Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Team Lead Laps and Earn Top-10 Result at Talladega Superspeedway
Finish: 7th Start: 1st Points: 3rd
“For some reason, we didn’t have a bubble on our No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet this weekend, like we normally do. Nobody could get to my bumper, and I couldn’t get to theirs, and if I did try to get help, all I did was slow the mile per hour down and not really get a hook up or connection. I’m definitely puzzled, but we’re going to focus on being better. I’m really confident in everybody at RCR and ECR back in Welcome that after this weekend, we’ll put our heads together and not reinvent the wheel, but rethink our strategy, and I think that we can give and take. At the end of the day, I feel like if me and Austin (Hill) have what we need in the pack, we’re going to be tough to beat, and I just feel like we didn’t have it today for some reason.” -Jesse Love
Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Team Rebound for 13th-Place Finish at Talladega Superspeedway
Finish: 13th Start: 6th Points: 8th
“Man, it feels like everything that can go wrong for our No. 21 team is going wrong right now. Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet fired off loose on entry, but Chad (Haney, crew chief) and the guys got the balance tightened up so I could take pushes and stay closed up to the guy in front of me. It felt fine when we were leading the pack, but the runs were building and coming very fast today. During our green flag stop, I stalled the car leaving the box and that cost us a ton of track position. Unfortunately, the race went caution free from that point and we didn’t get a break. That’s our luck right now but I’m proud to be a part of this group and I believe we would have had a shot at the win otherwise.” -Austin Hill
Corey Day reigned supreme when it mattered most as he outdueled the competition on the final lap to score his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series career victory in the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 25.
The 20-year-old Day from Clovis, California, led the final lap of a 113-lap thriller in an event where he qualified in third place and spent the majority of the event battling towards the front amid the draft with his fellow competitors. Despite securing no stage points by not finishing in the top-10 mark through the event’s first two stages, Day positioned himself for victory by navigating his way into the runner-up spot with four laps remaining.
Then on the final lap, Day, who was in the middle of a three-wide battle for the lead that involved Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed, muscled ahead of both to lead through the first two turns. Day’s first O’Reilly victory was sealed as two separate carnages from the backstretch and through Turns 3 and 4 ignited. This drew a race-winning caution and allowed Day to cap off a strong start to his rookie O’Reilly campaign with a first-ever trip to Victory Lane in the O’Reilly division.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, April 24, Jesse Love claimed the pole position with a pole-winning lap at 182.313 mph in 52.525 seconds. Sam Mayer started alongside Love on the front row with a qualifying lap at 182.168 mph in 52.567 seconds.
Before the event, Ryan Ellis was the only competitor who dropped to the rear of the field. This was due to unapproved adjustments on his No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet entry.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Jesse Love signaled and received a push from Corey Day from the inside lane to jump ahead of Sam Mayer and the field entering the first two turns. As the field navigated through the early portions of the backstretch, the event’s first caution flew. Patrick Staropoli, racing towards the top-15 mark, was bumped by William Sawalich and turned head-on into the outside wall. Staropoli’s damaged entry then veered back across the track and through oncoming traffic, with David Starr sustaining damage after hitting Staropoli. At the same time, newcomer Tyler Ankrum ran into the rear of Starr.
The start of the next restart on the fourth lap featured Love receiving another strong push from the inside lane, this time by Mayer through the first two turns. As Love started to gap the field, he veered to the right to block a run by Day from the outside lane through the backstretch. With the field fanning out to three lanes entering Turns 3 and 4, Love led the next lap over a hard-charging Mayer as Mayer darted to the outside lane with lots of momentum.
Just past the fifth lap mark, the field had fanned out three lanes deep as Carson Kvapil stormed to the lead ahead of a three-wide action that involved teammate Sammy Smith, Mayer, and Love. Love then spent the sixth lap mark battling alongside Kvapil and in front of the field that had stacked up three lanes deep before he muscled ahead to lead the seventh lap. Despite having to race defensively while veering right and left to both gain and stall any momentum from his competition. Love continued to lead at the Lap 10 mark over Kvapil, Day, Mayer, and Sheldon Creed, respectively.
