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LINCOLN, Ala. – NASCAR’s high-stakes Jack Links 500 race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, where 41 drivers will compete on the league’s biggest track in front of an estimated 100,000 racing fans.
The legendary track attracts visitors from “all 50 states and several countries,” according to track officials.
“It’s like a vacation for them. There are people who just see each other twice a year here, and they end up here at Talladega Superspeedway,” said Patrick Barfield, senior director of venue experience and guest services at Talladega Superspeedway. “They all have their little parties and groups, and it’s a great venue.”
Josh Harris, regional president of Talladega Superspeedway, attributes the track’s charm to its unpredictable racing at extreme speeds exceeding 200 mph. The track, 2.66 miles long, is the longest in the NASCAR Cup Series, and drivers must complete 188 laps to complete the 500-mile race.
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Track officials expect about 100,000 fans to attend the Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. (RENARD News)
“Everything is just a little bit bigger here at Talladega, and that’s the way we like it,” Harris said.
The Jack Links 500 is the tenth race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, and drivers are already fighting for their spot in the playoff standings.
“The drivers position themselves. They want to be in the top 16 at Daytona in August and be able to get into the race,” Harris said.
Talladega is always a challenge for drivers, according to Harris, both physically and mentally. As the NASCAR Cup Series continues into the spring and summer, he said the interior of a race car can exceed 100 degrees on an 85-degree day.
Many supporters, however, are taking advantage of the good weather. Thousands of fans began camping outside the track and on the field over the past week.
Riley Eubanks came from Indianapolis, Indiana with his cousin and friend. The three of them spend their first race at Talladega together in a small tent on the inside of the first turn, living off “lots of food and water” and a constant game of poker.
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Some racing fans began camping in the infield at Talladega Superspeedway in the week leading up to the Jack Links 500. (RENARD News)
“We spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on meat and water,” Eubanks said. “We are able to provide food for others if they want, but we have plenty to eat here for a few days.”
Many fans said they were excited to see the track’s famous 33-degree bank in its four turns, the steepest in stock car racing. The turns are designed to allow drivers to maintain speeds of 200 miles per hour without losing traction.
Talladaga Superspeedway is home to the steepest banking in stock car racing with a 33-degree banking in its four turns. (RENARD News)
“The coolest thing is coming here and seeing how high this wall actually is. Seeing it for the first time. Crash after crash over the years. After years of observing, I got to see it,” said Caleb Eubanks.
Drivers will begin qualifying on Saturday morning to secure their starting position for Sunday’s race.
