Talladega Mullet Contest Returns:

For the third time in as many race weekends at the 2.5-mile track, Josh Williams will be judging Talladega Superspeedway’s mullet contest, The Mane Event. Potential contenders can sign up now and be one of the ten mullet bearers to be judged on their manes’ length, shape, texture, volume, creativity, and originality. Stage presence is key; Williams will crown the champion of the competition with the “Business in the Front, Party in the Back” trophy as well as a NASCAR Racing Experience Driver voucher. The event will take place at the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Fan Midway on Saturday, April 26, at 1:00 p.m. CT.

At Talladega Superspeedway:

• Kaulig Racing has earned four wins and nine top-five finishes at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team has started from the pole at Talladega twice and led a total of 146 laps.
• In the NASCAR Cup Series, Kaulig Racing has made 16 starts, earning three top-10 finishes.

10 Team Info
Crew Chief: Andrew Dickeson
Partner: Sea Best

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Camaro ZL1
Sea Best: Sea Best returns to the No. 10 Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway with Ty Dillon and Kaulig Racing. Sea Best proudly serves as the flagship brand of Beaver Street Fisheries, a family-owned and operated company based in Jacksonville, Florida. As one of the nation’s largest importers, manufacturers, and distributors of seafood and meat, the Sea Best brand is synonymous with premium-quality seafood. Its product lineup includes a wide range of frozen fish fillets—such as ahi tuna, mahi-mahi, cod, and catfish—along with shrimp, scallops, and lobster.

Meet Ty Dillon:
Saturday, April 26

On Saturday evening, Ty Dillon will be on the NASCAR Drivers float during the Talladega Superspeedway “The Big Show on the Boulevard” Parade. The parade is scheduled to begin at approximately 7:15 p.m. CT.
Sunday, April 27

Dillon will be at the NASCAR Classics Merchandise trailer in the Fan Midway from 11:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. CT to meet fans and sign autographs.

At Talladega:

• Ty Dillon has made 20 combined starts at Talladega Superspeedway in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
• In those 20 starts, Dillon has a career-best finish of third in the Cup Series (2020), eighth in the Xfinity Series (2015) and fourth in the Truck Series (2012).
• In the Cup Series, Dillon has finished in the top 15 in eight of his 12 starts.
• Dillon has led laps in all three series, leading just shy of 100 laps at the superspeedway.
• In the ARCA Series, Dillon has one start at the Alabama track in 2011 where he started on the pole, led 50 of 94 laps and won the race. The win was one of Dillon’s seven wins during the 2011 season when he won the ARCA championship. At the time, Dillon was the youngest ARCA Series champion, a title he held for 10 years until Ty Gibbs broke the record with his 2021 series title.

“Talladega has been a track that I have been quite successful at in my career. I’ve had a really good average finish at Talladega over the years and come close a few times, but just haven’t been able to cross the finish line first yet. I did win an ARCA race at Talladega a few years back. I think we ‘re going to have a good chance this weekend. Our car was very fast in Daytona, we led laps and ran up front. Hopefully we have that same speed for qualifying on Saturday and then on Sunday we’ll be able to keep our car up front and have a shot at the win.” – Ty Dillon on Talladega Superspeedway  

16 Team Info
Crew Chief: Trent Owens
Partner: Grizzly Nicotine Pouches

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1
Grizzly Nicotine Pouches: Grizzly Nicotine Pouches expands their partnership with Kaulig Racing and AJ Allmendinger as the primary on the No. 16 Chevrolet. Grizzly Nicotine Pouches are a tobacco leaf-free product available nationwide, where permitted.

Meet AJ Allmendinger:
Sunday, April 27

AJ Allmendinger will be at the NASCAR Experience Stage from 11:45 a.m. -12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 27, for a driver Q & A.

At Talladega:

AJ Allmendinger has earned three top-10 finishes in the last five races. Coming off his most recent top-10 day at Bristol Motor Speedway, he currently sits 16th in driver points.

“Talladega is a place that has been very hit or miss for me. It still comes down to execution and a bit of luck to not be involved in the big one. All we can do is show up with the speed we had in Daytona and I feel confident that’s what we’re going to do.” – AJ Allmendinger on Talladega Superspeedway  

10 Team Info
Crew Chief: Kevin Walter
Partner: Black Widow Trucks

Daniel Dye, No. 10 Black Widow Trucks Chevrolet
Black Widow Trucks: Daniel Dye will drive the No. 10 Black Widow Trucks Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway. Driven by a passion to build the best on and off-road performance vehicles in the world, the Black Widow truck is for the established customer who knows when “off the shelf” just won’t cut it. You’ll be recognized with intimidating stance and customized comfort. The Black Widow is known for iconic and aggressive styling. Enhance your OEM truck to be both more capable and stylish than before.

