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Andy Jankowiak secures emotional first career ARCA victory at Talladega

By
Briar Starr
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Photo by Logan Alllen for SpeedwayMedia.com

Andy Jankowiak won his first career ARCA Menards Series National Tour victory Saturday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway. In a one-lap dash to the checkered flag, it was an emotional win in just his 48th career start.

“I thought there was one more lap, the radio was super static, Jankowiak told Fox Sports 1 in his post-race interview. “I’m still waiting to wake up here for a second. This effort that got me here to ARCA and everything after that’s come with Kevin Lapierre, Andy Seuss (Team Owners of KLAS Motorsports), and Mike Dayton, there’s been no greater team combination. I had so much help from so many people that helps make this happen.

“There’s just never been more of a team effort standing in victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway. What an adventure. This one is for my best friend, Steve Mendoza. I wanted to win for him. I’m wearing a green bandanna for him. I love him so much, I know he is at home watching. I can’t believe the race is over. That’s the most Andy J thing ever.

“Thanks to all my sponsors and partners. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. People don’t realize how many little things that took to get to this step. It’s such a team effort. I wanted to win this more for Andy, Mike, and Kevin than myself. Wow, did this just happen? I’m going to wake up in a minute, right? I’ve done this before, I just always wake up. I don’t even know what to say.”

Talladega Superspeedway marked the fourth race of the 2026 ARCA Menards Series national tour on Saturday afternoon. 76 laps was the distance with a halfway race break at Lap 41. Owner points determined the starting lineup. Daytona and Kansas winner, Gio Ruggiero, started on the pole. Although there was no qualifying, a practice session was held on Friday afternoon. Nitro Motorsports took the top five spots. Gus Dean and the No. 25 CAB Installers Toyota set the pace with a lap time of 52.349 seconds at 182.926 mph.

The race went green on Lap 1 with Ruggiero leading the way through the first caution at Lap 30. Alli Owens, in the No. 93 entry, wrecked on the frontstretch in the tri-oval after contact with another car, smacking the wall, destroying her car. As a result, she was unable to continue in the race. During the caution, the race leaders pitted.

At Lap 36 for the restart, Ryan Huff stayed out to assume the lead with Ruggiero, Jack Wood, Thomas Annunziata, Taylor Reimer, Jason Kitzmiller, Garrett Mitchell, Bobby Dale Earnhardt, Jake Finch, and Jake Bollman were in the Top 10.

Coming to the restart, both Reimer and Wood received penalties for moving out of line before the start/finish line. The two drivers would get penalties again while coming down pit road for being too fast, which ultimately resulted in pass-through penalties.

The race resumed for just a few laps before the halfway race break at Lap 41. Ruggiero, Mitchell, Finch, Dye, Will Kimmel, Kitzmiller, Steve Lewis Jr, Annunziata, Bollman, and Jankowiak rounded out the Top 10.

The green flag flew once more at Lap 46 and a few laps later at Lap 48, Mitchell took the lead and led the very first laps of his ARCA career. Two laps later, a caution would fly for debris in Turn 3. Following the cleanup, the restart came with 22 laps to go, with Mitchell and Ruggiero on the front row.

The race remained green for a brief period before a massive crash with 18 laps to go. The No. 7 of Eric Caudell and the No. 75 of Bryan Dauzat wrecked with each other. Caudell was already spinning in Turns 3 and 4 before Dauzat came in at a fast pace and plowed into the back of Caudell, causing big damage to his car.

The next restart came with 11 laps to go, with Mitchell and Ruggiero again on the front row. Then, two laps later, at nine laps to go, the action intensified. As Bollman was passing Mitchell on the outside of Turn 2, he was sent spinning off the nose of both Ruggiero and Mitchell. Bollman then spun to the inside of the track, but no caution flag was flown.

A much bigger incident came three laps later for a multi-car pileup off Turn 4 with seven laps to go. Annunziata was turned around off the nose of Kimmel, and set off a big crash. Many cars were involved in the wreck. They included Bobby Dale Earnhardt, Bryce Haugeberg, Huff, George Siciliano, Andrew Patterson, Ron Vandermeir Jr, Michael Maples, and Tim Richmond just to name a few. This would prompt a brief red-flag period for cleanup.

Following the cleanup, there would be a one-lap dash to the checkered flag. Meaning, once the race leaders took the restart, the green and white flag would come out at the same time. Isabella Robusto, Ruggiero, Kimmel, Mitchell, Jankowiak, Dean, Finch, Reimer, Sean Corr, and Ryan Vargas were the Top 10 for the restart.

In the final lap dash to the checkers, Robusto got far out in front of Kimmel and Dean. Dean was pushing Kimmel and when they caught her going into Turn 3, Kimmel had momentum and passed Robusto on the outside to take the lead with Dean behind him. Dean then got off the back bumper of Kimmel in Turn 3 to try and battle for the win. While doing so, Mitchell found momentum on the outside and potentially had a shot for the win as well.

Coming to the tri-oval, Mitchell and Robusto were battling it out for the win. Mitchell came down on Robusto to block for the win. Robusto went down below the double yellow line for a brief period, not passing anyone before coming back up the track, still having a shot at the win. At one point, Robusto, Mitchell, and Jankowiak were three wide for the victory.

However, Jankowiak blew past both Robusto and Mitchell and went on to claim his first career win. Mitchell, Dean, Robusto, Ruggiero, Reimer, Corr, Vargas, Wood, and Dye rounded out the Top 10 finishers.

Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com

By claiming second place, it would be Mitchell’s best career ARCA Menards Series National Tour finish in his seventh career start.

“I think I needed to back up a smidge to get that help that was behind me,” Mitchell said to Fox Sports 1 after the race. ” He added, “I kind of left the 71 (Andy Jankowiak), I’m pretty sure. I tried to go down and didn’t have enough room to get past Will (Kimmel). We started beating each other up. Andy passed us and got the W. Congratulations to him.

“What an insane day of racing at the greatest race I’ve ever been a part of in my life right there. My team, Kevin Hamlin, did such a good job right there. He added, “That was honestly the most fun I ever had with clothes on. It was freaking insane.”

Meanwhile, Robusto was close to claiming her first career win before having to settle for a disappointing fourth-place finish.

“That was hard,” Robusto said to Fox Sports 1 on pit road. “Just wanted to be the lead car there in case the caution came out, similar to last year in what I thought was going to happen. I got too far out there and didn’t get the push I needed down the backstretch. I feel really bad or my team. We had a really fast Mobil 1 Toyota Camry all day. I feel like we executed really well, kept the nose clean, and got into position there at the end. I just wasn’t able to execute there on the last lap.”

There were five cautions for 26 laps and eight lead changes among five different drivers. Jankowiak led one lap en route to victory.

