Statistical Advance: Analyzing the YellaWood 500

Below is a look at the NASCAR Cup Series statistical performances at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, going into the YellaWood 500 on October 25 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Fast Facts: Race #8 (Talladega Superspeedway)

• Talladega Superspeedway has occupied six different spots on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason schedule:
  • Third Race: 2004 – 2005
  • Fourth Race: 2006 – 2008, 2012
  • Fifth Race: 2017 – 2024
  • Sixth Race: 2011, 2013 – 2016
  • Seventh Race: 2009 – 2010
  • Eighth Race: 2025 – 2026

• Talladega has participated in the postseason every year since its inception in 2004.
• A total of 17 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason races at Talladega Superspeedway.
• Five drivers lead the NASCAR Cup Series in postseason wins at Talladega Superspeedway with two victories each: Ryan Blaney (2019, 2023), Brad Keselowski (2014, 2017), Clint Bowyer (2010, 2011), Jamie McMurray (2009, 2013) and Joey Logano (2015, 2016).

• A total of 20 different crew chiefs have won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race (2004-2024) at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Paule Wolfe (2014, 2017) and Todd Gordon (2015, 2016) with two wins each.
• A total of 11 different organizations have won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Team Penske with six victories (2014-2017, 2019, 2023).
• During the Postseason Era (2004-Present), only once has the winner of the Talladega Superspeedway postseason race gone on to win the title in the same season – Ryan Blaney (2023).
• Twice the Talladega postseason race winner has finished runner-up in the championship standings at the end of the season: Jeff Gordon (2007) and Joey Logano (2016).
• The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Talladega Superspeedway by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was 37th by Kyle Larson in 2021.
• Seven times a non-postseason driver has won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Talladega Superspeedway: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2021 and 2024.

1. In 2005, Dale Jarrett won the race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
2. In 2006, Brian Vickers won the race at Talladega; he was 16th in points.
3. In 2009, Jamie McMurray won the race at Talladega; he was 22nd in points.
4. In 2011, Clint Bowyer won the race at Talladega; he was 13th in points.
5. In 2013, Jamie McMurray won the race at Talladega; he was 14th in points.
6. In 2021, Bubba Wallace won the race at Talladega; he was 21st in points.
7. In 2024, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the race at Talladega; he was 21st in points.

• Talladega Superspeedway is the fourth different track to host the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason:
  • Phoenix Raceway (one race: 2004)
  • Texas Motor Speedway (16 races: 2005-2020)
  • Kansas Speedway (one race: 2021)
  • Homestead-Miami Speedway (2022-2024)
  • Talladega Superspeedway (2025-2026)

• A total of 12 different drivers have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson with five victories – all at Texas Motor Speedway: 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.
• Five active drivers have won the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Kyle Larson with two postseason wins (Kansas, 2021 and Homestead, 2022).
• A total of 13 different crew chiefs have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2004-2025), led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus with five victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 – all at Texas Motor Speedway).
• A total of seven different organizations have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven victories at three different tracks (Texas: 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015; Kansas: 2021; Homestead: 2022).

• Non-postseason drivers have won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason five times – four times at Texas Motor Speedway: 2006, 2014, 2015, 2020; and once at Homestead-Miami Speedway: 2022.

1. Tony Stewart won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2006 and was ranked 11th in the point standings at the time of the win.
2. Jimmie Johnson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014 and was ranked 11th in points at the time of the win. Johnson was eliminated from the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.
3. Jimmie Johnson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2015 and was 12th in points at the time of the win. Johnson was eliminated from the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 16.
4. Kyle Busch won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020 and was ninth in points at the time of the win. Busch was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.
5. Kyle Larson won the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2022 and was ninth in points at the time of the win. Larson was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the Round of 12.

• Four times the winner of the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has gone on to win the title later that same season – three times at Texas Motor Speedway (2007, 2011, 2013) and once at Kansas Speedway (2021).