At Talladega:

Following a ninth-place finish at Rockingham Speedway, Daniel Dye sits 13th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings. He has earned four top-10 finishes so far in the 2025 season.
Dye has previously made two starts at Talladega in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, earning a third and sixth-place finish.
 
“I’m looking forward to another superspeedway race this weekend. Our goal is to get stage points, work together with our teammates, and keep our No. 10 Black Widow Trucks Chevrolet clean. I’ve come close to a win at Talladega in the truck series, so I think if we stay patient we’ll have a good shot at it at the end.” – Daniel Dye on Talladega Superspeedway  

11 Team Info
Crew Chief: Eddie Pardue
Partner: Alloy Employer Services

Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet
Alloy Employer Services: Based in Columbus, Ohio, Alloy Employer Services helps a range of clients, from small businesses to large employers. Industries served include healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, maintenance, hospitality, and construction. Alloy’s Midwest roots have led to national reach, serving clients with workers nationwide because of a love to design, build and innovate in our industry. Alloy Employer Services is a Fortune-HR, LLC company.

Meet Josh Williams:
Saturday, April 26

Josh Williams will judge The Mane Event: Mullet Contest at the NASCAR Experience Stage at 1:00 p.m. CT.

At Talladega:

• Josh Williams has started 11 races in the NXS at Talladega Superspeedway. Statistically, it is one of his best tracks; he has recorded 3 top 10s there, with his best finish (seventh) at the speedway coming in 2020.
• Josh Williams was in contention for the win in the NXS’ first trip to Talladega in 2024. Restarting on the front row for the first overtime, Williams was just barely collected in a wreck coming up to speed, costing him the chance to score his first series victory.
• Williams earned his first top-10 result of the season last week at Rockingham Speedway, finishing seventh. It was his best finish with Kaulig Racing on an oval.

“I am super stoked for this weekend. Coming so close to getting that win last year, I think it would’ve changed a lot of how the rest of the season eventually went. We’ve got a lot more speed though, I think, than we did a year ago at this point, and I think all of us on the No. 11 Alloy Employer Services team have had this one circled for a while now.” – Josh Williams on Talladega Superspeedway  

16 Team Info
Crew Chief: Alex Yontz
Partner: LeafFilter Gutter Protection

Christian Eckes, No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet
LeafFilter Gutter Protection: Christian Eckes and LeafFilter Gutter Protection will team up once again for the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. LeafFilter is America’s #1 rated gutter protection system trusted by more than a million homeowners. LeafFilter’s patented technology keeps gutters free of debris and is backed by a lifetime transferable warranty.

At Talladega:

• Currently sitting 16th in the points standings, Christian Eckes will make his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Talladega Superspeedway in the Ag-Pro 300.
• Eckes has made four starts at Talladega in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He earned one top five, one top 10 and led laps in every race (47 total).

“Our biggest focus heading into the weekend is teamwork. We have shown potential at the speedway races this year, and Kaulig Racing has always excelled at these type of tracks. Hopefully we can capitalize on that and be there at the end when it matters.” – Christian Eckes on Talladega Super Speedway  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

ANTHONY ALFREDO
Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet Camaro

Event Overview

● Event: Jack Links 500 (Round 10 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 27
● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway
● Layout: 2.6 mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles
● State Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The Season Continues. Beard Motorsports will make its 31st official start in NASCAR Cup Series competition this weekend in the Jack Links 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The family-owned team has been a consistent presence at the superspeedway races since making its debut in NASCAR Cup Series competition at the 2017 Daytona 500 at Talladega’s sister track, the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The 2025 NASCAR season marks the team’s ninth competing in the Cup Series. In its previous 30 Cup Series events over those nine seasons, the team has competed in 13 apiece at Daytona and Talladega. Beard Motorsports, based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, attempted to qualify for the 2025 Daytona 500 but fell just short of making the starting field for the seventh time the No. 62 Chevrolet was collected in a last-lap accident during the second of the two Duel qualifying races used to determine the starting lineup for the Great American Race.

● Alfredo Returns. Anthony Alfredo, the 26-year-old from Ridgefield, Connecticut, returns to the cockpit of the No. 62 Chevrolet for his sixth event with the team. Best among his previous five was a year ago this month when, in just his second start for Beard, he posted the team’s best-ever finish on the mammoth, 2.66-mile Talladega oval. It was also Alfredo’s best Cup Series finish in 41 career starts. His debut with the team came in the 2024 Daytona 500, when the NASCAR NEXT alumnus got off to an impressive start as he laid down the fastest lap among the six “open” (non-chartered) teams in Wednesday-night’s single-car qualifying session, securing a spot on the Daytona 500 grid regardless of his finishing position during Thursday night’s twin Duel qualifying races. From his 39th starting position, Alfredo drove to a 27th-place finish in the Daytona 500. Alfredo returned to Talladega in the Beard Chevrolet last October to post a 24th-place finish.