The next ARCA Menards Series National Tour race is slated for Friday, May 8, at Watkins Glen International Raceway, live on Fox Sports 2 and MRN Radio. The next ARCA Menards East Series race is Saturday, May 2, at the Nashville Fairgrounds at 9 p.m. ET, while the ARCA Menards West Series race is also that same night at Shasta Speedway, live at 11:30 p.m. ET, both live on Flo Racing.

Complete Results:

PosNo.NameSponsorLapsDiff
171Andy JankowiakHook’d Solutions Chevrolet76—
230Garrett Mitchell*BaldEagle.com Ford760.111
325Gus DeanCAB Installers Toyota760.114
455Isabella RobustoMobil 1 Toyota760.328
518Gio RuggieroFirst Auto Group Toyota760.381
677Taylor Reimer*FRE Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet760.44
78Sean CorrNesco/The Trans Group Chevrolet760.568
891Ryan VargasFirst Bank of Alabama Ford760.605
928Jack WoodRoad Ranger Chevrolet760.612
1024Daniel DyeChampion Container Corporation Ford760.634
1169Will KimmelAviation Technology Toyota760.642
1215Jake FinchPhoenix Toyota760.649
1301Cody DennisonLOLCOW.co Ford760.752
1412Takuma KogaYamada/Ikedo/Macnica Toyota760.888
1566Derek WhiteOCR Gaz Bar Ford761.218
1610Ed PompaHYTORC of New York/Double H Ranch Chevrolet761.508
1734Logan Misuraca*Orlando Health/City Garage Motorsports Ford761.581
1820Jake Bollman*Nitro Motorsports Toyota751 Lap
1906Con NicolopoulosJen’s Brick House Chevrolet751 Lap
2086Jeff Maconi*Clubb Racing Inc. Ford751 Lap
2141Robbie KennealyJan’s Towing Ford742 Laps
2248Brad SmithGary’s Speed Shop Ford742 Laps
2319Matt KempMaples Motorsports Chevrolet724 Laps
2426Ron Vandermeir Jr.*RJ Motors Toyota706 Laps
2599Michael MaplesMaples Motorsports Chevrolet706 Laps
2670Thomas AnnunziataJBL Toyota697 Laps
2711Bryce HaugebergNorth Dakota State University/Brenco Toyota697 Laps
281Andrew Patterson*PRS Pipe Restoration Services Chevrolet697 Laps
290George Siciliano*Heat Wave Visuals  Ford697 Laps
3036Ryan HuffCommonwealth Equipment Ford697 Laps
3189Bobby EarnhardtCircle S Ranch/Ranchers Choice Net Wrap Chevrolet697 Laps
3227Tim RichmondMilitary Green Cards Toyota697 Laps
3397Jason KitzmillerA.L.L. Construction/Carter Cat Chevrolet697 Laps
3403Alex ClubbClubb Racing Inc Ford679 Laps
3579Steve Lewis Jr.Pintail Navigation/Patriot Site Services Chevrolet6412 Laps
367Eric CaudellLarge Mouth Coffee Toyota5719 Laps
3775Bryan DauzatO.B. Builders Chevrolet5719 Laps
3817Monty Tipton*Bare Bones Chevrolet5620 Laps
3988A.J. MoyerRiversEdgeVT.com/Lightin Homes Chevrolet4927 Laps
4093Alli OwensBighorn Outdoors Chevrolet2848 Laps

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Talladega Quotes – Tyler Reddick – 04.25.26

By
Official Release
-

TOYOTA RACING – Tyler Reddick
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 25, 2026) – 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick was made available to the media on Saturday prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.

Reddick will start first after qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. This is the fifth time that Tyler Reddick has started first this season. Three times by qualifying on the pole (COTA, Darlington, Kansas), and two times due to weather cancelling qualifying (Atlanta, Talladega). He has won the last four times he has started first (Atlanta, COTA, Darlington and Kansas).

A Toyota driver has now started first in seven of 10 races competed in this season, including five of the last six races.

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

What do you make of your teammate, Riley Herbst’s improvement from his first year to his second?

“Yeah, he’s doing a great job with everything. We’ve gotten to talk about it a handful of times, but certainly, I remember my first year in Cup. It was just brutal. You go from being able to contend for race wins on a consistent basis, you go from thinking you’re pretty good at getting to pit road, getting off pit road, all the things that kind of come with it, restarts, you name it. So you come into the Cup Series feeling pretty good and you get to learn really quick just how deep the field is in the Cup side. For me, I remember that very well when I jumped into it, just how tough it is and it’s easy to get down when you have rough stretches and everything. I think he’s handled all that really well. I’m glad that me and Bubba (Wallace), and when Corey (Heim) runs, we’re able to help answer questions, be there. I think for him when he’s able to see me and Bubba go out there at times and find things in our cars, it helps give him the confidence to help begin that search, whether that’s through his inputs or getting his car closer to what he wants to do that too. So, yeah, he’s doing everything. He’s doing all the right stuff back at Airspeed, and it’s been fun working with him and getting to know him better throughout this process too. So, we don’t always get to work out at the same time, but, you know, whether it’s the meetings, the SIM, he’s doing a great job there.”

Does being on the pole change your strategy for tomorrow?

“I hadn’t talked to Billy (Scott, crew chief) really about that shift, if there is one. I would imagine for us, no major shifts. I think will pretty much approach the race the same. Yes, it would be nice if we could win a stage this year, but we found way to win races, so that’s good too. Yeah, I think for us, nothing major, no major changes. We’re going to have a great pit stall, all the things that kind of come with getting the pole position. So, I think if anything, we’re just in a good spot, whether it’s the green flag cycles or under caution, through getting first in the in the qualifying metrics. So, yeah, I think it’ll pretty much be as we expected.”

NASCAR announced some executive changes. What do you look at Ben Kennedy as – a former driver or as an executive?

“Well, it’s hard for me to say one or the other, and I think that’s what makes him great for the role. I remember back to Truck days, we were battling, week in and week out. He’s done a really good job; with the positions he’s held. I’m excited about what the future looks like. Steve’s (O’Donnell) been committed to the sport for a very long time, been a part of it in a lot of ways. Yeah, I’m excited about the future. I think the future is bright for NASCAR.”

With so much success this season, how do you feel to be that driver that certain fans are getting fatigued with all of your success?

“It is weird to be in this spot. I will say that. There’s certainly a lot of noise out there, a lot of speculations, but for me, it’s easy to not get caught up in it because we know what we’re doing, we know how we’re doing it, when we’ve been successful with it. So, yeah, I mean, I feel bad for those that are tired of it. We are enjoying it. We want to keep winning and doing the things that we’re doing. Yeah, I don’t feel bad because I remember how I felt all of last year. I know how my team felt about last year, and so we don’t want to go back to not winning and we’re going to keep working really hard to find ways to get a to victory lane.”

