NASCAR returns to the high banks of Alabama in April and October of 2026
TALLADEGA, Ala. (Aug. 20, 2025) – With championship hopes on the line,
Talladega Superspeedway is once again slated to help narrow the field of
championship hopefuls in high-stakes Playoff races in 2026, the track
announced today as NASCAR released the full schedule for 2026. The
Superspeedway will also once again play host to a heart-pounding April
race weekend to give drivers an opportunity to lock in their Playoff
hopes.
In addition to the schedule news announced today, earlier this week,
NASCAR announced a multi-year partnership with O’Reilly Auto Parts that
makes the leader in the automotive replacement parts industry the title
sponsor of what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Fans will get their traditional spring trip to the track as the NASCAR
Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will provide drivers
with an early chance to drive through the drama and lock themselves into
the Playoffs, April 25-26, 2026.
Then the Playoff action will thrill fans across all three NASCAR
national series during the Playoffs Round of 8, October 23-25, 2026.
Talladega will once again be part of the trio of races (Phoenix Raceway,
Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway) that will cut the field
of eight title hopefuls to the Championship 4 for the Cup Series,
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The four
drivers who make it through that gauntlet will then have a chance to
race for the 2026 crown at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“Talladega’s two race weekends are positioned in the schedule to provide
fans with the edge-of-your-seat excitement they come to expect at the
biggest and baddest track in NASCAR,” said Brian Crichton, Talladega
Superspeedway President. “There’s nothing like seeing the fans on their
feet watching the full field come roaring out of Turn 4 to take the
green flag, knowing anyone can win at Dega and get a shot at chasing
championship glory.”
Below are the dates for the 2026 NASCAR races at Talladega
Superspeedway:
April 25-26
* Saturday, April 25 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Ag-Pro 300
* Sunday, April 26 – NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500
Oct. 23-25
* Friday, Oct. 23 – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225
* Saturday, Oct. 24 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Race
* Sunday, Oct. 25 – NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500
Earlier this year, Team Penske driver Austin Cindric punched his ticket
to the NASCAR Playoffs by narrowly edging out Ryan Peece in a photo
finish in the Jack Link’s 500, securing his first win at the 2.66-mile
Superspeedway
Fans can still catch plenty of NASCAR Playoff action at Talladega
Superspeedway in 2025, starting off on Friday, Oct. 17, with the
CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225 during the Round of 8,
followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 250 on Saturday,
Oct. 18 in the Round of 8.
The excitement culminates on Sunday, Oct. 19, with the YellaWood 500
during the Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 at Talladega Superspeedway.
For ticketing information and more details about upcoming events,
including the upcoming NASCAR Playoffs YellaWood 500 race weekend, visit
www.talladegasuperspeedway.com [1].
Fans are also encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at
Talladega Superspeedway by following along on X [2], Facebook [3],
and Instagram [4], as well as in the NASCAR Tracks App [5] for the
latest speedway news.