●Talladega by the Numbers. Sunday’s race marks Alfredo’s fifth Cup Series start at Talladega. Prior to his two runs at the track in the Beard Chevrolet last year, Alfredo posted finishes there of 12th and 10th in the April and October 2021 races, respectively, driving for Front Row Motorsports. His previous 41 Cup Series starts include the full 2021 season driving for Front Row Motorsports. He’s made 128 career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including fulltime seasons in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with five top-fives and 22 top-10s and one pole position. Seven of his Xfinity Series starts have come at Talladega, best of which was his third-place finish in April 2024. Alfredo’s NASCAR career began with a 13-race Craftsman Truck Series campaign in 2019, which included a 15th-place finish in that year’s October race at Talladega.

● Beard at Talladega. Sunday’s race marks the 14th at Talladega for the Beard Chevrolet. Prior to Alfredo’s sixth-place finish at the track last spring, its best result came in the April 2019 race when veteran driver Brendan Gaughan wheeled it to an eighth-place finish, leading five laps along the way.

● The Start of a Beautiful Friendship. Beard Motorsports’ partnership with Fortify Building Solutions began last October at Talladega and Sunday’s Jack Links 500 will be the third straight race for the partnership. A part of the Cornerstone Building Brands family, Fortify Building Solutions offers North America’s most extensive selection of high-quality metal roofing, wall panels, and building solutions. The brand serves local builders, contractors and homeowners through more than 20 retail storefronts across the country, supporting professionals and homeowners with hometown service, backed by a nationwide manufacturing and distribution network. Fortify Building Solutions will use the Jack Link’s 500 NASCAR Cup Series race to highlight Hypersteel™ cold-formed buildings. This product line of simple metal buildings offers the quickest design and production turnaround in their building solutions lineup.

● Fueled by Family. The No. 62 Beard Motorsports entry is a labor of love for the Beard family and it has been since the car made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2017. The late Mark Beard Sr. had a long-standing love affair with racecars and the business of motorsports. That passion manifested itself into Beard Motorsports. Competing in the NASCAR Cup Series for the ninth season, Beard Motorsports is owned by Linda Beard and managed by daughter Amie Beard-Deja and son Mark Beard Jr. The No. 62 NASCAR Cup Series team is just one of the family-owned entities. Beard Oil Distributing is the foundation of the Beard family-owned business portfolio and is recognized as a women-owned certified organization through the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

● Powered for Greatness. As it has been since 2017, the No. 62 Beard Motorsports team has been powered by an ECR-built engine and the team has leveraged the power of those engines to post solid finishes. During its previous eight seasons of racing, Beard Motorsports has participated in 30 Cup Series events, scoring two top-five finishes and seven top-10s.

● Next Up. Beard Motorsports announced last week the addition of a pair of NASCAR Cup Series races on its2025 schedule that will feature 20-year-old NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Jesse Love behind the wheel of its No. 62 Chevrolet for the first time – the May 4 Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and the iconic Brickyard 400 July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The two races mark the team’s first appearances at Texas and Indianapolis since its Cup Series debut in 2017.

Anthony Alfredo, Driver of the No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet Camaro:

“You and the No. 62 team put up a valiant effort in Daytona during the qualifying race attempting to make the starting field for the Daytona 500 but ultimately came up short. How disappointing was it to miss out on the Great American Race?

“It was heartbreaking to not make the Daytona 500 this year, especially with Fortify Building Solutions and Hypersteel supporting us. It wasn’t from a lack of effort or a lack of speed. It was just what can happen when it comes to superspeedway racing and the strategy that it comes down to with that type of racing. Unfortunately, by circumstances out of our control, we had a huge disadvantage by being in the second qualifying race because we didn’t have much to work with when it came to our manufacturer teammates. Most of the Chevrolet teams got taken out by an accident and the rest of them were in the first qualifying race. Even with all of that, we positioned ourselves well by driving up inside the top-five. We went through the green-flag pit stop well, executed on that front, and at the end of the race it was a manufacturer battle and we were outnumbered. We honestly did everything right that was in our control, so I’m proud of that and I think as a team we can build off of that going into Talladega.”

Explain what the process is like racing at the superspeedway tracks.

“Superspeedway racing is high-speed chess. That’s why I love it, but that’s also why it’s difficult. It’s fun because of the strategy and knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient. Obviously, it can be very difficult to control the outcome of your race because so much can happen that’s out of your control – more so at those races than any other. It’s not solely just about having raw speed. It’s also about having teammates, having help and a little bit of luck.”

You’ve raced at both Talladega and Daytona a number of times. While the tracks are similar in style, they can produce very different types of races. What is so different about the two tracks?