Did you pay attention or remember how people like Jimmie Johnson were treated when you were younger?

“I definitely took that in as a fan when I was younger. I saw that – the noise and all these opinions and speculations, but yeah, more than anything, now that I’ve done it, not the level that Jimmie has, but just winning five out of nine, right? Just what it takes for all that to happen. The things that got to go your way, the mindset you need to have. I found out last year, it’s really hard just to win any race, and so for us to put together like we have and start the year strong like we have. I mean, it’s hard to do, but we’re really thankful that it’s happened, and certainly, I think, with how last year went for us at no point are we like, yeah, we’re good. I think if anything, we’re hungrier now than we were to start the year to just keep after it and keep winning races. So, I’m really glad that our whole team has got that mindset and has that drive to just keep it, keep it going, even though we’ve already had a lot of success to start the year.”

How has Billy Scott’s leadership helped guide this season?

“Yeah, our relationship, what it takes to lead the team, it’s a constant learning process, and we make adjustments as we go. I feel like as hard as last year was, we were able to take a lot of lessons away from that, of how we can improve it, how we can change the process, when things happen, good or bad, how do we handle it? How do we talk about it? How do we break it down? The biggest thing is just great communication. That was something I think that we struggled with a little bit last year. The more that people are upfront and honest and not letting things get blown out of proportion. We’ve just done an overall better job of tackling things up front, not letting things build, and just staying on top of these things and addressing them. What the day-to-day role for him looks like, I don’t know, all the details of, right? We do spend a good portion of the week together and meetings and such, but there are portions of it that I don’t get to see all the time because I may be in one place and he might be in the other, but yeah, just overall, it seems like the role that he has – each of the crew chiefs kind of have a different thing that they take care of at 23XI, and just how all that flows together between the crew chiefs and Dave (Rogers, Senior Director of Competition) and on down just seems to be in a better place than it was last year. I mean, unfortunately, yeah, the only way you can sometimes get to a place like this is by going through those tough times when things don’t work the way you want. So, you make adjustments. Yeah, it was a really good offseason for me and Billy (Scott), just getting more on the same page and understanding how we’re going to get out of the hole that we were in and how to address things as they happen moving forward.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Tyler Reddick awarded Cup pole at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Tyler Reddick has been awarded the pole position for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 25.

The event’s starting lineup was initially going to be determined through a two-round qualifying session. The first session would feature 41 competitors battling for 40 starting spots cycling around Talladega once to post the fastest lap amongst one another. At the conclusion of the first session, the top-10 fastest qualifiers would transfer to the second and final round, and compete for the pole position.

However, Saturday’s qualifying session was canceled due to rain. As a result, the lineup was determined using a qualifying metric formula from the NASCAR rulebook. The formula involved evaluating competitors’ results from the most recent event and owner standings. This resulted in Reddick being awarded the first-place starting spot as he is coming off last weekend’s victory at Kansas Speedway and is leading the Cup standings, both on the driver’s and owner’s side, by 105 points.

This marks Reddick’s second awarded Cup pole of the 2026 season. He was awarded the pole at EchoPark Speedway in mid-February due to rain and lightening canceling the event’s qualifying session, and he proceeded to win the event. With his latest awarded pole, Reddick will contend for his sixth Cup victory of the 2026 season and his second at Talladega on Sunday. Sunday’s Talladega event is also set to mark Reddick’s first featuring Rockstar Energy as a sponsor to his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry.

Reddick will share the front row with Kyle Larson, the latter of whom has finished in the top-five mark twice over the last two of three Talladega events and finished second to Reddick at Kansas. Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe will start in the top five, while Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs and Chris Buescher complete the top-10 starting grid, respectively.

Notably, Austin Cindric, the reigning Talladega spring winner, will start 13th while Daniel Dye will start at the tail end of the field in 40th for his Cup Series debut while driving for Live Fast Motorsports.

With 41 competitors vying for 40-starting spots, Casey Mears was the lone competitor who did not make the main event. This was due to Mears piloting the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet entry that did not qualify during its latest race attempt, which was this year’s Daytona 500 in February.

Talladega – Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:

  1. Tyler Reddick
  2. Kyle Larson
  3. Denny Hamlin
  4. Bubba Wallace
  5. Chase Briscoe
  6. Brad Keselowski
  7. William Byron
  8. Chase Elliott
  9. Ty Gibbs
  10. Chris Buescher
  11. Ryan Preece
  12. Carson Hocevar
  13. Austin Cindric
  14. Christopher Bell
  15. Ryan Blaney
  16. Daniel Suarez
  17. Riley Herbst
  18. Austin Dillon
  19. Todd Gilliland
  20. Alex Bowman
  21. Erik Jones
  22. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  23. John Hunter Nemechek
  24. Ross Chastain
  25. Joey Logano
  26. Josh Berry
  27. Cole Custer
  28. AJ Allmendinger
  29. Noah Gragson
  30. Zane Smith
  31. Michael McDowell
  32. Connor Zilisch
  33. Shane van Gisbergen
  34. Kyle Busch
  35. Ty Dillon
  36. Cody Ware
  37. Jesse Love
  38. Chad Finchum
  39. Joey Gase
  40. Daniel Dye

The 2026 Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled to occur on Sunday, April 26, and air at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

NASCAR Names Steve O’Donnell as Chief Executive Officer; Ben Kennedy as Chief Operating Officer

By
Official Release
-

Jim France Remains Chairman with Lesa France Kennedy Continuing as Executive Vice Chair

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (April 25, 2026) – NASCAR today announced pivotal leadership changes with its Board of Directors naming Steve O’Donnell as Chief Executive Officer and Ben Kennedy as Chief Operating Officer, positioning the sport for its next phase of growth and innovation. These planned transitions follow a period of sustained momentum and business strength for NASCAR, driven by multi-year media rights agreements, long-term charter extensions, and robust partner relationships.

Effective immediately, O’Donnell becomes the first non-France family member to serve as CEO in NASCAR’s 78-year history. He assumes all strategic and operational leadership for NASCAR, its affiliated racing series and businesses. Kennedy, in his expanded role as Chief Operating Officer, will oversee several core business functions, including the addition of NASCAR’s competition department, alongside his current leadership of track and event operations, racing innovation, hospitality, and venue strategy. Jim France, who served as NASCAR Chairman and CEO since 2018 where he oversaw nearly a decade of innovation and steady growth, will remain as Chairman of NASCAR’s Board of Directors. Lesa France Kennedy also continues as Executive Vice Chair and NASCAR’s Board of Directors remains unchanged.

