Official Release

The two-time XFINITY champion has seven career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) starts at Talladega with an average finishing position of 11.7.

While Martin Truex Jr. has been a consistent performer on the various tracks so far in 2017, he knows all too well the next race – the GEICO 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway -- can be a humbling experience.

STRATEGY HEADING INTO DAYTONA: "Don't wreck," Buscher joked. "My superspeedway record on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series side hasn't been super great, but we've found a lot of success in the NASCAR XFINITY Series."

With the classic spring race weekend just days away, Talladega Superspeedway announced its lineup of pre-race dignitaries for all three events during the triple-header weekend. Six honorary officials will take part in the pre-race festivities prior to the GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Sparks Energy 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series, and General Tire 200 ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards. They include:

Go time: “It’s just a crap shoot,” Allmendinger said. “It is what it is. Stage racing is going to change it a little bit because usually I just ride around there for about 160 laps and decide when to go. With stage racing, you’re going to want to get up there and get some points.”

UNIFIRST: This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway marks the first of two races this season that Kasey Kahne will pilot the white-and-green No. 5 UniFirst Chevrolet SS. Kahne will also drive the UniFirst Chevy at the upcoming July Daytona race on July 1. The workwear and textile company became a Hendrick Motorsports partner in 2016 and signed an eight-year agreement that runs through 2023. For more information, visit www.unifirst.com.

Talladega Preview: The Series travels to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for Sunday’s 500-mile event on the Alabama tri-oval. In 22 race starts at the Superspeedway, Hamlin has recorded one win, as well as five top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He captured his first and only win at the 2.66-mile track in spring 2014 which marked his first points-paying restrictor plate victory. Hamlin’s last visit to Talladega ended with just 28 laps to go in the race when he was collected in a multi-car wreck, relegating him to a 31st-place finish.

After a top-10 finish in last Sunday's Salem (Ind.) Speedway event with driver Travis Miller, MDM Motorsports will return to action this weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driver and 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) Champion, Justin Haley, will pilot the No. 28 entry this weekend.

Darlington Raceway is partnering with Rent Like A Champion (RLAC), a Mark Cuban Company, to provide private home rentals for race week(end) during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500.

The second restrictor plate race of 2017 is set for Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway and Ford teams hope to continue its recent run of success, which includes Kurt Busch’s win in the season-opening Daytona 500. Here’s a look at Ford’s dominance in recent years at Daytona and Talladega, along with some other historical highlights.