NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega: Live updates, TV schedule, best ...

23 Apr 2023

Yahoo Sports

NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Live updates TV schedule best

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.

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

Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland (36), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Austin Hilll (62), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Riley Herbst (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
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.