“I am incredibly proud of the strength and stability we’ve achieved across the sport, which gives me tremendous confidence in our plan to transition leadership to Steve as NASCAR’s next CEO and Ben as COO,” said NASCAR Chairman Jim France. “Together, they represent the future of the sport, and along with our world-class executive team and race team partners in the garage, they will guide NASCAR into its exciting next era.”

As CEO, O’Donnell will focus on advancing NASCAR’s vision as one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment brands. Previously serving as NASCAR’s sixth President, O’Donnell is one of the sport’s longest tenured and respected executives with more than 30 years of service across competition, operations, marketing and business functions – from grassroots racing through the NASCAR Cup Series. He will also lead the development and execution of multi year strategic plans, financial and performance benchmarks, succession planning, as well as NASCAR’s next media rights and evolving content distribution strategies.

“It is an honor to step into the role of CEO working alongside Ben and our leadership team at such an important time for our sport,” said NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Steve O’Donnell. “I have devoted nearly my entire l career to NASCAR, this garage and our fans, guided by the France family’s commitment to deliver the best racing in the world. I am grateful and energized to continue to collaborate with our colleagues across our sport, while listening to our race fans to realize that vision each and every week.”

With Ben Kennedy’s elevation to NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer, he will oversee a range of business- and competition-critical functions, including the addition of Competition led by John Probst. Probst will report to Kennedy, who began his NASCAR career on the Competition team as General Manager of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Kennedy will also continue to oversee the creation of NASCAR’s highly anticipated annual schedule, a key driver of marquee events that expand NASCAR’s reach and introduce the sport to new audiences while honoring its most beloved racing traditions that have delivered many iconic sports moments.

About Jim France

Jim France is Chairman of NASCAR after serving as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since August 2018.

France grew up in the early years of stock car racing, living and learning every detail of the sport from his own experiences, and from his father Bill France Sr., the founder and first president of NASCAR. He also received guidance and direction from his mother, Anne B. France, and older brother Bill Jr., NASCAR’s former president, chairman and CEO.

Joining ISC in 1959, France worked in all phases of operations in his early years with the company.

He was elected to the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) board in 1970 and served as the company’s secretary, assistant treasurer, vice president, chief operating officer, executive vice president, president and chairman.

France has been involved in motorsports most of his life. In addition to stock cars, he has also been a strong supporter of both sports car and motorcycle racing in the United States, evident by his professional involvement in those sports. In 1999, he founded GRAND-AM Road Racing; in 2012, he was the driving force behind the merger of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series, which began operation as one entity in 2014 in what is now known as the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

He served as starter for the U.S. Motorcycle Grand Prix in the late 1960s, raced on dirt tracks for nearly five years and has been a member of the American Motorcyclist Association for almost 26 years. In addition, France has raced karts on both dirt and asphalt.

France has served as a board member for ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee of the United States). France was on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1969-1970, serving in Vietnam.

France was born and raised in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he currently resides. He graduated from local Seabreeze High School and attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla., earning a business degree in 1968.

About Steve O’Donnell

Steve O’Donnell was appointed CEO of NASCAR in April 2026 after being named President in March of 2025. O’Donnell is only the fifth CEO in NASCAR’s 78-year history and the first non-France Family member to hold the position since the organization’s founding 1948. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., O’Donnell is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of all NASCAR and IMSA Series, including all NASCAR commercial, media and track operations, in addition to its four international series and multiple regional and grassroots properties.

Prior to being appointed President, O’Donnell most recently held the role of Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he oversaw multiple departments within the company related to Competition with an emphasis on positioning NASCAR and its state-of-the-art Research & Development Center as a leader in innovation, technology and product relevance. In addition, he also led all NASCAR-owned track properties, track presidents and respective events, as well as International development, medical, security, membership and registration areas of the business.

Under his purview, O’Donnell has helped elevate the fan event experience at NASCAR’s race tracks, which include some of the world’s top venues such as Daytona International Speedway.

O’Donnell has directed or guided vital innovative advancements, including the introduction of the Gen-6 NASCAR Cup Series race car, the current Next Gen car (7th generation) and and the implementation of the Chase playoff format for all three of NASCAR’s national series.

He is also a member of the company’s Executive Council and holds positions on the NASCAR Hall of Fame nominating committee and voting panel.

A true example of rising through the ranks, O’Donnell has worked in various areas in the company since joining NASCAR in 1996 as a marketing services representative. After being promoted to manage that group – including work on NASCAR’s 50th Anniversary project – he was elevated to Director of Series Marketing. From there, he moved to Competition as Managing Director of Events and Operations to head the All-American Series and Touring Series before being promoted to Vice President of Racing Operations in charge of the national series. In 2008, he was named to Sports Business Journal’s prestigious “Forty Under 40” list.

About Ben Kennedy

Ben Kennedy is the Chief Operating Officer for NASCAR. Prior to that he served as Chief Events & Venues Officer overseeing strategic initiatives, including all of NASCAR’s owned facilities, future innovation for the sport’s continued growth, and the annual development of NASCAR’s national series race schedules.

Kennedy was the architect behind the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race schedule, widely acknowledged as the most dynamic new schedule the sport has seen in decades. Since then, he has led efforts to bring NASCAR racing to city centers, including the Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the first-ever Chicago Street Race, the Cup Series first-ever international race (Mexico City) and this year’s San Diego Steet Race at Naval Base Coronado – another first for the sport.

Previously, Kennedy served as Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy, and prior to that, Vice President, Racing Operations where he led domestic and international operations for the auto racing sanctioning body. In 2018, Kennedy served as General Manager of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he provided oversight across multiple disciplines specific to the series, including competition, broadcasting, marketing and communications.

Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., and son of NASCAR Executive Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy, is a fourth-generation leader from the NASCAR-founding France family. He brings experience to the organization from previous roles as both a driver and team owner.

Kennedy began his racing career in 2009 behind the wheel of a four-horsepower quarter midget at a small track in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Most recently, he raced in what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Richard Childress Racing and GMS Racing. Kennedy also competed fulltime in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series from 2014-2016, earning his first win and series playoff berth in 2016.

Enjoying success at the touring series level, Kennedy etched his name in the record books in 2012, when he won the first oval race in NASCAR Whelen Euro Series history at Tours Speedway, just outside of Paris, France.

In 2023, Kennedy was honored as a Sports Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame with the Award of Distinction for his work in bringing the unprecedented Chicago Street Race to the city.

Kennedy received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and is currently a team owner in the ARCA Menards Series. He resides in Florida and is based out of both the Daytona Beach and uptown Charlotte offices.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

Langdon, Capps, Anderson and M. Smith Earn Provisional No. 1 Spots at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

By
Official Release
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Funny Car driver Ron Capps powered his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position during Friday's action at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. (CMS/HHP photo)

CONCORD, N.C. (April 24, 2026) – Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon was the only driver to reach the 3.60s on Friday at zMAX Dragway, powering to the provisional No. 1 position to kick off the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.

Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the fourth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

In the final quad of the night, Langdon went 3.674-seconds at 339.19 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air dragster under the lights, giving the past world champion the quickest run in both of Friday’s qualifying sessions as he looks for his second No. 1 qualifier of the season.

“It’s just a testament to the team,” Langdon said. “The guys have done a great job giving me a great race car. It’s all the hard work that they did in the off-season, a lot of things that they looked at to try to improve on from last year in the last two years, and just little by little, it’s been shown. So it’s a good feeling.

“We feel pretty confident right now that if the track conditions are hot, we feel like we can make the necessary changes. Then, when we get situations like this, where you try to throw down a little bit, we have a good handle on that as well.”

Leah Pruett is currently second with her run of 3.700 at 333.82, and reigning world champion and points leader Doug Kalitta is third after going 3.711 at 334.73.

Funny Car’s Ron Capps made the most of ideal conditions under the lights to close out qualifying in the category, ripping off a strong 3.883 at 333.91 in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra. It continues a great streak for Capps, who shares the points lead with Matt Hagan, won in Phoenix and advanced to the final round in Pomona.

Though still early in the season, Capps loves the direction of the team and hopes for another big showing this weekend at zMAX Dragway, where he’s won four times in his career. That’s tied with Hagan for the most among active Funny Car drivers.

“This is classic zMAX. The first run there was a little humidity, and the track hadn’t been run on and everybody was tiptoeing,” Capps said. “But this place is always good and when the sun goes down, it’s great.

“We started hearing the good numbers being run ahead of us, and I could hear ‘Guido’ [crew chief Dean Antonelli] on the radio. I knew he was getting after it. If we get some cloud cover tomorrow that won’t hold, but it also depends on the humidity and the heat. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Jordan Vandergriff went to second with a run of 3.899 at 328.70 and Hagan, who won the 1,000th Funny Car race in Pomona, is third after going 3.901 at 326.16.

Six-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson put together a spectacular Friday, including a run of 6.498 at 211.23 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro that puts him in the top spot. Anderson was the only driver to dip into the 6.40s, putting him in position for third straight No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 143rd in his career.

Anderson, who is second in points to only KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn, said performing well in Charlotte in front of his sponsor is always a good feeling.

“I can’t lie. Sometimes when you make a run, you say to yourself that we felt pretty damn good, and that’s what I said going down the race track. The scoreboard matched what I thought. I had fun today,” Anderson said.

Reigning world champion Glenn is currently second with a run of 6.521 at 210.77 and Matt Latino continues his solid season, with his 6.527 at 210.64 putting him third.

Racing close to home has always been a good thing for Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith and that continued on Friday at his home track, as the defending event winner went 6.739 at 203.09 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell. Should that hold, it would give Smith 60 career No. 1 qualifiers, eclipsing Angelle Sampey for the most in Pro Stock Motorcycle history.

Smith has always performed well at zMAX Dragway, winning four times, and he nearly set the speed record on Friday with his booming run.

“I didn’t think it would stick. I drove to the center line, but all in all, it did stick, and we’re number one,” Smith said. “This is a great place to race and I love the four-wide. It’s a challenge and I’m getting old, and I like more challenges as I’m getting old.

Ryan Oehler showed strong improvement on Friday, going all the way to second, while Gaige Herrera is third with a run of 6.756 at 200.50.

Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or at the gate. Fans on site can review for next year’s event, scheduled for April 2-4, 2027. Just $50 down gets fans a commemorative ring in honor of John Force Racing’s 50th season of racing.

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race Overview- Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race Overview-
Talladega Superspeedway; April 25, 2026

Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Race: Ag-Pro 300
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; April 25, 2026 4:00 P.M. ET (3:00 P.M. CT)
TV: CW Network
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)- Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport; Facebook, Instagram, and X

Survival of the Fastest: Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport Heads to Talladega

Lincoln, Ala. (April 24, 2026) – Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the Ag-Pro 300, as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes on the ultimate drafting challenge.

At 2.66 miles, Talladega demands a different approach than any other track on the schedule. It’s not just about speed — it’s about alignment, timing, and trust. Success hinges on manufacturer alliances, spotter communication, and maintaining momentum inside tightly packed lanes where one misstep can end a day instantly.

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport will field three Chevrolets, leaning on teamwork and manufacturer support throughout the race. Jeb Burton will pilot the No. 27 Golden Corral Chevrolet, Blaine Perkins driving the No. 31 MEZRANO Alabama Personnel Injury Lawyers Chevrolet, and Tyler Ankrum making his series and team debut in the No. 32 LIUNA / TDA Investment Group Chevrolet.

With a strong Chevrolet presence expected, drafting partners will be critical. Staying connected to the right line and the right teammates will dictate who controls the race and who gets shuffled out.

Burton returns to Talladega as one of the most reliable superspeedway racers in the garage. A 2021 & 2023 winner at the track and runner-up finisher in last year’s Ag-Pro 300, he understands how to manage both stages and the closing laps often two very different races within the same event.

“Stage points are important, but you’ve also got to be there at the end,” Burton said.

“It’s a balance between racing hard early and keeping your car clean for the final run. Spotters play a huge role here, you’re relying on them every second. If we can stay organized with our Chevrolet teammates and keep track position, we’ll be in a good spot when it counts.”

For Burton and the No. 27 team, the plan centers on stage awareness, disciplined lane selection, and controlling runs late with help from drafting partners.

Perkins enters the weekend continuing to refine his superspeedway approach, with an emphasis on decision-making and communication. Talladega often rewards drivers who commit early and stay locked into a line something the No. 31 team is focused on executing.

“Communication is everything at Talladega,” Perkins said.

“Your spotter is calling every move, every run, and you’ve got to trust that completely. The biggest thing is staying committed to your lane and working with the guys around you. If we can do that and keep our MEZRANO Chevrolet in the draft all day, we’ll have an opportunity.”

For Perkins and the No. 31 team, the goal is to stay mistake-free, maintain drafting help, and put themselves in position to take advantage of late-race opportunities.

Ankrum adds another aggressive and capable piece to the team’s superspeedway effort. With a background in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he brings experience in pushing, side-drafting, and making quick decisions in high-pressure situations.

“Everything happens fast here, so you’ve got to stay ahead of it mentally,” Ankrum said.

“You’re watching runs develop, listening to your spotter, and making moves in a split second. Having teammates makes a big difference — if we can stay lined up and push each other, we can control where we run.”

For Ankrum and the No. 32 team, the focus will be on integrating into the team’s drafting strategy, building trust, and staying in contention deep into the final stage.