“Talladega is different from Daytona for a few reasons. I think the first and most obvious thing is the characteristics of the track. Talladega is wider. It’s a little bit longer and provides a little more room for three- and four-wide racing. What also comes with that is that it’s a little bit less of a handling track than what Daytona is. Daytona gets hot and slick where, at Talladega, handling is not as important. I think, with this NextGen car, you have to have good drive quality to be able to get over the bumps, to be able to push and be pushed aggressively. It’s a little bit less chaotic in the draft because there is a little more room. You can run three-wide around there pretty comfortably, whereas at Daytona it’s pretty tight. It’s not uncommon to even see four-wide at Talladega. I think that’s just the plain difference. As far as the strategy and the job behind the wheel, though, it kind of remains the same because superspeedway races ultimately come down to that manufacturer battle, teammates and, really, fuel mileage. That’s been everything the last few years.”

Even after all of that, where does Talladega rank among your favorite tracks?

“It is definitely one of my favorites. I have a really good track record there with top-five finishes in Xfinity and multiple Cup Series top-10 finishes. Last year, we finished sixth there with the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevy. There are a lot of positives to build on and I have a lot of confidence heading into Talladega. I feel like I know what I need to do behind the wheel to execute, or at least to position myself. From there, it’s a matter of seeing what happens. Sometimes all you can do is put yourself in position and hope that it works out. We’ve learned some things now the last few races at Talladega and Daytona as far as what we can do as a team at Beard Motorsports. And with the cars we’ve been bringing, I think we all expect to be competitive and have a shot.”

How much does your performance at Talladega last spring boost your confidence going into the weekend?

“It’s a big confidence boost because last year there were a lot of unknowns for the team, and me. I was a new driver to them. We had gone to Daytona, so that got the ball rolling but, going to a new track together, I was still learning the NextGen car on a superspeedway-style track and I think there was just a lot of learning going on, and it still went exceptionally well. So I think this time we have a higher expectation. We certainly had that going into Daytona, it just didn’t work out there. But going into Talladega, we still have the same goal and it’s to go there and put ourselves in position to win the race.”

No. 62 Beard Motorsports Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Anthony Alfredo

Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Darren Shaw

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Travis Owens

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Spotter: Rick Carelli

Hometown: Arvada, Colorado

President: Linda Beard

Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Caison Dillon

Hometown: Welcome, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Matthew Ketchie

Hometown: Mt. Ulla, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Tanner Wells

Hometown: Goldsboro, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Derby

Hometown: Pennsylvania

Fuel Man: Doug Warrick

Hometown: Hamilton, New Jersey

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Jack Gagnon

Hometown: Quebec, Canada

Front End Mechanic: Mark Sanders

Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Tire Technician: Mike Harrold

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jason Watkins

Hometown: Ridgeway, Virginia

Interior Specialist: Nic Hill

Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida

Transporter Driver: Roger Lankford

Hometown: Lexington, North Carolina

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Team
Talladega Superspeedway Competition Notes
Jack Link’s 500

Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
Event: Race 11 of 38
Series: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-miles)
#of Laps: 188
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland heads to the Talladega Superspeedway this weekend after the NASCAR Cup Series Easter break. Gilliland will look to defend the No. 34’s 2024 Talladega pole dominance in Saturday’s qualifying session.

The 2.66-mile Talladega, Alabama track is one of Gilliland’s favorites on the Cup Series circuit, having earned three top-10 finishes in six Cup Series starts. Gilliland has one win at the track, capturing the checkered flag in 2019 in an ARCA Series event.

Gilliland and the No. 34 team will have Love’s Travel Stops and their truck care partner, Fleetguard, on the car this weekend. A global leading filtration brand within the Atmus Filtration Technologies portfolio, Fleetguard offers a full suite of filtration products for nearly all makes of vehicles and equipment across the truck, bus, agriculture, construction, mining, marine and power generation vehicle, and equipment markets.

Fleetguard heavy-duty filters give customers the ultimate protection for all their equipment. With availability in more than 45,000 independent aftermarket retail outlets globally, including approximately 5,800 locations in North America, Fleetguard products are available where customers need them and are backed by the competitive Fleetguard warranty.

“Talladega is a fun track, but it also provides its own set of challenges,” said Gilliland. “There is very little room for error, and if even the smallest of mistakes can take you out of the race. FRM has a good qualifying record here, so I expect to start up front. Hopefully, we can stay up there and bring home a trophy.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland
Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson
Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra
Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo
Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen
Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke
Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John
Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Christian Boller
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jordan Goodine
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Jackman: Courtney Edmonds
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance
Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with more than 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 640 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Zane Smith and the No. 38 TitleMax Ford Team
Talladega Superspeedway Competition Notes

Jack Link’s 500
Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
Event: Race 11 of 38
Series: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-miles)
#of Laps: 188
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

Zane Smith is back in action this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series makes its first trip of the 2025 season to the Talladega Superspeedway. Following the 500-lap event at the Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Smith sits 24th in the Cup Series Driver Championship points standings.

