The NASCAR Cup Series reaches Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 25, 2026 for the YellaWood 500. It is the eighth of 10 races in the Chase presented by Mobil 1. Chase Briscoe starts from the pole after a lap of 51.466 seconds. Kyle Larson arrives with a five-point lead. Below are our picks: one best bet, two mid-tier plays, and two long shots.
Last Updated: Sunday, October 25, 2026
2026 YellaWood 500 — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, AL |
| When | Sunday, October 25 – 2:00 PM ET |
| TV | NBC |
2026 YellaWood 500 Betting Preview
Talladega is a 2.66-mile tri-oval. The race runs 188 laps for 500.08 miles, with stages ending on Lap 98 and Lap 143 before a 45-lap dash. Pack racing demands drafting partners and patience, not raw speed. Briscoe leads the field to green, with Austin Hill second, rookie Connor Zilisch third and Chris Buescher fifth. Ryan Blaney qualified 27th and Tyler Reddick 33rd. The Chase carries no eliminations, so stage points count fully. Larson holds 2,370 points in the championship standings, five clear of Christopher Bell.
The board has shifted since it opened. Blaney and Joey Logano were co-favorites at +1100 on October 20 and have held that price. Briscoe is the biggest mover, in from +1600 to +1200, and he also won Saturday’s pole. Bell came in from +1600 to +1400. Austin Cindric drifted the other way, from +1400 to +1800, as did Reddick from +1600 to +2000. Our YellaWood 500 odds preview has the full opening board. Prices can still move on pre-race lineup news.
2026 YellaWood 500 — Top Odds to Win
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joey Logano | +1100 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1100 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1200 |
| Christopher Bell | +1400 |
| Chase Elliott | +1600 |
| Carson Hocevar | +1600 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1800 |
| Austin Cindric | +1800 |
| Bubba Wallace | +1800 |
| William Byron | +1800 |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, October 25, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NASCAR Odds – Props
2026 YellaWood 500 Best Bets
Chase Briscoe (+1200) is our pick to win. He is the defending champion of this race, having taken the 2025 YellaWood 500 for Joe Gibbs Racing. Briscoe won at Las Vegas on October 4 and at Charlotte on October 11, two wins in the last four Cup races.
Taking him over the chalk comes down to form plus freedom. Blaney and Logano are shorter at +1100 and each owns three Talladega wins. However, Blaney rolls off 27th and must work forward through traffic all day. Briscoe starts up front and sits 24 points back in a format with no eliminations, so he can chase stage points without risking a title.
The case against is the track. Starting spot means little across 188 laps of pack racing. April’s Talladega race produced 52 lead changes among 16 drivers before Carson Hocevar won by 0.114 seconds. Briscoe can do everything right and still get shuffled back with five to go. One wrong lane choice ends this ticket.
YellaWood 500 Predictions Mid-Tier Value Plays
Ross Chastain (+2800) sits in the genuine middle of a 40-car board and already owns a Talladega trophy. He won here in April 2022 on a last-lap pass, which is how these races often end. He qualified 15th, a useful spot. In contrast, the market has drifted away from him all week, out from +2200. Trackhouse Racing is also only a +1200 shot in the winning-team market, so Chastain may lack partners late.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (+700) in the winning-team market covers two threats on one ticket. Brad Keselowski has six Cup wins at Talladega, the most of any active driver, and only Dale Earnhardt’s 10 lead him all-time. Buescher was the quickest Ford in qualifying. Still, Team Penske at +400 and Joe Gibbs Racing at +450 sit ahead of RFK for good reason. Ford drivers often work together in a way that funnels the win to Penske.
Long Shot Picks for The 2026 YellaWood 500
Connor Zilisch (+4000) rolls off third in the Trackhouse No. 88 after a 51.518-second lap. Talladega is the one track type where a rookie competes on level terms, because lane discipline matters more than experience. What has to break right is survival. Zilisch finished 26th in his Cup debut here in April, and veterans are slow to push a first-year driver late. The plausible part is that 16 drivers led April’s race.
Michael McDowell (+5000) is the superspeedway specialist on this board. He won the 2021 Daytona 500 with the patient approach that plays at Talladega, and he starts 23rd. His Spire Motorsports teammate Hocevar won here in April, so the equipment can be there on the last lap. The counter is that McDowell has not won on a drafting track since, and he needs the car behind him to push.
The Last Word on the 2026 YellaWood 500
Talladega rewards position over pace, so watch how the field sorts itself in the 45-lap run after the Lap 143 break. Stage points pull the title contenders forward early, which often frees the midpack to save equipment for the finish. Briscoe is our pick because his form and starting spot give him more ways to win than the chalk. Meanwhile, one late caution could hand this to Chastain, Zilisch, or McDowell instead.
NASCAR YellaWood 500 FAQ: Sunday October 25, 2026
Who is the favorite to win the YellaWood 500?
Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are co-favorites at +1100 each, and the Team Penske teammates each have three Cup wins at Talladega. Chase Briscoe follows at +1200 after taking Saturday’s pole, with Christopher Bell at +1400 and Chase Elliott at +1600.
What time does the YellaWood 500 start?
The YellaWood 500 starts at 2:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at Talladega Superspeedway. It is the 34th race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and the eighth of 10 races in the Chase presented by Mobil 1.
What channel is the YellaWood 500 on?
The YellaWood 500 airs on NBC, with pre-race coverage starting at 1:30 PM ET ahead of the 2:00 PM ET green flag. Radio coverage comes from the Motor Racing Network and is simulcast nationally on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio channel 90.
How many laps is the YellaWood 500?
The YellaWood 500 is 188 laps and 500.08 miles around the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway tri-oval. Stage 1 ends on Lap 98 and Stage 2 ends on Lap 143, which leaves a 45-lap final stage to settle the race. It is race 34 of 36 on the schedule.
Who is on pole for the YellaWood 500?
Chase Briscoe won the pole with a lap of 51.466 seconds, edging Austin Hill by 0.032 seconds. Rookie Connor Zilisch qualified third, Shane van Gisbergen fourth and Chris Buescher fifth. Ryan Blaney starts 27th and Tyler Reddick 33rd. The top 10 positions were set in a second qualifying round.
Who won the YellaWood 500 last year?
Chase Briscoe won the 2025 YellaWood 500 driving the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing. Carson Hocevar won the most recent Cup race at Talladega, taking April’s Jack Link’s 500 by 0.114 seconds for his first Cup Series victory.