Pit strategy will also play a pivotal role, with teams likely coordinating green-flag stops to avoid losing the draft. Staying aligned through pit cycles and rejoining with drafting partners can make or break a race at Talladega.

When the final stage begins, the intensity ramps up. Lines form, momentum swings rapidly, and the race often comes down to positioning in the final laps. With three cars working together, with an emphasis on communication and execution, Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport enters the Ag-Pro 300 prepared to race up front and ready to capitalize when the pack makes its final move.

The Ag-Pro 300 from Talladega Superspeedway will be broadcast live on The CW beginning at 4:00 P.M. ET (3:00 P.M. CT) on Saturday afternoon. Radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, with flag-to-flag coverage from Lincoln, Alabama.

Fans are urged to stay updated thru the weekend via Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport Social platforms; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

About Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport was built from the ground up, fueled by passion, persistence, and a bold vision for what an independent NASCAR team could become. Founded by driver and owner Jordan Anderson, the organization has grown from a grassroots operation hauling a single truck across the country into a competitive multi-car NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team through a pivotal partnership with St. Louis automotive dealer John Bommarito. Along the way, the team has earned wins, poles, and a reputation for grit, growth, and opportunity within the NASCAR garage. Today, Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport is investing in talent, innovation, and culture to challenge the status quo and build a new kind of racing legacy.

Cost-Effective Waterproof Seat Covers That Keep Your Interior Protected

By
SM
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Water damage is one of the fastest ways to destroy a vehicle’s interior. A single wet dog, a leaking water bottle, a soaked gym bag, or an unexpected downpour with the windows cracked can soak into upholstery and lead to stains, odors, and mildew that are nearly impossible to fully remove. Waterproof seat covers solve the problem before it starts — and you don’t need to spend a premium to get real protection. With the right approach, affordable waterproof seat covers can keep your seats looking new for years without draining your budget.

Here’s how to find covers that genuinely repel water without cutting corners on quality.

Why Waterproofing Actually Matters

Factory upholstery — whether cloth, leather, or leatherette — is designed to look good, not to handle moisture. Cloth absorbs liquid quickly and traps it in the foam underneath, where it can grow mold and cause lingering smells. Even leather, which seems water-resistant, can stain, crack, and warp when exposed to moisture repeatedly.

A properly waterproof cover creates a physical barrier between whatever is wet and the seat beneath it. That matters whether you’re dealing with:

  • Wet dogs after a walk, swim, or rainy day
  • Kids with juice boxes, water bottles, and melting snacks
  • Gym bags, beach towels, and sweaty post-workout rides
  • Surfboards, paddleboards, fishing gear, and hunting equipment
  • Work clothes after long days on job sites or in bad weather
  • Accidental spills from coffee, soda, and takeout

Without a waterproof barrier, all of those eventually reach the upholstery.

Understand the Difference: Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof

These terms get used interchangeably online, but they mean very different things.

Water-resistant covers repel light moisture and small spills for a short time. They’ll handle a few drops or a quick splash, but prolonged exposure will eventually soak through. Most fabric covers with a light coating fall into this category.

Waterproof covers prevent liquid from passing through at all. They use materials or backings that fully block moisture, keeping the seat underneath completely dry even with extended exposure.

For real protection, you want genuinely waterproof — not just water-resistant. Product listings should state this explicitly, and the best sellers back it up with details about the backing, coating, or membrane they use.

Materials That Deliver Real Waterproofing

Several materials handle moisture well, each with different strengths at different price points:

Neoprene is the same material used in wetsuits. It’s fully waterproof, stretches to fit most seats, grips upholstery well, and wipes clean easily. Widely available at affordable prices.

Polyester with TPU or PU backing is one of the best value options. The outer fabric looks and feels normal, while the laminated backing blocks moisture completely. Lightweight, breathable on top, and surprisingly durable.

Heavy-duty nylon with waterproof coating handles rough use while blocking water. Common on work-oriented covers and often priced competitively.

Canvas with waterproof treatment delivers a traditional look with modern protection. The treatment needs occasional reapplication to stay fully effective.

Vinyl and leatherette are naturally waterproof and easy to wipe down, though they can feel hot in summer and lack breathability.

Avoid plain cloth covers advertised as “water-repellent” without specifying a backing or coating. They’re usually just treated fabric that loses its protection quickly.

Key Features That Separate Good Budget Covers From Bad Ones

Waterproof performance depends on more than just the material. Look for:

  • Fully sealed or taped seams — water leaks through stitch holes without them
  • Waterproof backing that covers the entire seat area, not just the center panel
  • Raised edges or contoured fit that prevent liquid from running off onto the seat
  • Secure anchoring with straps, hooks, and elastic to keep the cover in place
  • Removable, washable construction so you can clean them thoroughly between uses
  • Airbag-compatible seams for any modern vehicle

Covers that skip these details may technically use waterproof material but still let moisture reach the seat through gaps, seams, or shifting panels.

Matching Covers to How You Actually Use Your Vehicle

Not every waterproof cover is right for every situation. Match the product to your real needs:

For pet owners: prioritize neoprene or heavy-duty polyester with a non-slip backing, raised edges, and ideally a hammock-style design for rear seats that blocks claw damage as well as moisture.

For families with kids: look for easy-to-wipe surfaces, machine-washable components, and darker colors or patterns that hide stains between cleanings.

For outdoor enthusiasts: neoprene and ballistic nylon handle wet gear, muddy boots, and frequent exposure to the elements best.

For work vehicles: heavy-duty nylon or canvas with waterproof coating holds up to tools, dirt, and constant in-and-out use.

For everyday drivers: polyester with TPU backing offers the best balance of protection, comfort, and affordability.

Where to Find Value

Several online retailers consistently offer solid waterproof covers at reasonable prices:

  • Amazon carries the widest selection across every price point — filter by review count and focus on recent feedback
  • Walmart’s marketplace often lists the same products at slightly different prices
  • Chewy and other pet retailers stock purpose-built waterproof covers for pet owners, often at better prices than general auto sites
  • Direct-from-manufacturer sites for brands like FH Group, Leader Accessories, and BDK skip retail markups
  • AutoZone, Advance Auto, and O’Reilly online offer reliable mid-range options backed by national return policies

Be cautious with unfamiliar brands on unbranded listings, especially ones with few reviews or generic product photos.

Testing Waterproof Claims Before You Trust Them

Once your covers arrive, it’s worth verifying the waterproofing before you need it. A simple test:

  1. Install the cover on the seat
  2. Pour a small amount of water on the covered area
  3. Wait several minutes
  4. Lift the cover and check whether the seat beneath is dry

If water soaks through, the cover isn’t truly waterproof and should be returned. Better to discover this during a controlled test than when a soaking-wet dog jumps in.

