NASCAR Cup Series

Thousands of race fans from all over the world are setting on the same destination this weekend –Talladega Superspeedway. Spectators from 21 countries, five continents, all 50 of the United States and the District of Columbia will be represented while attending the Alabama 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) and fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) playoff events.

U.S. Olympian Brian Hansen will lead the field to green as the Honorary Pace Car Driver of the 2018 Toyota Camry pace car for the Hollywood Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series payoff race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 22.

Nose to tail, side by side, just inches apart, ripping around a 2.66-mile tri-oval that is 48 feet wide with 33-degree banking in the corners at speeds of over 190 miles per hour. It is obvious to anyone watching what could happen. It is amazing when it does not.

Stage racing, instituted by NASCAR officials at the beginning of the season to inject drama into the early portions of races, has had a major impact on how race teams plan strategy.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is looking for his third consecutive restrictor-plate victory and a season sweep at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) returns to the famed 2.66-mile oval. Stenhouse, who earned his first career victory this past May at Talladega, also went to victory lane in July at Daytona International Speedway. A win this weekend would secure the Roush Fenway Racing driver a position in the 2017 MENCS Playoffs Round of 8.

In hockey, a natural hat trick is defined as a player scoring three consecutive goals, uninterrupted by any other player scoring for either team. That is exactly what Roush Fenway Racing hopes to do this weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) returns to Talladega Superspeedway, score three consecutive restrictor-plate wins. Overall, Roush Fenway has recorded 20 restrictor-plate victories across NASCAR’s three major touring series.

The year was 1987, and when NASCAR roared into Talladega Superspeedway for the first time that season, a young, local kid from nearby Hueytown, Alabama – Davey Allison – had high hopes. He was looking for his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) checkered flag, and little did he know how special that day would become.

Talladega Preview: With only two races left for drivers to earn a spot in the Round of 8, the Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for another 500-mile Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event. Hamlin has notched five top-5 finishes at the 2.66-mile track, including one win in 2014 and a third-place finish in this race last October. During his most recent visit to the Superspeedway, Hamlin collected his first Stage win of the 2017 season before finishing 11th following a green-white-checker restart.

In partnership with the American Cancer Society for the seventh consecutive season, Chevrolet is participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign (MSABC). This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet will host 25 survivors and their guests on Saturday morning, providing them hot laps around the 2.66-mile track with Chevy drivers Austin and Ty Dillon.

Expect Ryan Blaney and the Wood Brothers Racing Team to make their strongest case for advancement in the NASCAR Playoffs during the next two weekends, beginning this Sunday in the Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.