Through the Lap 15 mark, Mayer, who has led since Lap 12 and was holding strong while leading the inside lane, was also leading the event ahead of Sammy Smith, Love, Kvapil, and Rajah Caruth while Creed, Day, Austin Hill, Jeremy Clements, and Justin Allgaier were racing in the top 10, respectively. Kvapil, Love and Mayer each took turns swapping and leading at least a lap from Laps 16 through 24.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 25, Kvapil, who had led since Lap 23, edged teammate Sammy Smith by 0.005 seconds to record his first stage victory of the 2026 season. Creed, Caruth, Thompson, Blaine Perkins, Mayer, Harrison Burton, Love, and Clements were in the top 10, respectively. Austin Hill, Gray, Day and Allgaier were mired within the top-15 mark. By then, the event featured eight lead changes for three different leaders
Under the event’s first stage break period, the field led by Kvapil pitted for the first time while JJ Yeley, Lavar Scott, Joey Gase, Ryan Ellis, Dawson Cram, and Natalie Decker remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Kvapil exited pit road first. Love, Jones, Harrison Burton, Hill, Sammy Smith, Gray, Thompson, Day, and Crews followed in the top-10. Not long after, Yeley, Scott, Gase, Ellis, Cram, and Decker all pitted under caution, and it cycled Kvapil back to the overall lead of the event.
The second stage period started on Lap 31 as Kvapil and Harrison Burton occupied the front row in front of Love, Hill, Jones and Sammy Smith. At the start, Kvapil and Burton dueled for the top spot entering the first two turns until Hill pushed Burton ahead of Kvapil and to the lead from the outside lane. The rest of the field, led by the drafting duo of Kvapil and Smith, caught back up to Hill and Burton through the backstretch. As the field fanned out through the tri-oval, Kvapil managed to lead the next lap. With the field fanning out to three-wide formation over the next three laps, Love cycled back to the lead on Laps 33 and 34 until Hill assumed command for the next three laps.
At the Lap 40 mark, Justin Allgaier, who trailed his teammate and the leader, Sammy Smith, during the previous two laps, led his first lap of the event while mired in a three-wide battle with his teammates Smith and Kvapil. Kvapil would then lead the next nine laps as he received a strong run from the outside lane to motor ahead of Allgaier and the field by Lap 41.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 50, Allgaier made a move to teammate Kvapil’s left side entering Turns 3 and 4 to assume the lead and capture his fourth stage victory of the 2026 season. Ryan Sieg, Creed, Thompson, Retzlaff, Kvapil, Harrison Burton, Clements, Austin Green and Hill settled in the top 10, respectively. Jeb Burton, Caruth, Gray, Day, Love, Mayer and Sammy Smith were mired in 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 21st and 23rd, respectively. By then, the event had featured 18 lead changes with seven different leaders. Thirty-six of 38 starters were on the lead lap.
During the event’s second stage break period, nearly the entire field led by Allgiaer pitted while Yeley, Lavar Scott, Decker, Emerling and Cram remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Sawalich jumped 12 spots to exit pit road first ahead of Ryan Sieg, Creed, Gray, Jeb Burton and Thompson. Once Yeley, Scott, Decker, Emerling and Cram pitted, Sawalich cycled to the lead.
With 56 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Gray and Jeb Burton occupied the front row in front of Austin Hill, Parker Retzlaff, Crews and Mayer. At the start, Burton capitalized on a push by Hill from the outside lane to storm ahead through the first two turns. The rest of the field caught back up to Hill and Burton amid the draft. Gray, who was hit on the right side by teammate Crews entering Turn 3, drew alongside Burton from the inside lane. Burto, however, managed to lead the next lap by 0.003 seconds. As the field raced in three-wide formation, Burton, Gray and Austin Green each took turns leading at least a lap over the next five laps before Creed led with 50 laps remaining.