TitleMax returns this weekend in the brand’s third of four primary races with Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. TitleMax helps thousands of people get the funds they need with a title loan or personal loan. Offering competitive rates, while providing a superior level of customer service. For more information about TitleMax, please visit www.TitleMax.com.

“The off week was nice, but I’m ready to get back to racing,” said Smith. “Talladega provides a great opportunity to capture my first win in the Cup Series. FRM and the Ford’s always run well at the superspeedways, so I expect to qualify and compete upfront. Hopefully, we can stay out of the chaos and get the job done.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris
Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme
Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey
Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Flores
Hometown: Manasquan, New Jersey

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum
Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Ryan Selig
Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Fueler: Chris Webb
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

ABOUT TITLEMAX

As part of the Community Choice Financial Family of Brands, TitleMax is one of the nation’s largest title lending companies. TitleMax helps thousands of people get the funds they need with a title loan or personal loan. Offering competitive rates, while providing a superior level of customer service.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

• In 22 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-five, two top-10 and seven top-15 finishes. Corey LaJoie earned a team-best fourth-place result in the Cup Series’ October 2023 visit to the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
• The Jack Link’s 500 from Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, April 27, beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 10th of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR Raceday will take the green flag on FS1 at 1:30 p.m. EDT and transition to FOX at 2 p.m.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
• Haley made his first start in NASCAR’s premier division for Spire Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway on April 28, 2019 – his 20th birthday. Sunday will mark Haley’s 154th career NASCAR Cup Series start. Over the course of the last seven seasons, the 25-year-old racer has notched one win, five top fives, 17 top 10s and 103 laps led.
• Last time out at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the Winamac, Ind., native qualified 10th and showed speed from the drop of the green flag, powering to the second position by Lap 45. Haley maintained top-five track position throughout the first two stages and managed his equipment the remainder of the afternoon to finish 13th.
• Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Ind. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.
• Haley has recorded 10 previous Cup Series starts at Talladega, owning a career-best sixth-place finish in October 2023. In total, he’s collected two top-10 finishes, paced the field for 13 circuits and has finished within the top 20 in all but three of his 10 appearances.
• In Xfinity Series competition, Haley claimed two victories at the 2.66-mile Alabama oval, including his first victory in the series in June 2020. He went on to sweep the series’ events at the track by taking the checkered flag later that October. In total, Haley has logged five Talladega starts including one pole, two top fives and five top 10s while recording an average starting position of 5.4 and a 4.6 average finish.
• Haley also visited Talladega victory lane in May 2017 with the ARCA Menards Series. He held off several competitors during a one-lap overtime shootout to claim his second victory in the series, and first on asphalt.
• Haley secured his first Cup Series win in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, another superspeedway. He picked up both his and the team’s first win – an upset of practically unprecedented proportions – behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet.
• The veteran racer has collected four NASCAR Xfinity Series checkered flags and three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins, making him one of just 41 drivers in history to have earned victories across all three of NASCAR’s National Touring Series.
• In total, Haley has made 50 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, with the bulk of races coming during the 2021 season behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 machine. In his second appearance amidst his return to Spire Motorsports at Talladega last October, Haley earned a seventh-place result, his first top 10 with the team since the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.

Justin Haley Quote
You’ve seen plenty of success at Talladega. What do you need to get the job done this weekend?
“We need to qualify fast, stay up front and hope for the best. But, you can’t be too far up front because you have to save fuel. It’s honestly more mind games than it’s ever been. There is a balance of frustration and challenges. Winning it would be rewarding because you did everything right. That’s the goal.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Rodney Childers