1. In 2007, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the eighth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. The Playoff win at Texas was his third of four consecutive victories in the 2007 Playoffs – the only driver to win four straight in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix).
2. In 2011, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Tony Stewart won from the fifth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season (2002, 2005, 2011). The Texas Playoff win was Stewart’s fourth of his record setting five NASCAR Cup Series Playoff wins in a single postseason run in 2011 (Chicago, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Texas, Homestead-Miami).
3. In 2013, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his sixth NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season. The Texas Playoff win was Johnson’s second of two postseason victories (Dover, Texas) in 2013.
4. In 2021, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson won from the first starting position at Kansas Speedway and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that same season. The Kansas Playoff win was Larson’s fourth of his five postseason wins in 2021 (Bristol, Charlotte RC, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix); tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart’s record for the most Playoff wins in a single Playoff run with five each.

• The worst finish in the eighth NASCAR Cup Series postseason race by a driver that went on to win the title that same season was:
  • At Phoenix Raceway it was 10th by Kurt Busch in 2004.
  • At Texas Motor Speedway it was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2009.
  • At Kansas Speedway it was first by Kyle Larson in 2021.
  • At Homestead-Miami Speedway it was 28th by Joey Logano in 2024.
  • At Talladega Superspeedway it was 26th by Kyle Larson in 2025.

Talladega Superspeedway Stats & Tidbits:

RACE & TRACK DATA
Season Race #: 34 of 36 (10-25-26)
The Purse: $11,233,037
Race Length: 188 laps / 500.08 miles
Stage 1 Length: 98 laps (Ends on Lap 98)
Stage 2 Length: 45 laps (Ends on Lap 143)
Final Stage Length: 45 laps (Ends on Lap 188) 

Track Size: 2.66-miles
Banking/Turns: 33 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 16.5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 4,300 feet
Backstretch Length: 4,000 feet

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORD DATA

Track Qualifying Record:
Bill Elliott, Melling Racing Ford, 212.809 mph, 44.998 secs., April 30, 1987

Track Race Record:
Mark Martin, RFK Racing Ford, 188.354 mph, (02:39:18), May 10, 1997

2025 Postseason Pole Winner:
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, 182.466 mph, 52.481 secs., October 18, 2025

2025 Postseason Race Winner:
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 149.178 mph, (03:26:29), October 19, 2025

HISTORY

• Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968, and today covers nearly 3,000 acres.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on September 14, 1969; the event was won by Richard Brickhouse in a Ray Nichels’ 1969 Dodge Daytona.
• The first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on July 25, 1992; the event was won by Ernie Irvan (Chevrolet).
• The first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on October 7, 2006; the event was won by Mark Martin (Ford).
• The name of the track changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
• The track completed its fourth repaving on September 19, 2006.
• In 2019, the track underwent a $50 million renovation, updating the tunnels and infield amenities.
• There have been 114 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one Cup event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970.

STARTS

• A total of 496 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway; 348 have competed in more than one.
• Dave Marcis and NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte lead the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Talladega Superspeedway with 61 starts each.
• Top five in all-time Cup Series Talladega starts: Dave Marcis (61), Terry Labonte (61), Michael Waltrip (60), Ricky Rudd (59) and Bill Elliott (57).
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Talladega Superspeedway with 41 starts.
• Top five in active Cup Series Talladega starts: Denny Hamlin (41), Brad Keselowski (35), Joey Logano (35), Michael McDowell (31), Austin Dillon (26).
• A total of 73 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have made their first career start at Talladega Superspeedway.
• The most recent driver to make their first Cup start at Talladega was Daniel Dye on April 26, 2026.
• Of the 73 drivers to make their first career Cup start at Talladega Superspeedway, Dick Simon had the best finish with a seventh-place result after starting in 52nd-place on May 6, 1973.

Drivers That Made First Career Cup Start at Talladega Superspeedway

Average Finish:

• Bobby Isaac (eight starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 3.625.
• Austin Cindric (nine starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega Superspeedway with a 9.444.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

POLES

• A total of 49 different drivers have qualified on the pole at Talladega Superspeedway, 25 of the 49 have multiple poles at Talladega.
• Bobby Isaac won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 MPH. In fact, Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway (1969 and 1970 sweep).
• This weekend seven of the 49 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Talladega Superspeedway are entered in Sunday’s race.