Then, with 44 laps remaining, a wave of green flag pit stops commenced as Love, Hill, Jeb Burton, Austin Green, Parker Retzlaff and Anthony Alfredo pitted their respective Chevrolet entries. As Rajah Caruth cycled to a brief lead, Toyota competitors Gray, Brandon Jones, Dean Thompson and Crews pitted. Sawalich received a penalty for speeding while entering pit road. During Sawalich’s speeding penalty, he locked up his front tires and barely hit the right front of Crews while threading his way through a tight opening in between Crews and Jones.
With 40 laps remaining, Caruth led 14 competitors down to pit road for service under green. Unfortunately, Caruth received a penalty for speeding on pit road. With a majority of the field having made a pit stop, six competitors led by Brennan Poole and including Garrett Smithley, Lavar Scott, Josh Bilicki and Mason Maggio have yet to pit. This was despite all of them cycling to the front and being more than 30 seconds ahead of sixth-place Creed. Once Poole, Smithley, Scott, Bilicki and Maggio pitted with 37 laps remaining, Creed and the rest of the field that had pitted earlier than the latter five zipped by all, with Creed cycling to the lead over Love, Alfredo, Mayer, Jeb Burton and Kvapil with 35 laps remaining.
A lap prior to Creed cycling back to the lead, teammates Kvapil and Allgaier received a penalty for violating NASCAR’s blend line rules. that involved moving up in front of the field through the backstretch following a pit service, which caused the field, including Love, to split and avoid contact. As a result, they both dropped out of the top-30 mark and trailed the lead by 20-plus seconds. Meanwhile, Love, who returned atop the leaderboard with 34 laps remaining, was leading over Clements, Sammy Smith, Perkins, Ryan Sieg and Jeb Burton with 30 laps remaining.
Through the next 14 laps and with the competition at the front becoming dicey, Sammy Smith and Love primarily led, with Love taking command with 29 laps remaining and driving defensively amid the draft. With 16 laps remaining, Mayer was battling Creed for the runner-up spot and trying to reel in Love. However, he got turned sideways off the front nose of Retzlaff through the first two turns. But he managed to straighten his entry below the apron and proceed without drawing a caution.
Then after the front-running field spent the next handful of laps racing in single-line formation, the field started to fan out with less than 10 laps remaining as Love led Creed, Ryan Sieg, Perkins, Thompson and Jeb Burton. Creed then executed a bold move to Love’s outside with six laps remaining through the first two turns. As a result, Love was pinned in the middle and dropped back with no drafting help, as Jeb Burton tried to draw alongside Creed for the lead. With Creed leading the next two laps, Corey Day came storming to the front as he battled and overtook Burton for the runner-up spot, while Mayer and Sammy Smith also reeled in.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Creed, who was stacked up in a tight three-wide battle for the lead with Day and teammate Mayer a lap prior, was barely ahead over Mayer and Day in three-wide formation through the frontstretch and through the first two turns. Then as Day muscled and moved in front of Creed while trying to fend off Mayer from the inside lane entering the first half of the backstretch, Mayer was sent for a spin by Sawalich towards the backstretch’s infield. Shortly after, Jeb Burton, who scraped the outside wall entering Turn 3 while trying to surge to the front, was involved in a vicious multi-car wreck that involved Ryan Sieg, Harrison Burton and Blaine Perkins.
The caution then flew as Day led the field and approached the frontstretch’s ti-oval. The event officially concluded under caution and Day was awarded the win. He cycled back to the finish line to claim his first checkered flag in the series.
With the victory, Day became the 184th competitor overall to win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, the third first-time winner of the 2026 season and the eighth to record a first O’Reilly career victory at Talladega.