• Crew Chief Rodney Childers has called 36 races at Talladega Superspeedway. Childers-prepared cars have led 198 laps and earned four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes at the track.
• The Mooresville, N.C., native has called 684 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned 34 pole awards, 40 wins, 178 top-five and 298 top-10 finishes. He also clinched 2014 championship honors with Harvick.
• Childers’ 40 wins at NASCAR’s premier level are second-most amongst all crew chiefs in the Cup Series garage.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Michael McDowell will be behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 GUNK Chevrolet ZL1 for Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
• McDowell owns three top-five and four top-10 finishes at Talladega, highlighted by a pair of third-place results in May 2021 and October 2022.
• During the 2024 campaign, the 40-year-old earned two of his five pole awards on the season in the pair of Talladega events and led a combined 78 laps. Unfortunately, he was involved in late-race incidents in both races, removing him from contention.
• The No. 71 Chevrolet will host a bright orange-and-blue GUNK livery for this weekend’s contest at Talladega. The Engine Degreaser will serve as the primary partner with their tagline “We Like It Dirty” featured on the TV panel.
• GUNK products are the toughest cleaners and degreasers. For more than 60 years of American heritage, Gunk has taken on the grease and grime of the garage to earn the trust of trade professionals, weekend wrenchers, and auto enthusiasts alike. GUNK is dedicated to developing performance-driven products and innovative solutions that help customers take on the toughest cleaning challenges.
• The 2021 Daytona 500 Champion owns three top-five and eight top-10 finishes, including his victory in the 63rd edition of the “Great American Race,” at Daytona.
• McDowell has claimed two Xfinity Fastest Lap awards, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500 and again last month at Phoenix Raceway. McDowell and A.J. Allmendinger stand as the only drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series to have secured multiple bonus points through the recently-unveiled program.
• The Arizona native secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award last month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His 28.833 second lap marks the fastest lap in the Gen 7 era (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval.

Michael McDowell Quotes
What have you learned about the challenges of winning at a superspeedway in your last handful of starts?
“You only get one move and you’re only one bad block away. We were fast, and last year I could obviously see the checkered flag, but I didn’t get there. We have a lot of confidence going into Talladega. I’ve been in position to win those races, and I’ve finished second, third and fourth, but we have been close to seeing that that checkered flag. I enjoy the challenge of going there and putting yourself in position to fight for the win on the last lap. Hopefully we’ll have another opportunity to do it again. You always learn what you could have done differently, how you would approach that differently and whether you think you’re right or wrong. It doesn’t matter, we didn’t win. If you didn’t win, you didn’t do it right. You always go back and analyze how you would do it differently, how you could make better choices and what led to those choices. We feel confident going back there and look forward to having a shot at it.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

• As a race engineer at JR Motorsports, Travis Peterson helped Regan Smith to Talladega Victory Lane in the 2013 NASCAR Xfinity Series event. Smith survived late-race carnage to preserve the lead in a three-wide finish, narrowly edging Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne.
• The West Bend, Wis., native earned his first Cup Series victory at the track in May 2015 as a race engineer at Hendrick Motorsports, working alongside crew chief Greg Ives and driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., on the No. 88 team. After qualifying fourth, Earnhardt, Jr., led 67 laps en route to his antepenultimate Cup Series win.
• The 33-year-old helped McDowell to pole awards in both 2024 Talladega events.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Carson Hocevar will make his fourth NASCAR Cup Series start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500. The Portage, Mich., native’s venue-best finish came last October in a 14th-place effort.
• Chili’s Grill & Bar is back on the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1 for their second of three consecutive appearances. Hocevar piloted the western-themed Ride The ‘Dente machine two weeks ago at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. After qualifying ninth for the 500-lap event, he picked up bonus points in the first two stages and was on track for a top-five finish before a slow pit stop late in the Final Stage put him a lap down to the leaders. The race concluded with a long green-flag run, resulting in an 11th-place finish for the No. 77 team.
• With nine Cup Series starts on drafting-style tracks, the 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year owns one top-five, one top-10 and six top-20 finishes.
• Hocevar owns three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Talladega with a best-finish of 11th earned in October 2023. In total, he has nine Truck Series starts on drafting-style tracks highlighted by two top-10 finishes at Daytona International Speedway in 2021 and 2023.
• Chili’s is a leader in the casual dining industry and the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT). Chili’s is known for its big mouth burgers, Chicken Crispers®, full-on sizzling fajitas and hand-shaken margaritas. Chili’s takes its food seriously – but not themselves – because dining out should feel like a celebration even if there is nothing to celebrate. Chili’s passion is making everyone feel special, and every day, ChiliHeads make it their job to spread #ChilisLove across almost 1,600 restaurants in 27 countries and two territories. Chili’s hosts local Give Back Events to support kids, education and hunger and has raised more than $100 million benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through generous Guest donations. Find more information about Chili’s at chilis.com, follow on Twitter or Instagram, like them on Facebook or join Chili’s on TikTok.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
The last time the Cup Series visited a drafting track, you left Atlanta with a runner-up finish and a change of view on your approach to superspeedways. Explain what changed between the first race at Daytona and the second at Atlanta, and how that applies at Talladega.
“I’ve just never been a fan of superspeedways and drafting. That type of racing isn’t something I enjoyed, up until this year. Even at Daytona, my approach was stay out of trouble and hope to be there at the end when everyone else starts wrecking. That didn’t really work out for us and we ended up not finishing the race. Then at Atlanta, I decided I was just going to race as hard as I could and get as many points as I could. I don’t know if that will always work. These tracks are so different and Talladega is different from Daytona. It really just comes down to what the racing is like that day and how well your car is handling in the draft. I’d love to say we’re going to get stage points and battle for a win, and I hope that is the case. This type of racing is just so unpredictable and you never know what you’re going to get until you’re there.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

