
The NASCAR Cup Series is headed to the iconic Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.
The latest race in the Cup Series is the Jack Link’s 500, which will be the first race at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway this year. Entering the race, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin make up the winners of the past four races in the NASCAR Cup Series, and those wins came a few weeks after Christopher Bell won three straight races, the most victories by an individual driver this year.
Talladega is scheduled to host two Cup Series races this year, first the Jack Link’s 500 this weekend, then the YellaWood 500 during the playoffs in October. For now, drivers will have to navigate the 500-mile race to come out on top.
Here’s a look at how drivers will line up ahead on Sunday at Talladega Speedway.
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Who won the Jack Link’s 500 pole for 2025?
For the first time in his career, Zane Smith will start in the pole position of a NASCAR Cup Series race. Smith clocked in at 52.565 in the second round of qualifying, beating out Kyle Busch’s 52.697 seconds for the top spot.
The 25-year-old Smith is still looking for his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series, as he has just one top-10 finish since first competing in 2022.
Talladega starting lineup 2025
Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
1. | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
2. | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
3. | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
4. | Ryan Preece | 60 | RFK Racing |
5. | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
6. | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK Racing |
7. | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske |
8. | Josh Berry | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
9. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
10. | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
11. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
12. | Cole Custer | 41 | Haas Factory Team |
13. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
14. | Michael McDowell | 71 | Spire Motorsports |
15. | Todd Gilliland | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
16. | Willim Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
17. | Chase Briscoe | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
18. | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
19. | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
20. | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
21. | Ty Dillon | 10 | Kaulig Racing |
22. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing |
23. | Ricky Herbst | 35 | 23XI Racing |
24. | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing |
25. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
26. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
27. | Noah Gragson | 4 | Front Row Motorsports |
28. | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
29. | John Hunter Nemchek | 42 | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB |
30. | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
31. | Anthony Alfredo | 62 | Beard Motorsports |
32. | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racking |
33. | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
34. | Erik Jones | 43 | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB |
35. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | HYAK Motorsports |
36. | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | Trackhouse Racing |
37. | Justin Haley | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
38. | BJ McLeod | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports |
39. | JJ Yeley | 44 | NY Racing Team |