Day also recorded the 28th O’Reilly career victory for Hendrick Motorsports, the organization’s first in the series at Talladega, the fifth for the No. 17 HendrickCars Chevrolet entry and the third for crew chief Adam Wall. The victory was a notable one as Jason Kelce, a former NFL center and Super Bowl champion, served as Day’s crew member for the event.
Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I sure as hell didn’t think [my first win] would be at a superspeedway,” Day said in Victory Lane on the CW Network. “It’s awesome. The Hendrick Legacy is so strong at superspeedways. My No. 17 guys just build me a rocket ship. Hats off to [crew chief] Adam [Wall]…everyone back at the shop that builds these things every week for me. I feel like we’ve been close. [I] Had a good day at Rockingham and had a couple of other good days, and just didn’t finish it off. It’s super cool.”
“I thought when I got shucked to the middle there with five to go or whatever it was, that was it and I was gonna drop,” Day added. He continued, saying, “I had help. I don’t know who it was, but thank you, whoever it was. Just so cool. Thank you, Mr. Hendrick, so much for believing in a sprint car kid from California that never ran a pavement car in his life before two years ago. It’s so much fun.”
While Day celebrated a first victory on the track, Sheldon Creed was also victorious. He notched his second $100,000 bonus from the Dash 4 Cash program by being the highest-finishing contender during Saturday’s Talladega event over Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier and Taylor Gray.
Photo by Chad Wells for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“A really good day,” Creed said. “Obviously, [I] was leading there at the end and maybe just got too far out a couple of times. I thought I missed a good block down the backstretch to [Jeb Burton] to maybe propel me next to [Day]. Obviously, you’re not expecting them all to crash and then, I’m looking at my mirror as they are. It didn’t look like I was gonna build a run to him, but just thankful for O’Reilly’s for doing this Dash 4 Cash. To win two of them back-to-back is awesome for our team. Shoutout to everyone back at the shop for building really good race cars. Just try to keep the ball rolling here.”
Creed will square off against Day, Brent Crews and Sammy Smith for the fourth and final Dash 4 Cash bonus of the 2026 season next Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway.
Brent Crews notched a career-best runner-up result behind Day and over Creed at Talladega. Sammy Smith and Jeremy Clements finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Dean Thompson, Jesse Love, Brandon Jones, Parker Retzlaff and Austin Green completed the top 10 in the final running order, respectively.
There were 38 lead changes for 16 different leaders. The event featured four cautions for 15 laps. In addition, 24 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the 11th event of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Justin Allgaier, who finished 23rd at Talladega following his blend line violation, continues to lead the standings by 105 points over Sheldon Creed, 141 points over Jesse Love, 145 points over Corey Day, and 191 points over Brandon Jones.
Results:
Corey Day, one lap led
Brent Crews
Sheldon Creed led seven laps
Sammy Smith led six laps
Jeremy Clements
Dean Thompson
Jesse Love, 37 laps led
Brandon Jones
Parker Retzlaff
Austin Green led for five laps
JJ Yeley led for two laps
Blaine Perkins
Austin Hill led for three laps
Josh Bilicki
Brennan Poole led for three laps
Patrick Emerling
Mason Maggio
Kyle Sieg
Joey Gase
Garrett Smithley
Ryan Sieg
Carson Kvapil, 22 laps led, Stage 1 winner
Justin Allgaier, four laps led, Stage 2 winner
Lavar Scott, one lap led
Sam Mayer – OUT, Accident, eight laps led
Jeb Burton- OUT, Accident, two laps led
Harrison Burton – OUT, Accident, one lap led
William Sawalich, one lap down
Taylor Gray, one lap down, six laps led
Rajah Caruth, one lap down, five laps led
Anthony Alfredo, one lap down
Tyler Ankrum, one lap down
Natalie Decker, one lap down
Dawson Cram, one lap down
Josh Williams, one lap down
Ryan Ellis, two laps down
Patrick Staropoli, eight laps down
David Starr – OUT, Overheating
Next on the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule is the Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, and will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN, and SiriusXM.