• Crew chief Luke Lambert has called 23 Cup Series races at Talladega resulting in four top-fives and eight top-10 finishes. In total, Lambert has led his drivers to 18 top-10 finishes on drafting-style tracks.
• In April 2023, the Mount Airy, N.C., native led Noah Gragson to a NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Talladega in April 2023. The result marked Lambert’s lone victory and third top 10 in three races atop the box at the 2.66-mile superspeedway in Xfinity Series competition.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on March 21, 2025, when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Rural King Ford Team
Talladega Superspeedway Competition Notes
Jack Link’s 500

Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
Event: Race 11 of 38
Series: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-miles)
#of Laps: 188
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

After a short break in the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team head to “Sweet Home Alabama” for 188 laps at the Talladega Superspeedway. The 2.66-mile Talladega, Alabama track is a favorite for Gragson, having earned his career best Cup Series finish (3rd) in the 2024 Fall event with Stewart-Haas Racing. Gragson has a storied history at the superspeedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In eight starts, Gragson has one win, three top-five, and six top-10 finishes.

Rural King, America’s Farm and Home Store, will return to Gragson’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This marks the Mattoon, Illinois-based retailer’s second race with Front Row Motorsports, bringing its well-known commitment to rural values, hardworking communities, and American heritage to race fans across the country. Gragson will make an appearance at the Rural King in Jasper, Alabama on Saturday, April 26th from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm CDT.

“As an organization, we’re upbeat heading into the superspeedways,” said Gragson. “The Fords have shown real strength there, and we’ve had solid speed, like we showed in Atlanta before getting caught up in that wreck. Coming off the break, the team’s recharged and ready to get after it this weekend.”

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Joey Forgette
Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman
Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger
Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw
Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Nick Del Campo
Hometown: Blauvelt, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Nate “Cookie” Eller
Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Nate McBride
Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez
Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT RURAL KING

Rural King, also known as RK Holdings, LLP, planted its roots as America’s Farm and Home Store in Mattoon, Illinois in 1960. Since that time, Rural King has grown to more than 140 stores in fourteen states. Specifically, we provide a broad range of essential goods, food, feed, seed and other farm and home necessities to the communities we serve throughout Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. We welcome and encourage everyone to enjoy our long-standing tradition of offering free popcorn and coffee every time you visit our stores.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY PRE-RACE ADVANCE

RACE: Jack Link’s 500 | Race 10 of 36
DATE: April 27, 2025
TRACK: Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala. | 2.66-mile Superspeedway

CLUB MINUTES

OFF WEEK: During the NASCAR Cup Series off week, the teams took some much-needed time to reset before a 28-week straight stretch of races. Erik Jones went home to Michigan and spent time with his family and friends. Teammate John Hunter Nemechek and his family stayed local and had some quality family time as well, which included celebrating his wife Taylor’s birthday.

NEVER SETTLE: Join ESPN’s Marty Smith and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner Jimmie Johnson for their weekly podcast, Never Settle. The podcast airs live on SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 at 2 p.m. ET every Wednesday and can be downloaded wherever fans source their podcasts. This week’s guest is Nick Weaver, entrepreneur and co-founder of Blue Delta Jeans.

LEGACY WINS AT ‘DEGA: CLUB Ambassador Richard Petty, “The King” has two wins at Talladega Superspeedway – both coming in 1974. CLUB co-owner Johnson won two times at Talladega, and the most thrilling was a four-by-four wide finish in the 2011 Aaron’s 499. In a race that featured 88 lead changes, Johnson won on the last lap by .002 over Clint Bowyer while being pushed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. This finish is still tied for the second-closest finish in NASCAR history.

DALE INMAN, HALL OF FAME: Infamous eight-time championship-winning crew chief Dale Inman, will be inducted into the 61st annual North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC. This year the Hall will induct University of North Carolina and Dallas Cowboy great Greg Ellis, athletic administrator Nora Lynn Finch, North Carolina State track and cross-country coach Rollie Geiger, legendary high school football coach David Gentry, NASCAR crew chief Inman, Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, basketball star Wendy Palmer, college football legend Jimmy Raye and the founder of the Durham Bulls Miles Wolff. Posthumously, the Hall will induct NASCAR driver Bobby Isaac and Clemson University/ NFL great Chester McGlockton. The 2025 class will bring the total number of those enshrined in the Hall to 422.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 JACK LINK’S TOYOTA CAMRY XSE

WELCOME JACK LINK’S: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB recently announced that Jack Link’s®, the global leader in meat snacks and vendor partner of Dollar Tree will serve as the primary partner on John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Jack Link’s Toyota Camry XSE for the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 27.