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with eight poles (1985 sweep, 1986 sweep, 1987 sweep, spring 1990 and fall 1993).
• Michael McDowell (2024 sweep and Fall 2025) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with three.
• Youngest series Talladega pole winner: Chase Elliott (May 1, 2016 – 20 years, 5 months, 3 days).
• Oldest series Talladega pole winner: Mark Martin (October 23, 2011 – 52 years, 9 months, 14 days).
• A total of 13 different drivers have won consecutive poles at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series; Michael McDowell (2024 sweep) and Christopher Bell (2022 sweep) is the only two drivers of the 13 that are currently active.
• Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive Cup poles at Talladega with six-straight from 1985 – 1987.
• Seven drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series pole at Talladega:
  • Zane Smith (April 27,2025)
  • Brian Scott (May 4, 2014)
  • Juan Pablo Montoya (April 26, 2009)
  • Travis Kvapil (October 5, 2008)
  • David Gilliland (October 8, 2006)
  • Stacy Compton (April 22, 2001)
  • Jeremy Mayfield (September 28, 1996)
• In total 32 different organizations have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway.
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Talladega Superspeedway with 13 poles among eight drivers: Darrell Waltrip (1988), Terry Labonte (1995), Jimmie Johnson (2002), Jeff Gordon (2007, 2011, 2012, 2015 sweep), Mark Martin (2011), Kasey Kahne (2012), Chase Elliott (2016, 2019) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2017).
• Of the 32 different organizations with a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Talladega, eight are active this weekend.

• A total of eight different manufacturers have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 38 poles; followed by Ford (33), Dodge (12), Toyota (six) Mercury (five), Oldsmobile (five), Pontiac (three), and Buick (two).
• A total of 11 different drivers have won poles in the NASCAR Cup Series in multiple manufacturers at Talladega Superspeedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Buddy Baker, who all three of his poles were in a different manufacturer (Dodge 1973, Ford 1975, and Oldsmobile 1980).

WINS

• A total of 55 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway; 28 of the 55 NASCAR Cup Series winners at Talladega have won multiple times at the 2.66-mile track.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on September 14, 1969 was won by Richard Brickhouse in a Ray Nichels’ 1969 Dodge Daytona.
• This weekend 12 of the 55 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Talladega Superspeedway are entered in Sunday’s race.

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with 10 victories (1983, 1984, 1990 sweep, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999 sweep and 2000) in 44 starts – a winning percentage of 22.7%.
• Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with six victories (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021) 33 starts – a winning percentage of 18.1%.
• Nine different drivers have won consecutive Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. – four straight victories (2001-2003)
  • Buddy Baker – three straight victories (1975, 1976 sweep)
  • Ryan Blaney – most recent to do it (2019-2020)
  • Pete Hamilton – first to do it (1970 sweep)
  • Darrell Waltrip – only driver to do it in the ‘80s (1982 sweep)
  • Dale Earnhardt – only driver to do it three times (1990 sweep and 1993-1994 and 1999 sweep)
  • Ernie Irvan – (1992-1993)
  • Sterling Marlin – (1995-1996)
  • Jeff Gordon – (2007 sweep)
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the Cup Series in consecutive wins at Talladega with four straight from 2001-2003.
• Youngest series Talladega winner is Bobby Hillin Jr. (July 27, 1986) at the age of 22 years, 1 month, 22 days.
• Oldest series Talladega winner is Harry Gant (May 6, 1991) at the age of 51 years, 3 months, 26 days.
• A total of 26 different starting positions have produced race winners in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway (1969-2025).
• A total of 15 of the 114 NASCAR Cup Series races (13.1%) at Talladega Superspeedway have been won from the pole or first starting position – the most recent driver to accomplish the feat was Denny Hamlin on October 4, 2020.

WINS

• A total of 13 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway from the pole or first starting position.

• The outside front row (second starting position) is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series (18.4%). The most recent driver to win from the second starting position was Chase Briscoe in 2025.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Talladega Superspeedway

• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega is 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the 2000 spring race.
• The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Talladega is 34th, by Denny Hamlin in the 2014 spring race.
• A total of 13 drivers have won their first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway:

• Michael McDowell leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers with the most starts at Talladega Superspeedway without visiting Victory Lane at 31; followed by Casey Mears with 28 and Austin Dillon with 26.
• A total of 33 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway; 10 of the 33 are active this weekend.