CREWS, THOMPSON SET NEW CAREER-BESTS AT TALLADEGA Three top-10s in a strong showing for Team Toyota
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 25, 2026) – Brent Crews and Dean Thompson both set new career-bests at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series race on Saturday evening.
Crews, who finished a career-best second, has three consecutive top-five finishes, while Thompson (sixth) delivered a career-best points total as the California-native earned 44 points today due to strong stage finishes. Brandon Jones (eighth) added a third Toyota GR Supra inside the top-10 as the highest-ranking Toyota driver in points scored his third top-10 in the last four races.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) Talladega Superspeedway Race 11 of 33 – 300.58 miles, 113 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Corey Day*
2nd, BRENT CREWS
3rd, Sheldon Creed*
4th, Sammy Smith*
5th, Jeremy Clements*
6th, DEAN THOMPSON
8th, BRANDON JONES
27th, HARRISON BURTON
28th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
29th, TAYLOR GRAY
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
BRENT CREWS, No. 19 Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
What did you learn today, and how excited are you to go to Daytona?
“I don’t know. It was a lot of fun, and not driving with my eyes closed was easy, but trying to pick a lane – it’s impossible out there, but it is a lot of fun. The whole 19 team – the 19 Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra was fast it could be. I learned a lot there at the end. We had damage and was able to go up there and build runs and to wind up second was super cool. Happy to be here, thanking the Good Lord for keeping us safe today. It was pretty hectic out there, but I had a lot of fun.”
The Toyotas have had some struggles here at Talladega. Where did you feel like your car had some strengths today?
“Honestly, everywhere. It had great power everywhere. I felt like I could suck up when I wanted to. I think my only critique was when I had a little damage – I could hear the air. I could feel it, I could see it, but other than that, it was really good.”
DEAN THOMPSON, No. 26 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
Stellar day at Talladega. Top-10 in both stages, and another top-10 finish. How was your race?
“Yeah, just really proud of my guys. I feel like I’m just the lucky guy holding the steering wheel. This is a testament to the work that Kris Bowen (crew chief) and this 26 team have put into this race car, and I’m just blessed to be driving this Thompson Pipe Group, One TPG Toyota GR Supra. It was just wicked fast. From two years ago, when I first raced with them, it felt like a top-15 was a big day for us, and now we are bummed out that we didn’t get a win. I think it’s a huge testament to the work these guys have put into this race car.”
BRANDON JONES, No. 20 Menards/Charbroil Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 8th
Clean day and you finished inside the top-10. Can you talk about your finish?
“Top-10 is kind of borderline a win at these tracks. It is so hard to get to the end of them. I have seen this race, this first race specifically, do this a few times, where in that last stage – the energy picks back up, and you can see it go green at the end like it did. A couple of guys at the end had a couple of wrecks – but nothing to take a lot of cars out with it. Just tried to be smooth all day with it – it is so hard at this race track. It stalls all three lanes out, especially when you have certain cars moving around and blocking each lane, so I was like, I don’t think there is any way I can get up there for stage points. I was trying to use my knowledge of this track and try to use some discipline – if I can’t get my points, then let’s just bail and go to the back. I’ve watched some really good cars do that. I’ve watched Denny Hamlin and some smart racers in the Cup Series make that decision, and it is kind of hard. You don’t want to give up track position, but you know at the right time, if you get in the right lane, you can surge and get back up to the front too. Just tried to be smart all day with our Menards, Charbroil GR Supra. I just wanted to make it to the end, and sometimes you can get a bunch of wrecks at the end, and it nets out, but it is still nice to get a top-10 and finish, and come out of here with some momentum, especially after Kansas was so strong. That penalty hurt so bad, but it was nice to still know we had winning speed and get a top-10 here, so I’m excited to take it to Texas next week.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.
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:
Pos
No.
