NASCAR O'Reilly Series

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Blake Koch topped the chart in first NASCAR XFINITY Series practice at Talladega Superspeedway.

NASCAR travels to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500. The XFINITY races airs Saturday at 1 p.m. and the Cup Series race will be broadcast Sunday at 2 p.m., both on FOX.

Ross Chastain returns to the site of one of the highlights of his young racing career this weekend.

Garrett Smithley will race for the second time at Talladega Superspeedway, one of the world’s biggest and fastest race tracks, in Saturday’s Sparks Energy 300 Xfinity Series race.

Rhodes made his Xfinity Series debut at Talladega in 2015, and a blown transmission forced him from the race 84 laps in. He finished 36th.

Richard Childress Racing's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Talladega Superspeedway ... Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 and is in a tie for the most all-time car owner victories at the storied Alabama-based race track with 12 wins.

When the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) hits Talladega Superspeedway for the Sparks Energy 300 this Saturday afternoon, it will mark the 25th anniversary of the series’ first race at the 2.66-mile venue that is not only NASCAR’s Baddest and Baddest venue, but also the most competitive track on the circuit.

In nine career starts on restrictor-plate tracks in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, Wallace has recorded two top-10 finishes with a best finish of sixth in the 2016 season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway.

Reed at Talladega - In three NXS starts at Talladega, Reed has never started outside of the top-10 and has led a total of 37 laps.

Gallagher will pilot Hendrick Motorsports chassis No.208; Gallagher piloted this chassis at Daytona International Speedway in February. (Start:10th/Finish:36th)