Maintenance Keeps Protection Working

Waterproof covers last longer and perform better with a little care:

  • Rinse off dirt and debris regularly to prevent abrasion from wearing down waterproof coatings
  • Follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions — harsh detergents can strip protective layers
  • Air dry rather than machine drying when possible
  • Reapply waterproofing spray occasionally on covers with treatments rather than laminated backings
  • Inspect seams periodically for early signs of failure

With basic upkeep, most quality waterproof covers hold their protection for several years of regular use.

Final Thoughts

Affordable waterproof seat covers give you real, lasting protection without the premium price tag — as long as you know what to look for. Focus on genuinely waterproof materials rather than water-resistant ones, check for sealed seams and full-coverage backings, match the cover to how you actually use your vehicle, and buy from retailers with clear return policies. Do that, and you’ll end up with covers that shrug off spills, pets, gear, and weather for years to come, keeping your interior looking sharp no matter what life throws at it.

Jesse Love wins first O’Reilly pole of 2026 at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Jesse Love clinched the pole position for the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, April 24.

The event’s starting lineup was determined through a two-round qualifying session. The first session featured 38 competitors battling for 38 starting spots, cycling once around the track to post the fastest lap. At the conclusion of the first session, the top-10 fastest qualifiers transferred to the second and final round, where they contested for the pole position.

Love, the reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and driver of the No. 2 Whelen/Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro entry from Menlo Park, California, posted the fifth-fastest lap at 181.711 mph in 52.699s seconds during Friday’s first qualifying session. After being one of 10 competitors to transfer to the final round, he then posted a single-qualifying lap at 182.313 mph in 52.525 seconds, which was enough for him to achieve the top-starting spot for Saturday’s main event.

With the pole, Love achieved his fourth consecutive O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position at Talladega Superspeedway, his first of the 2026 season and the 10th of his career. Love, who achieved his first O’Reilly career victory at Talladega in 2024 and is seeking his first victory of the 2026 season, is also competing for the third $100,000 prize of this season as part of the Dash 4 Cash program, which would be Love’s first time achieving the bonus if he finishes ahead of his other three contestants: Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier and Taylor Gray.

“An [O’Reilly] car, you can save a lot of fuel from the front,” Love said. He continued, saying, “That’s a benefit for me, but also just being able to control the start of the race. There’s always the potential for some really early drama that can take you out of it and you eliminate that factor. I’m happy to have a good car and a fast piece. Everybody at ECR [Engines] did a phenomenal job. We’ve been pushing the envelope and trying to get better every week this year. Looking forward to tomorrow and eventually linking up with Austin [Hill] and hopefully controlling the race even better than if it’s just me up there.”

Sam Mayer was the fastest driver during the first qualifying round with a 181.918 mph lap in 52.639 seconds. Ultimately, he qualified in second place with a lap at 182.168 mph in 52.567 seconds. Corey Day, Josh Williams and Sheldon Creed qualified in the top five, respectively.

Austin Hill, Rajah Caruth, Carson Kvapil, Anthony Alfredo and Mason Maggio, all of whom transferred to the final qualifying round along with Love, Mayer, Day, Williams and Creed, completed the top-10 starting grid, respectively.

Notably, Justin Allgaier and Taylor Gray, the latter of whom won last weekend’s event at Kansas Speedway to qualify for this weekend’s Dash 4 Cash program, qualified 11th and 26th, respectively. In addition, Tyler Ankrum, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor who is making his O’Reilly debut with Jordan Anderson Racing, will start 33rd.

With 38 competitors competing for 38 starting spots, all made the main event.

Talladega – Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:

  1. Jesse Love, 182.313 mph, 52.525 seconds
  2. Sam Mayer, 182.168 mph, 52.567 seconds
  3. Corey Day, 181.974 mph, 52.623 seconds
  4. Josh Williams, 181.949 mph, 52.630 seconds
  5. Sheldon Creed, 181.946 mph, 52.631 seconds
  6. Austin Hill, 181.873 mph, 52.652 seconds
  7. Rajah Caruth, 181.584 mph, 52.736 seconds
  8. Carson Kvapil, 181.491 mph, 52.763 seconds
  9. Anthony Alfredo, 181.326 mph, 52.811 seconds
  10. Mason Maggio, 181.151 mph, 52.862 seconds
  11. Justin Allgaier, 181.298 mph, 52.819 seconds
  12. Ryan Sieg, 181.292 mph, 52.821 seconds
  13. Sammy Smith, 181.268 mph, 52.828 seconds
  14. Patrick Staropoli, 181.199 mph, 52.848 seconds
  15. Jeremy Clements, 181.134 mph, 52.867 seconds
  16. William Sawalich, 181.062 mph, 52.888 seconds
  17. Dean Thompson, 180.959 mph, 52.918 seconds
  18. Brent Crews, 180.928 mph, 52.927 seconds
  19. Parker Retzlaff, 180.905 mph, 53.934 seconds
  20. David Starr, 180.887 mph, 52.939 seconds
  21. Ryan Ellis, 180.829 mph, 52.956 seconds
  22. Brandon Jones, 180.775 mph, 52.972 seconds
  23. Blaine Perkins, 180.308 mph, 53.109 seconds
  24. Jeb Burton, 180.288 mph, 53.115 seconds
  25. JJ Yeley, 180.274 mph, 53.119 seconds
  26. Taylor Gray, 180.234 mph, 53.131 seconds
  27. Patrick Emerling, 180.203 mph, 53.140 seconds
  28. Kyle Sieg, 180.183 mph, 53.146 seconds
  29. Joey Gase, 180.139 mph, 53.159 seconds
  30. Harrison Burton, 180.135 mph, 53.160 seconds
  31. Austin Green, 180.014 mph, 53.196 seconds
  32. Lavar Scott, 179.844 mph, 53.246 seconds
  33. Tyler Ankrum, 179.639 mph, 53.307 seconds
  34. Brennan Poole, 179.299 mph, 53.408 seconds
  35. Josh Bilicki, 179.208 mph, 53.435 seconds
  36. Natalie Decker, 178.814 mph, 53.553 seconds
  37. Garrett Smithley, 178.773 mph, 53.565 seconds
  38. Dawson Cram, 175.777 mph, 54.478 seconds

The 2026 Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, April 25, and air at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Network, MRN Radio and SiriusXM.

TOYOTA RACING – NOAPS Talladega Quotes – Taylor Gray – 04.24.26

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA RACING – Taylor Gray
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Quotes

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 24, 2026) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray was made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Can you talk about how neat it is to be a part of Dash 4 Cash this weekend?

“It’s cool that they continue to do this program, and O’Reilly kind of stepped up and took it over. So definitely a cool program for the drivers and the teams to bring more money in, and have the opportunity to do that.”