NEMECHEK AT DEGA: During his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020, John Hunter Nemechek showed a knack for the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway, scoring a pair of eighth-place finishes in both races. Nemechek has four NCS starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway with an average finish of 20th. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Nemechek has made four starts, qualifying inside the top 15 each time and earning two top 10 finishes. In the NASCAR Truck Series, he has seven starts, claimed one pole position, led 31 laps, and notched one top five and two top 10 finishes. During the 2024 Spring event at Talladega, Nemechek led 20 laps in his Toyota Camry XSE but got caught up in an accident, finishing 33rd. This season during the two speedway races, he kicked things off with a career-high fifth-place result in the DAYTONA 500 and followed that up with a 10th place finish in Atlanta.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY T-MACK: During the off week, the crew chief of the No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entry, Travis Mack, celebrated his 42nd birthday. Happy Birthday, T-Mack!

T-MACK AT DEGA: Mack has made nine Cup Series starts as a crew chief, earning three top-10 finishes, including a best result of eighth place with Daniel Suárez in 2022. In the Xfinity Series, he has three starts as a crew chief, highlighted by a pole position with Michael Annett in 2019 while at JR Motorsports.

QUOTING JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK:
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on a superspeedway this weekend at Talladega. We’ve had a strong start to the season with back-to-back top-10 finishes, and we’ve got a pretty cool Jack Link’s scheme on the car. It’d be fitting to get my first Cup win in the Jack Link’s 500.”

QUOTING TRAVIS MACK:
“It’s important to LEGACY MC to unload in Talladega and outqualify our positions from the Daytona 500. Our cars performed well in the race, but we lacked some speed in qualifying. To improve means we improved our car’s speed in just a couple of months’ time. I am always excited about our chances of going to a superspeedway race with John Hunter. He is a smart SS racer and will definitely be in contention at the end of the race.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 TRISTATE VACUUM & RENTAL TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
WELCOME TRISTATE VACUUM & RENTAL: The No. 43 will dawn the red, grey, and white colors of TriState Vacuum & Rental, a subsidiary company of partner Massey Motor Freight.

JONES AT DEGA: Throughout his career, Jones has had 16 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, earning three top five and eight top 10 finishes. He’s been especially consistent recently, finishing in the top 10 in seven of his last 10 races while leading a total of 75 laps. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Jones has three starts at Talladega, never qualifying outside the top 10 and securing a top five finish in 2017, where he led five laps. In the Truck Series, the 2015 champion made two starts, boasting an average starting position of 4.5 and an average finish of 5.0, and has led seven laps and recorded one top five and one top 10 finish.

BESHORE AT DEGA: Ben Beshore has called the shots as crew chief at Talladega Superspeedway six times. Of those six starts in the top Series, he has one top five, which was a third place finish in 2022 with Kyle Busch behind the wheel at Joe Gibbs Racing. In addition, he has four NXS starts with a best finish of 26th to his record.

RIDE ALONG: This weekend, fans can go onboard the No. 43 TriState Vacuum & Rental Toyota Camry driven by Jones as he carries cameras sponsored by Toyota, giving the fan multiple viewpoints as the 28-year-old driver takes to the high banks of Talladega.

QUOTING ERIK JONES:
“I always look forward to getting to Talladega, for me it’s somewhere I have been really close to winning a handful of races, but I just haven’t been able to close the deal. I am looking forward to getting back there again, representing TriState Vacuum & Rental, hopefully running up front and having an opportunity to win. I felt like our Daytona week was really good and I feel like LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s speedway cars are good, and we have done some things to even improve since then. So, looking forward to just to seeing what our speed is like and having an opportunity to go there and run well with a shot to win.”

QUOTING BEN BESHORE:
“Qualifying isn’t a huge deal at Talladega — it’s really more about making sure the car drives well and races strong. If we have to give up a little in qualifying to gain that in the race, it’s worth it. We’re focused on drivability and the ability to move through the pack and change lanes in the big pack. We’ve been making some incremental changes to help improve our performance [at Talladega].”

CLUB APPEARANCES
NASCAR KIDS CLUB HANGOUT: On Saturday at 11:30 a.m. local time, Nemechek will visit the NASCAR Kids Club and have a question-and-answer session with NFL Star and NASCAR Growth & Engagement Advisor, Alvin Kamara.

TALLADEGA GARAGE EXPERIENCE: On race day morning at 10:15 a.m., Nemechek will stop by the Talladega Garage Experience Stage located in the infield for a Q&A session.

TUNE IN:
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to action this week at Talladega Superspeedway with the Jack Link’s 500 on Sunday, April 27. The race broadcast will take place on FOX, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) at 3:00 p.m. ET.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.