Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Talladega #1 2026

Talladega #1 2026 Top Ten Starters (Set by the metric)

1. Tyler Reddick
2. Kyle Larson
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Bubba Wallace
5. Chase Briscoe
6. Brad Keselowski
7. William Byron
8. Chase Elliott
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Chris Buescher

Talladega Full Starting Lineup 

Talladega Pre-Race Notes

The starting lineup was set by the metric. There was no practice.

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 98): 60,6,22,17,12,21,45,4,34,1

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 143): 1,20,17,47,34,60,51,48,9,38

Talladega Race Notes

Denny Hamlin who started in 3rd led the first two laps. Thru the first 10 laps, nobody led more than 2 in a row.

Lap 10: 11,19,54,51,66,3,5,1,24,2 … 8,12,42,10,43,60,45,6,22,20 … 4,35,21,38,16,23,33,9,17,77 … 78,7,44,48,34,97,47,41,88,71

Lap 20: 11,19,54,42,51,8,3,66,12,1 … 10,16,78,21,33,24,2,22,5,17 … 60,7,6,48,43,20,9,88,23,38 … 41,77,4,97,35,45,71,34,47,44

Early in the race the primary team race strategies that played out were that JGR ran near the front, 23XI and Front Row were both hanging out in the back.

Lap 30: 11,19,54,42,51,8,3,10,16,21 … 66,12,24,33,1,22,17,7,48,20 … 43,5,88,78,97,23,60,2,6,34 … 77,4,9,41,47,38,71,35,45,44

Lap 41: 11,19,54,42,51,8,3,60,6,21 … 2,34,16,1,23,66,10,12,97,5 … 33,24,22,48,17,7,4,20,38,78 … 88,47,9,41,35,45,77,71,10,44

On lap 42, the opening ground of green flag pit stops started. Toyota’s near the front and then a few Chevy’s came in.

Notable: Denny Hamlin who was the leader prior to pitting was caught speeding on pit road.

Notable: Chase Briscoe got a safety violation during his green flag pit stop. He was in 2nd prior to pitting.

On lap 46, Hendrick and Trackhouse teams came in together.

Notable: Riley Herbst was caught speeding on pit road on lap 47.

On lap 47, a ton of Ford’s and a few others from other makes all came to pit to road.

Notable: On lap 48, Austin Cindric came to pit road but missed his pit box. The following lap he came back to pit road.

Notable: Following lap 48, Zane Smith had an uncontrolled tire during his pit stop, Chad Finchum was caught speeding, Daniel Dye was caught speeding.

Lap 50: 54,42,8,16,1,34,5,22,77,12 … 24,88,97,48,47,23,3,6,20,9 … 17,43,51,21,45,35,7,60,41,71 … 4,10,33,38,2,11,78,19 (first driver off the lead lap),66,44

Lap 60: 54,42,8,16,1,97,71,88,51,47 … 20,43,38,3,24,22,12,45,48,4 … 23,7,5,41,60,77,6,21,9,17 … 10,33,35,38,2,11,66,19,78,44

On lap 68, another round of green flag pit stops started for teams who choose to pit twice in Stage #1. It was Toyota’s and some Chevy’s who came in. The next lap more cars came in.

Lap 80: 20,24,97,48,43,60,23,17,2,6 … 12,45,9,34,4,21,3,1,8,47 … 51,88,35,38,2,71,77,7,41,33 … 5,54,16,19,42 (first driver off the lead lap),10,66,11,78,44

Notable: Riley Herbst was caught speeding on pit road on lap 81.

On lap 88, some front runners came to pit road. The drivers who came in were Bell, Byron, SVG, Jones and Bowman. Chase Elliott came in too but had a slow stop and left pit road by himself.

Lap 91: 60,17,22,6,12,23,45,21,34,4 … 43,20,97,48,3,1,8,47,51,88 … 71,77,24,7,41,9,33,5,54,42 … 16,10,38,19,2,11,35,78,66,44

Notable: On lap 92, Riley Herbst got his third penalty of the day for going below the yellow line.

On lap 95, Bubba Wallace came to pit road.

Lap 97: 60,6,17,22,12,21,4,45,34,1 … 3,47,41,97,8,43,7,20,77,24 … 48,71,88,51,9,33,5,54,23,42 … 10 (first driver off the lead lap),16,38,19,2,11,2,66,35,44

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 98): 60,6,22,17,12,21,45,4,34,1

Lap 104: 23,1,22,41,12,6,34,60,17,20 … 8,21,43,7,88,97,54,71,42,45 … 33,51,48,24,4,77,3,16,5,9 … 47,38,10,2,11,19,35,78,66,44

Lap 110: 1,22,12,23,6,60,41,17,7,20 … 34,71,21,43,48,54,88,24,5,3 … 42,97,9,51,45,33,8,77,16,47 … 4,38,2,19,11,10,78,66,35,44

Lap 114: 22,1,12,23,60,6,41,17,34,7 … 20,21,71,43,54,45,5,97,88,48 … 9,33,24,8,42,51,3,77,16,4 … 47,38,2,19,11,10,66,78,35,44

Big: On lap 115 while leading, Bubba Wallace wrecked right at the front of the field and a “Big One” ensued. Drivers involved were the … 2,3,5,6,7,8,11,12,19,21,22,23,24,33,41,42,43,44,45,51,54,66,71,77 and 88. This marked the end of the race for Larson, Logano, Custer, Blaney, Wallace and Byron. Berry called it a race during the next caution a few laps later.

Lap 121: 20,1,17,60,34,9,48,51,47,16 … 43,38,45,4,77,3,42,97,7,71 … 11,8,54,2,33,10,35,78,24,88 … 19,44,23,12,41,22,6,21,5,66

Big: On lap 124, Ty Gibbs wrecked. McDowell was also involved. It happened back around mid-pack.

Lap 129: 1,20,34,17,51,47,60,9,16,48 … 45,38,42,77,97,4,3,43,8,7 … 2,10,11,33,78,35,88,71,54,66 … 2,10,11,33,78,35,88,71,66,54

Notable: On lap 142, Denny Hamlin did a green flag pit stop right before pit road closed to end the Stage.

Lap 142: 20,1,47,17,34,60,48,51,45,9 … 38,97,8,42,3,77,16,43,4,7 … 2 (first driver off the lead lap),11,10,33,35,78,88,66,19,44 … 71,54,24,6,23,12,41,22,21,5

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 143): 1,20,17,47,34,60,51,48,9,38

Notable: During the Stage #2 caution, SVG was caught speeding on pit road. He finished around 12th in Stage #2.