Do you enjoy this kind of racing?
“Yeah, it’s definitely a different type of racing, right, than what we’re typically do throughout the normal week. I think it depends on how your day goes, right? You can either leave this place loving speedway racing or you can leave it, hating it. I think that kind of depends on the day you’re having, and kind of how much luck you decided to have this weekend, in a way (laughter). But no, I mean, it’s fun. There’s things that you can do as a driver to put yourself in better position, but at the end of the day, you’re really at other people’s risk and kind of can do only so much. We kind of go about this week of – control what you can control, and that’s really all you can do. It’s one of those things where you just have to go in here with little expectations and try to lead and hopefully have a good day.”

Toyota hasn’t won here since 2014. Does that make it more important for you?

“I don’t know if I necessarily think of it that way. Obviously, it’d be awesome to win here and get TOYOTA RACING back in Victory Lane, but I don’t know if I think of it as necessarily in that aspect of we haven’t won here as a manufacturer in a long time in the O’Reilly series. So, I don’t know that I’d necessarily think of it that way. It’s just tough, right? There’s not as much of us anymore as there is Chevys. So it just, it makes it hard. I said a few years ago when I raced here in trucks – ‘it feels like I’m racing in a used car lot of Chevys.’ (laughter) It’s just hard. Obviously, numbers matter here, having friends matters here and we don’t have a ton of them. So again, kind of luck has to go your way and your day has to go right, and so at the end of the day, it’d be awesome to take a Toyota back in Victory Lane here. In this series, but I don’t know. All I’m really focused on is winning as many races as I can, no matter where they are at.”

The Joe Gibbs Racing O’Reilly program has had so much success. Do you put pressure on yourself to live up to those standards?

“Going into it last year knew that obviously there’s a lot of opportunity here as an organization and really good people that are at the shop working every day and making our race cars better. So, we struggled a little bit at the beginning of the year and are starting to find our stride, which is nice, this year, and having a lot of speed bringing to the racetrack. One of those things where I know that I need to go and win races and contend for wins and run up front. So, yeah, definitely a lot of opportunity.”

Does your pre-race routine change with the potential for weather?

“I wouldn’t say so. I’m going to go in tomorrow with a mindset of that we’re going to race, right? If we don’t, then so be it. We’re going to go get a good night’s rest tomorrow night if we don’t and race Sunday morning. So, I wouldn’t say it really changes anything for me, more so just takes away my Sunday at home (laughter). So, no, not a big change there for me.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Talladega Quotes – Erik Jones – 04.24.26

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA RACING – Erik Jones
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 24, 2026) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver Erik Jones was made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.

ERIK JONES, No. 43 Doritos/Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Can you tell us a little bit about your partner this weekend?

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Last year, we did a big deal with Dollar Tree and a partner, and this year, we have Doritos on the car for the race here at Talladega. So excited about that. Dollar Tree’s been obviously a huge partner for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB over the last three years now that we’ve been a company and has grown that partnership with the 43 car for sure. They’re on a majority of our races and to have Doritos on there is great. Car looks really cool, and I’m excited just for them and the exposure that they have this weekend.”

Can you tell us about the Oscar plushie?

“We’ve brought them back on online and the Oscar plushie benefits the Erik Jones Foundation. All of the proceeds from it go to that to benefit the foundation. Oscar’s a pretty big fan. He doesn’t travel as much to the racetrack these days. He’s a little older and his kid brother is kind of taking his spot, but he’s still a big race fan.”

This is the first Talladega with the point system change. Does that affect the way you race?

“Yeah, I don’t know if it changes it a whole lot. I think for us, we approach all these races pretty aggressive in the last handful years because this has been, in the last handful of years, our only great shot to try to win our way in the playoffs. So, I think if anything, it makes it more aggressive because the stage points are probably more important than ever. The finishes are great, but if you can go and earn top three stage points in both stages, and even if you get wrecked out at the end, you’re still going to have a decent day, so I think that’s our focus. The stage lengths are probably a bigger change than anything, that first stage is a bit confusing, length on some strategies and things that guys can do. So, it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out, but I think as far as the aggression side, I think will be just as high as ever for stage points.”

Is there any sort of strategy change with the new stage lengths?

“Yeah, I think there’s a lot of strategies in that first stage that you could see employed. We saw the 71 (Michael McDowell) at the last Daytona. He had a strategy that was going to win in the race and he was all by himself. The yellow came out and ruined that for him, but I don’t know, I think there’s a lot of opportunity there to do a lot of different things to say, I know what the right answer is – no way. I don’t think anybody knows. I think there’s possibility there to one stop it. To do that is going to take some serious management of the run. So, I don’t know. We’ll see. It’s going to be really interesting to see how guys run it. We’re kind of in a, honestly, I feel like we’re probably going to start mid-packish just with the way our cars qualify, and that’s probably not a bad place to be. We save some fuel there naturally. So we’ll see, but there’s going to be a lot of options in that first stage.”

Does it matter if you get a lap in qualifying tomorrow or not due to potential weather?

“No, not for me. We are pretty standard as far as our package on superspeedways, and here at Talladega, to be honest, handling is so minimal, and tomorrow, with it only being mid 70s, I don’t think anybody’s too worried about it. The only thing you worry about is any small issue, that one lap is kind of nice, just to make sure that everything’s operating the way it should, but I don’t think any of us are too concerned.”

What do you like racing at Talladega?
“I’ve just come to enjoy it for what it is. I think we do 4 of these races a year, right? Between two here and two at Daytona. For me, I think there was probably a time, and there’s probably a time in every driver’s journey in their career, that it’s frustrating, because maybe things aren’t going well, and you aren’t getting the finishes that you want. I think me, of anybody, should have some animosity. Only time I’ve been hurt my career was here, but it doesn’t bother me. I enjoy coming here, and I have a lot of fun with the racing, just because it’s so unique, and there are guys that are good at it, to say that there’s guys that, it’s all luck, and no skill is a lie, and I think somebody that isn’t good at it. What they would say, and that’s what I would say too (laughter). But there’s guys that are good at it. The same guys seem to find themselves up front, and you’ve got to make the most of it.”

Do you have a different mindset coming here versus a Bristol or Martinsville?

“Yeah, I think the aggression. The thing I look forward to most is race is long, right, on Sunday, but I can’t wait for those last 20 laps, and if we make it there. That’s the ultimate goal. If you’re in those last 20 laps in the top 10 or top 12 and the intensity of that and what the feeling is and what you got to do as a driver and the moves you have to make and the nerves, it’s exciting. It doesn’t get old. It’s a cool feeling to be in that pack and be pushing as hard as you can and hoping nobody else makes a mistake. That is something that’s pretty neat in the seat.”

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