With six different winners in the first nine races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, this weekend’s GEICO 500 (Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) offers a plethora of opportunity for a seventh different winner to pull into Victory Lane and secure their spot in the Playoffs.
Talladega Superspeedway has seen seven different winners in the last seven races; including this Sunday’s defending winner, Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, who is still looking for his first win of 2024. The streak began with Denny Hamlin’s win in October 2020, followed by Brad Keselowski (April 2021), Bubba Wallace (Oct. 2021), Ross Chastain (April 2022), Chase Elliott (Oct. 2022), Kyle Busch (April 2023), Ryan Blaney (Oct. 2023).
Thus far, six drives have earned a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by virtue of the wins this season – William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell and Daniel Suarez.
Speedy History: Talladega Superspeedway
Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway was held on September 14, 1969, and the event was won by Richard Brickhouse, from Rocky Point, North Carolina, driving a Dodge for car owner Ray Nichels. The average speed of the first race at the 2.66-mile track was 153.778 mph.
The name of the facility changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989, and the surface underwent its fourth repaving on September 19, 2006. In total, there have been 109 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway; one series event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970.
NASCAR Hall of Famers hold the qualifying and race records at Talladega Superspeedway. Bill Elliott holds the qualifying record, which he set on April 30, 1987 with a lap at 212.809 mph (44.998 secs.) and Mark Martin holds the race record with his win on May 10, 1997 at an average speed of 188.354 mph (2 hours, 39 mins., 18 secs.).
No matter where you start you got a chance at ‘Dega
One of the best parts about drafting tracks is a driver can move to the front from any starting spot, and this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway should be another showcase of the competitive intensity that is the Cup Series.
Eight different times the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega has been won from starting spot outside the top-20. The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega is 36th, by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in the 2000 spring race. The deepest in the field that an active NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at Talladega is 34th, by Denny Hamlin in the 2014 spring race.
Last season’s April Talladega race was won by Kyle Busch, after starting from the 17th position.
Starting position still matters at ‘Dega
A total of 47 different drivers have won at least one pole at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; 24 of the pole winners have won more than one.
Six of the 47 Talladega NASCAR Cup Series pole winners are active this weekend.
| Active Pole Winners (6) | Poles | Seasons |
| Christopher Bell | 2 | 2022 sweep |
| Chase Elliott | 2 | 2019, 2016 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1 | 2023 |
| Austin Dillon | 1 | 2019 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2016 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 |
A total of 15 of the 109 NASCAR Cup Series races have been won from the pole or first starting position (13.76%).
But the outside front row (second-place) starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega (18.3%).
Busch Light Pole Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Drafting Masters: Drivers to watch at Talladega
The 109 NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway have also produced a total of 51 different race winners; 27 of the 51 have won multiple times at the 2.66-mile track.
This weekend nine of the 51 NASCAR Cup Series Talladega race winners are entered into the event.
| Active Race Winners (9) | Wins | Seasons |
| Brad Keselowski | 6 | 2021, 2017, 2016. 2014, 2012, 2009 |
| Ryan Blaney | 3 | 2023, 2020, 2019 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2018, 2016, 2015 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2023, 2008 |
| Chase Elliott | 2 | 2022, 2019 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 | 2020, 2014 |
| Ross Chastain | 1 | 2022 |
| Bubba Wallace | 1 | 2021 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 |
NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with 10 victories (1983, 1984, 1990 sweep, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999 sweep, 2000). RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Talladega Superspeedway with six victories (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021).
The two most recent winners at Talladega are Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (April, 2023) and Team Penske’s Chase Elliott (Oct., 2023); both drivers are looking for their first win of the 2024 season.
‘Dega doesn’t disappoint
Known as one of the most competitive tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway is the perfect stage for the wild side-by-side action NASCAR fans love and this weekend’s GEICO 500 (Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is expected to produce just that.
Talladega Superspeedway holds the all-time record in Green Flag Passes for the Lead in a single NASCAR Cup Series event with 348 Green Flag Passes for the Lead set on October 1, 2023.
Talladega Superspeedway also holds the all-time record in Total Green Flag Passes in a single NASCAR Cup Series event with 23,765 total green flag passes throughout the field set on October 20, 2013.
Last season, the Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Cup Series race in April produced 21 different leaders and 57 different lead changes. The Playoff race later that season at Talladega produced 24 different leaders and 70 lead changes.
Kings of ‘Dega
The art of ‘Drafting’ on tracks like Talladega Superspeedway is a skill not every driver can master, but for the ones that learn to manipulate the air to their benefit at nearly 200 mph have found the spoils of Victory Lane in some of the NASCAR Cup Series’ biggest races.
No driver has been more successful in points-paying races at Talladega Superspeedway than NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt with 10 wins (1983, 1984, 1990 sweep, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999 sweep, 2000).
In total, nine active drivers have won at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski with six victories (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in Talladega wins.
The next active drivers with the most wins at Talladega, are a pair of Team Penske teammates Joey Logano (2015, 2016, 2018), and Ryan Blaney (2019, 2020, 2023) with three victories. Both drivers are looking for their first wins of the 2024 season.
First-Time Winners happen at Talladega Superspeedway
23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace scored his and the organization’s first NASCAR Cup Series career win in the October Talladega Superspeedway race of 2021. In the process, Wallace became the 12th different driver to get his first career win at the behemoth 2.66-mile superspeedway; joining active drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2017) and Brad Keselowski (2009).
First-Time NASCAR Cup Series Winners at Talladega Superspeedway
| First-Time Race Winners (12) | Date |
| Bubba Wallace | Monday, October 4, 2021 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | Sunday, May 7, 2017 |
| Brad Keselowski | Sunday, April 26, 2009 |
| Brian Vickers | Sunday, October 8, 2006 |
| Ken Schrader | Sunday, July 31, 1988 |
| Phil Parsons | Sunday, May 1, 1988 |
| Davey Allison | Sunday, May 3, 1987 |
| Bobby Hillin Jr | Sunday, July 27, 1986 |
| Ron Bouchard | Sunday, August 2, 1981 |
| Lennie Pond | Sunday, August 6, 1978 |
| Dick Brooks | Sunday, August 12, 1973 |
| Richard Brickhouse | Sunday, September 14, 1969 |
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