As if Talladega Superspeedway isn’t already enough of a stress-filled game of racing roulette, 40 cars will head to Alabama this weekend to battle it out in the YellaWood 500.
Denny Hamlin, who locked his place in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 with a stirring 60th career win last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is the lone Playoff contender not ingesting antacids heading into Sunday’s race.
Next. Playoffs. NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Grid. dark
The other seven have to weigh out avoiding ‘The Big One’ while also trying to capture a Championship 4 berth-sealing win. It’s going to be one stressful afternoon, as the other 33 drivers in the field, Hamlin included, will know in their heart that they can truly win the race as the draft at the 2.66-mile superspeedway serves as the ultimate equalizer.
Notable drivers in the field for this race include Casey Mears, who continues his quest for 500 career NASCAR Cup Series starts. Mears, a native of Bakersfield, California, will drive the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse with primary sponsorship from SI Yachts in his 492nd career start.
Austin Hill, who was bounced from the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff field at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, will make his fifth NASCAR Cup Series start of the season. The native of Winston, GA, is among the best superspeedway racers in NASCAR Xfinity Series history.
Hill has amassed nine victories in superspeedway events in the Xfinity Series, including a win in the race at Talladega earlier this year.
Anthony Alfredo, who has always had a knack for being in the mix at superspeedways, returns to the NASCAR Cup Series for his second start of the season behind the wheel of the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet.
BJ McLeod will be the fourth notable entrant in the field, as he will pilot his own No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet.
Here is the complete entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Race 34 of 36 of the 2025 season.
|
Car |
Driver |
Team |
Sponsor |
Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Ross Chastain |
Trackhouse Racing |
Busch Light Camo |
Chevrolet |
|
2 |
Austin Cindric |
Team Penske |
Discount Tire |
Ford |
|
3 |
Austin Dillon |
Richard Childress Racing |
TBA |
Chevrolet |
|
4* |
Noah Gragson |
Front Row Motorsports |
Rush Truck Centers |
Ford |
|
5 |
Kyle Larson (P) |
Hendrick Motorsports |
HendrickCars.com |
Chevrolet |
|
6 |
Brad Keselowski |
RFK Racing |
BuildSubmarines.com |
Ford |
|
7 |
Justin Haley |
Spire Motorsports |
Gainbridge Assists |
Chevrolet |
|
8 |
Kyle Busch |
Richard Childress Racing |
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen |
Chevrolet |
|
9 |
Chase Elliott (P) |
Hendrick Motorsports |
NAPA Auto Parts |
Chevrolet |
|
10 |
Ty Dillon |
Kaulig Racing |
Grizzly Nicotine Pouches |
Chevrolet |
|
11 |
Denny Hamlin (P) |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
National Debt Relief |
Toyota |
|
12 |
Ryan Blaney (P) |
Team Penske |
TBA |
Ford |
|
16 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Kaulig Racing |
Black’s Tire |
Chevrolet |
|
17 |
Chris Buescher |
RFK Racing |
Kroger / Thomas’ High Protein Bagels |
Ford |
|
19 |
Chase Briscoe (P) |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
Bass Pro Shops |
Toyota |
|
20 |
Christopher Bell (P) |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
DEWALT |
Toyota |
|
21 |
Josh Berry |
Wood Brothers Racing |
eero |
Ford |
|
22 |
Joey Logano (P) |
Team Penske |
Shell Pennzoil |
Ford |
|
23* |
Bubba Wallace |
23XI Racing |
Columbia |
Toyota |
|
24 |
William Byron (P) |
Hendrick Motorsports |
Raptor |
Chevrolet |
|
33* |
Austin Hill (i) |
Richard Childress Racing |
United Rentals |
Chevrolet |
|
34* |
Todd Gilliland |
Front Row Motorsports |
TBA |
Ford |
|
35* |
Riley Herbst # |
23XI Racing |
TBA |
Toyota |
|
38* |
Zane Smith |
Front Row Motorsports |
Benebone |
Ford |
|
41 |
Cole Custer |
Haas Factory Team |
Sysco RaceTrac |
Ford |
|
42 |
John Hunter Nemechek |
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB |
Pye Barker Fire & Safety |
Toyota |
|
43 |
Erik Jones |
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB |
Dollar Tree |
Toyota |
|
45* |
Tyler Reddick |
23XI Racing |
The Beast |
Toyota |
|
47 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
HYAK Motorsports |
JackLinks Non-Vegan |
Chevrolet |
|
48 |
Alex Bowman |
Hendrick Motorsports |
Ally |
Chevrolet |
|
51 |
Cody Ware |
Rick Ware Racing |
Arby’s Steak Nuggets |
Ford |
|
54 |
Ty Gibbs |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
Monster Energy |
Toyota |
|
60 |
Ryan Preece |
RFK Racing |
Trimble |
Ford |
|
62* |
Anthony Alfredo (i) |
Beard Motorsports |
LIL’ DUDE Wipes ‘Bubble Bum’ |
Chevrolet |
|
66* |
Casey Mears |
Garage 66 |
SI Yachts |
Ford |
|
71 |
Michael McDowell |
Spire Motorsports |
Carolina Handling |
Chevrolet |
|
77 |
Carson Hocevar |
Spire Motorsports |
Modo Casino |
Chevrolet |
|
78* |
BJ McLeod (i) |
Live Fast Motorsports |
TBA |
Chevrolet |
|
88 |
Shane van Gisbergen # |
Trackhouse Racing |
WeatherTech |
Chevrolet |
|
99 |
Daniel Suarez |
Trackhouse Racing |
Freeway Insurance |
Chevrolet |
(P) indicates NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Driver
* indicates “Open” entry
# indicates Rookie of the Year contender
(i) indicates a driver ineligible to score points
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