NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega live updates: Caution out early due to Michael McDowell spin on lap 3

The NASCAR Cup Series transitions from the smallest track on the calendar to its most massive as it heads to the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Following another lackluster Martinsville Spring race, expect the typical fireworks from tightly bunched racing at 180 mph.

Here’s everything to know ahead of the GEICO 500:

GEICO 500 starting grid

1. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2. Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

3. Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

4. Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

5. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

6. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

7. Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

8. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

9. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

10. Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

11. Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

12. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

13. Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

14. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

15. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

16. Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

17. Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

18. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

19. A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

20. Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

21. Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

22. Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

23. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

24. Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

25. Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

26. Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

27. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

28. Todd Gilliland (36), Front Row Motorsports Ford

29. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

30. Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

31. Austin Hilll (62), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet

32. Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

34. Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

35. Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

36. Riley Herbst (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

37. BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet

38. J.J. Yeley (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford

GEICO 500 TV/streaming schedule

All times Eastern

Saturday, April 2210:30 a.m. - Noon: Qualifying (FS1, FoxNow, MRN, SiriusXM)

Sunday, April 232 - 3 p.m.: Pre-race show (Fox, FoxNow, MRN, SiriusXM)3 - 6:30 p.m.: GEICO 500 (Fox, FoxNow, MRN, SiriusXM)

GEICO 500 details

Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile tri-oval)Banking:• Turns 1-2: 33 degrees• Turns 3-4: 32 degrees• Tri-oval: 16.5 degrees• Backstretch: 3 degreesLength: 188 laps for 500.08 milesDefending champion: Ross Chastain

Top drivers and best bets for the GEICO 500

The last six races at Talladega have produced six different winners ever since Ryan Blaney went back-to-back in the Fall 2019 race and Spring 2020. That parity along with the unpredictability of superspeedway racing is represented in BetMGM’s odds to win as no driver opened at better than 10-to-1.

Best odds to win• Joey Logano +1000• Ryan Blaney +1200• Chase Elliott +1400• Denny Hamlin +1400• Brad Keselowski +1400• William Byron +1600• Ross Chastain +1600

Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg suggests you can find good mid-tier value in Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell (+1800) and Hendrick Motorsports' Alex Bowman (+2200), who has won three Daytona 500 poles. Bromberg warns against betting on Martin Truex Jr. (+2800), who has not won in 72 Cup Series superspeedway starts.

Austin Dillon docked 60 points

NASCAR penalized Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon 60 points for car setup infractions after he finished 12th at Martinsville last weekend. NASCAR said it found an illegal underwing assembly in post-race inspection. Additionally, Dillon will lose five playoff points if he qualifies for the postseason. The governing body also suspended Dillon's crew chief Keith Rodden $75,000 and suspended him for two races.

GEICO 500 entries list

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBrad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordRiley Herbst (15), Rick Ware Racing FordA.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordTodd Gilliland (36), Front Row Motorsports FordZane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordNoah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJJ Yeley (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaAustin Hilll (62), Beard Motorsports ChevroletTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletBJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports ChevroletDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Weather for the GEICO 500

Warm temperatures for the ARCA Menards and NASCAR Xfinity support series practices and qualifying Friday will give way to cooler, overcast conditions Saturday and Sunday. The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 60s with a slight chance of rain Saturday and a minuscule chance Sunday. With those cooler conditions, grip and tire degradation will be better, which is always beneficial with high-speed, tight pack racing.