Hurricane Hocevar wins his First NASCAR Cup Series race At TallaDega!
Talladega, Alabama – April 26, 2026 – Anthony Holbrook
NASCAR Cup Series travels to Talladega, Alabama for the Jack Links 500 hosted by Talladega Superspeedway. This event will be the 10th points scheduled race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Season and scheduled for 188 laps upon the 2.6-mile asphalt track.
Incumbent weather forces Nascar to cancel qualifying and reserve line up in accordance with respectful points position. Tyler Reddick and Kyle Bush cover the front row as a hurricane brew in the background.
Jack Links 500 – Stage 1 Recap:
NASCAR Cup Series drivers have unloaded in Talladega as Tyler Reddick escorts the field to green.
Competitors vie for position as laps check off in the early segment of Stage 1. Toyota presence at the front will be relevant with Denny Hamlin timely taking charge in Stage 1.
Negative Caution-Flags equals opportunity for Race-Teams to Pit under Green Flag situations. Denny Hamlin will first escort the Toyota stables to Pit Lane on Lap 41 followed by Chevy and Ford teams on Lap 45 and 47, respectfully.
Toyota utilizes clean air in conjunction with precise bump drafting to the front.
After final pit stops finalized, Team Owner Brad Keselowiski and a combat of Blue Ovals line up parallel to race leader Ryan Preece.
Ryan Preece stays true to the lower lane protecting any advancement of any challenging contenders.
Ryan Preece claims his first Stage win of the 2026 season at Dega!
Jack Links 500 – Stage 1 Results:
1. Ryan Preece
2. Brad Keselowski
3. Joey Logano
4. Chris Buescher
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Josh Berry
7. Tyler Reddick
8. Noah Gragson
9. Todd Gilliland
10. Ross Chastain
Jack Links 500 – Stage 2 Recap:
With 45 scheduled laps in Stage 2, Race Team rely on liquid adrenaline for motivation with unfavorable consequences.
Bubba Wallace will be an example of this motive as he trades paint and positions onward to the front.
A miscalculated bump-draft sends Bubba Wallace spinning out of control resulting into the dreaded “Big One”.
After smoke has cleared 20+ contenders was involved under this pinball incident 28 Laps from Stage 2 completion.
Ross Chastain aggressive motives slingshots under race leader Christopher Bell with Checker stripe in vision.
Ross Chastain checks off his first 2026 Stage triumph with Talladega Stage 2 win!
Jack Links 500 – Stage 2 Results:
1. Ross Chastain
2. Christopher Bell
3. Chris Buescher
4. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
5. Todd Gilliland
6. Ryan Preece
7. Cody Ware
8. Alex Bowman
9. Chase Elliott
10. Zane Smith
Jack Links 500 – Final Stage Recap:
Carson Hocevar will be surrounded by a Batalon of Bowties protection while assisting the 3rd year driver to advance at their drafting discretion. Hocevar will be bumped-drafted in front of race leader Chris Buescher as laps dwindle to 3 remaining.
A White-Flag pivotal moment will be conducted courtesy of Zane Smith. Smith’s crucial attempt to break line on the final lap sent contenders out of control creating a collage of carnage.
Carson Hocevar guards off any approaching survivors of the Melee to win his first career Nascar Cup Series points race in 91 attempts for Spire Motorsports.
A victory lap and celebration will be remembered as one of the most iconic celebrations anyone has performed. The 23-year-old from Portland, Michigan rest upon the driver’s door window seal while driving and waving to the crowd during his Victory Lap.
Jack Links 500 – Final Stage Results:
Pos | Driver
1. Carson Hocevar
2. Chris Buescher
3. Alex Bowman
4. Chase Elliott
5. Zane Smith
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
7. Ross Chastain
8. Austin Cindric
9. Noah Gragson
10. Kyle Busch
11. Todd Gilliland
12. Daniel Suarez
13. Ty Dillon
14. Tyler Reddick
15. Denny Hamlin
16. AJ Allmendinger
17. Ryan Preece
18. Austin Dillon
19. Shane van Gisbergen
20. Cody Ware
21. Christopher Bell
22. John Hunter Nemechek
23. Erik Jones
24. Daniel Dye
25. Riley Herbst
26. Connor Zilisch
27. Jesse Love
28. Chad Finchum
29. Chase Briscoe
30. Joey Gase
31. Brad Keselowski
32. Michael McDowell
33. Josh Berry
34. Ty Gibbs
35. William Byron
36. Bubba Wallace
37. Ryan Blaney
38. Cole Custer
39. Joey Logano
40. Kyle Larson
NASCAR CUP Series Championship Points
(After Jack Link’s race 4/26/26)
Pos | Driver | Points
1. Tyler Reddick | 484
2. Denny Hamlin | -110
3. Ryan Blaney | -140
4. Chase Elliott | -144
5. Ty Gibbs | -162
6. Kyle Larson | -169
7. Chris Buescher | -175
8. Carson Hocevar | -194
9. Christopher Bell | -194
10. Brad Keselowski | -205
11. William Byron | -207
12. Bubba Wallace | -208
13. Ryan Preece | -215
14. Daniel Suarez | -249
15. Joey Logano | -250
16. Austin Cindric | -258
*NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Cutline*
17. Chase Briscoe | -262
18. Ross Chastain | -279
19. Shane van Gisbergen | -289
20. Zane Smith | -301
21. AJ Allmendinger | -301
22. Todd Gilliland | -303
23. Michael McDowell | -305
24. Austin Dillon | -321
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | -323
26. Erik Jones | -323
27. Kyle Busch | -324
28. Josh Berry | -337
29. Riley Herbst | -340
30. Noah Gragson | -340
31. John Hunter Nemechek | -343
32. Ty Dillon | -361
The NASCAR Cup Series travels to the Lone Star State for the annual running of the Wurth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY hosted by the Texas Motor Speedway.
Sunday, May 3, 2026
3:30 p.m. ET
(FS1, SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio 90, PRN)