Active Organization with Wins At Talladega Superspeedway

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins by an organization at Talladega Speedway with 14 victories among seven different drivers – Ken Schrader (1988), Jeff Gordon (1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007 sweep), Terry Labonte (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2011), Brian Vickers (2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Chase Elliott (2019, 2022).
• Nine different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Chevrolet with 46 wins; followed by Ford (33), Toyota (7), Mercury (7), Buick (6), Oldsmobile (6), Dodge (4), Plymouth (3), Pontiac (2).
• Chevrolet also leads the NASCAR Cup Series in consecutive wins at Talladega Superspeedway with 13 straight victories among five drivers from April 25, 1999 to May 1, 2005.

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 57 different drivers have finished runner-up at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart lead the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Talladega Superspeedway with six second-place finishes each.
• Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with three runner-up finishes at Talladega Superspeedway.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 134 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top fives with 23 top-five finishes.
• Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top fives at Talladega with 12 in 35 starts.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 217 different drivers have finished in the top-10 at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top 10s with 27 top-10 finishes.
• Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Talladega with 17 each.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finish:

• Pete Hamilton (five starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 5.6.
• Anthony Alfredo (3 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 9.333.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 217 different drivers in series history have led at least one lap at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 1,377 in 44 starts.
• Joey Logano leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Talladega with 571 in 35 starts.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Talladega Superspeedway (All-Time & Active)

• The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway by the race winner was 153 of the scheduled 188 laps (81.4%) by Pete Hamilton on August 23, 1970 – he started the race in the fourth position.
• The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway by a driver that did not win the race was 142 of the scheduled 192 laps (73.9%) by Matt Kenseth on May 5, 2013 – he started the race in the sixth position and finished eighth.
• Four times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway has led only one lap – the final lap:
  • Jeff Gordon in 2007, started 34th and led just the final lap to win the race beating his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson to the line by 0.66-second.
  • Brad Keselowski in 2009, started ninth and led just the final lap to win the race beating Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the line by 0.175-second.
  • Aric Almirola in 2018, started fourth and led just the final lap to win the race beating his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer by 0.105-second.
  • Brad Keselowski in 2021, started 10th and led just the final lap to win the race beating William Byron to the line by 0.102-second.

TRACK / EVENT SPECIFIC STATS

• Three of the 114 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:

• There have been 20 NASCAR Cup Series races resulting in NASCAR Overtime at Talladega (the most of any track):

• Qualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway eight times: 2002 (Fall), 2009 (Fall), 2010 (Spring), 2013 (Spring & Fall), 2020 (Fall – Metric Qualifying), 2021 (April – Metric Qualifying) and 2021 (Fall – Metric Qualifying), 2026 (Spring – Metric).
• Three times the NASCAR Cup Series race held at Talladega Superspeedway was not run on its originally scheduled date:
  • The April 27, 1997 race was postponed due to inclement weather to May 10, 1997 –
  • The April 26, 2020 race was postponed to June 22, 2020 due to the stoppage in sports as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic –
  •  The October 3, 2021 race was postponed to Oct. 4, 2021 (Monday) due to weather.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway is the April 17, 2011 race won by Jimmie Johnson over second-place Clint Bowyer with a Margin of Victory of 0.002 second – the MOV is tied with the 2003 Darlington race as the second closest finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series using electronic scoring – Kansas-1 (2024) holds the series MOV record at 0.001-second.

Top Five NASCAR Cup Series Margins of Victory at Talladega Superspeedway

FEMALE COMPETITOR STATS

• Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.

NASCAR IN ALABAMA

• There have been 193 NASCAR national series races held in the state of Alabama among seven different tracks:

• The very first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Alabama was a NASCAR Cup Series event held at Lakeview Speedway (Mobile) in 1951 – the race was won by Tim Flock (Oldsmobile).
• The first race held at Talladega Superspeedway was in 1969 – the event was won by Richard Brickhouse (Dodge).

ALABAMA DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 77 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Alabama.
• 11 drivers from Alabama have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series; seven have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison (Hueytown) is the winningest driver from Alabama posting the fourth most NASCAR Cup Series wins all-time at 85.

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