcan Trophy, introduced in fall 2016 and a miniature version of the famous cast-iron statue that overlooks nearby Birmingham, is the prize for the driver who outsmarts and outdrives his competitors to get to Gatorade Victory Lane. Standing approximately 3 feet tall and weighing more than 100 pounds, Vulcan is a force to be reckoned with.
In 2018, NASCAR’s most competitive track — Talladega Superspeedway — announced at a press conference details of Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project. The approximate $50 million redevelopment endeavor is part of NASCAR’s long-term capital allocation plan and reinvestment into its major motorsports complexes. The project, highlighted by a one-of-a-kind Garage Fan Zone Experience, will feature “up-close” access, interactive attractions and enhanced amenities for fans, sponsors, teams and stakeholders in the iconic Talladega infield.
In 2019, Brian Crichton, Vice President, Marketing and Sales at Talladega Superspeedway, has been promoted to President of Talladega Superspeedway, effective September 3rd. Crichton assumes his new role as Speedway Chairman Grant Lynch prepares for his previously announced November retirement with the completion of Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project Presented by Graybar.
Today, Talladega Superspeedway covers about 3,000 acres – the most of any Cup track (Daytona is 482 acres).
In total, there have been 111 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one series event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970.

Latest Track Storylines:

Talladega Superspeedway announced that country music star Justin Moore will headline the Saturday Night Concert this Spring. The multi-platinum artist and ACM Award winner is sure to bring all the country vibes to Talladega ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500.
Justin Moore has earned multiple ACM, ACA, People’s Choice, and ACC Awards nominations including an ACM award for New Artist of the Year. In his established career, Moore has released eight studio albums and charted 18 times on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. He’s had numerous number one singles including “Small Town USA,” “You Look Like I Need a Drink,” “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” “Til My Last Day,” among many more.
Talladega Superspeedway announced that NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano will be inducted into the Talladega Walk of Fame at Davey Allison Memorial Park. The three-time Cup Series winner at the famed superspeedway is set to join a prestigious list of NASCAR legends on Friday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Former Talladega City Council President James E. Spratlin will also be honored for assisting in the establishment of the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame and Davey Allison Memorial Park. Festivities will include the induction ceremony, food trucks, vendors and live music. Sponsors include the City of Talladega, Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega Bottling Works, RK Allen Oil, First Bank of Alabama, the Talladega Lincoln Munford Chamber of Commerce and TOP Trails.
Talladega Superspeedway announced that the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison will be honored during a special parade lap as part of pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500. Allison’s famed 1969 Mercury Cyclone will be driven around the track by his grandson Robbie Allison following the National Anthem.
Allison’s list of accomplishments can only be described as extraordinary. He accumulated 85 career NASCAR Cup Series wins along with being crowned NASCAR Cup Series champion in 1983. Allison was also a member of the legendary Alabama Gang – originally comprised of Bobby, his brother Donnie, and their best friend Red Farmer. All three are enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
This past weekend’s season opener at Bowman Gray Stadium is the most-watched Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series FloRacing broadcast in track history.
The ARCA East at Rockingham also set viewership records on both the NASCAR Channel and FloRacing.

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