Name
Sponsor
Laps
Diff
1
71
Andy Jankowiak
Hook’d Solutions Chevrolet
76
—
2
30
Garrett Mitchell*
BaldEagle.com Ford
76
0.111
3
25
Gus Dean
CAB Installers Toyota
76
0.114
4
55
Isabella Robusto
Mobil 1 Toyota
76
0.328
5
18
Gio Ruggiero
First Auto Group Toyota
76
0.381
6
77
Taylor Reimer*
FRE Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet
76
0.44
7
8
Sean Corr
Nesco/The Trans Group Chevrolet
76
0.568
8
91
Ryan Vargas
First Bank of Alabama Ford
76
0.605
9
28
Jack Wood
Road Ranger Chevrolet
76
0.612
10
24
Daniel Dye
Champion Container Corporation Ford
76
0.634
11
69
Will Kimmel
Aviation Technology Toyota
76
0.642
12
15
Jake Finch
Phoenix Toyota
76
0.649
13
01
Cody Dennison
LOLCOW.co Ford
76
0.752
14
12
Takuma Koga
Yamada/Ikedo/Macnica Toyota
76
0.888
15
66
Derek White
OCR Gaz Bar Ford
76
1.218
16
10
Ed Pompa
HYTORC of New York/Double H Ranch Chevrolet
76
1.508
17
34
Logan Misuraca*
Orlando Health/City Garage Motorsports Ford
76
1.581
18
20
Jake Bollman*
Nitro Motorsports Toyota
75
1 Lap
19
06
Con Nicolopoulos
Jen’s Brick House Chevrolet
75
1 Lap
20
86
Jeff Maconi*
Clubb Racing Inc. Ford
75
1 Lap
21
41
Robbie Kennealy
Jan’s Towing Ford
74
2 Laps
22
48
Brad Smith
Gary’s Speed Shop Ford
74
2 Laps
23
19
Matt Kemp
Maples Motorsports Chevrolet
72
4 Laps
24
26
Ron Vandermeir Jr.*
RJ Motors Toyota
70
6 Laps
25
99
Michael Maples
Maples Motorsports Chevrolet
70
6 Laps
26
70
Thomas Annunziata
JBL Toyota
69
7 Laps
27
11
Bryce Haugeberg
North Dakota State University/Brenco Toyota
69
7 Laps
28
1
Andrew Patterson*
PRS Pipe Restoration Services Chevrolet
69
7 Laps
29
0
George Siciliano*
Heat Wave Visuals Ford
69
7 Laps
30
36
Ryan Huff
Commonwealth Equipment Ford
69
7 Laps
31
89
Bobby Earnhardt
Circle S Ranch/Ranchers Choice Net Wrap Chevrolet
69
7 Laps
32
27
Tim Richmond
Military Green Cards Toyota
69
7 Laps
33
97
Jason Kitzmiller
A.L.L. Construction/Carter Cat Chevrolet
69
7 Laps
34
03
Alex Clubb
Clubb Racing Inc Ford
67
9 Laps
35
79
Steve Lewis Jr.
Pintail Navigation/Patriot Site Services Chevrolet
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 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:
Tyler Reddick
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Bubba Wallace
Chase Briscoe
Brad Keselowski
William Byron
Chase Elliott
Ty Gibbs
Chris Buescher
Ryan Preece
Carson Hocevar
Austin Cindric
Christopher Bell
Ryan Blaney
Daniel Suarez
Riley Herbst
Austin Dillon
Todd Gilliland
Alex Bowman
Erik Jones
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
John Hunter Nemechek
Ross Chastain
Joey Logano
Josh Berry
Cole Custer
AJ Allmendinger
Noah Gragson
Zane Smith
Michael McDowell
Connor Zilisch
Shane van Gisbergen
Kyle Busch
Ty Dillon
Cody Ware
Jesse Love
Chad Finchum
Joey Gase
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.
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.
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; 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.
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:
Install the cover on the seat
Pour a small amount of water on the covered area
Wait several minutes
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.
