🏁YellaWood 500: Key takeaways
- Best pre-qualifying prediction: Tyler Reddick to win (6%) — turning the corner after a rough mid-season run.
- Best pre-qualifying value: Chase Elliott to win (5%) — two-time winner here getting overlooked.
- Best pre-qualifying prop: Ryan Preece Top 10 (32%) — won NASCAR's most recent drafting event.
- Track: Avoid the chaos on track, keep it clean on pit road.
- Weather: Sunny and dry.
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YellaWood 500 odds: Favorites & full field
Check out the full YellaWood 500 field.
| Driver Name |  Probability |
|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney | 9% |
| Joey Logano | 9% |
| Tyler Reddick | 6% |
| Christopher Bell | 6% |
| Kyle Larson | 6% |
| Austin Cindric | 6% |
| Chase Briscoe | 6% |
| Chase Elliott | 5% |
| Denny Hamlin | 5% |
| Carson Hocevar | 5% |
Odds as of 10-24. For help understanding Kalshi probabilities, see our odds calculator.
YellaWood 500 predictions (updated Saturday)
- Outright: Tyler Reddick (6%)
- Outright: Chase Elliott (5%)
- Top 10: Ryan Preece (32%)
Who's hot? Who's not?
- 🔥 Christopher Bell — 11 Top 10s in last 15 races, tops in the Cup Series.
- ❄️ Alex Bowman — Has missed the Top 10 in five straight.
Track breakdown: What wins at Talladega Superspeedway?
- Talladega does not chew up tires, so crew chiefs routinely cycle through four-tire, two-tire, and fuel-only stops to gain track position during both yellow and green-flag cycles.
- Running near the front is considered safer than the back of the pack, but "The Big One" can happen anywhere at any time.
Key stats & driver profiles to target
- Only 8% of winners at Talladega have come from beyond the Top 20.
Drivers to watch
- Austin Cindric (9.4) leads all active drivers in average starting position.
- Only one active driver (Denny Hamlin) has won from the pole.
Odds movement & market notes
- Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano (9%) are unlikely to fall out of the Top 5 in the market. They frequently run well at superspeedways and are supported accordingly.
- Michael McDowell (2%) is a three-time pole winner. Assuming he qualifies well again, his price could get slashed.
Outright picks: Winner predictions
Pick 1: Tyler Reddick to win (6%)
April '24 win here wasn't a fluke.
- Track Fit: Seven stage placings since '23.
- Recent Form: Exits win at Phoenix, third straight Top 10.
- Market Value: Play to 8%.
Risk: Every pick at Talladega carries the risk of a wreck.
Pick made on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Pick 2: Chase Elliott to win (5%)
Goes for his third victory here.
- Track Fit: Fourth in average rating.
- Recent Form: Top 10 in three of last four overall.
- Market Value: Play to 7%.
Risk: Having a down year overall.
Pick made on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Best top finish predictions
Pick 1: Ryan Preece Top 10 (32%)
Underrated superspeedway driver appeals at this price.
- Track Fit: Has found the front in three straight.
- Recent Form: Three Top 10s so far this postseason.
- Market Value: Play to 35%.
Risk: Has missed the Top 10 in five straight here.
Pick made on Saturday, Oct. 24.
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How to watch the YellaWood 500
| Location: | Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln, AL |
| Date: | Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 |
| Start time: | 2 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBC |
Check out the full weekend schedule for the 2026 YellaWood 500.
Talladega Superspeedway weather
Expect perfect conditions in Lincoln, AL on Sunday afternoon, with a high of 74F and no chance of rain.
Previous YellaWood 500 winners
| Year | Winner | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Chase Briscoe | Toyota |
| 2024 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Chevrolet |
| 2023 | Ryan Blaney | Ford |
| 2022 | Chase Elliott | Chevrolet |
| 2021 | Bubba Wallace | Toyota |
YellaWood 500 FAQs
When is the 2026 YellaWood 500?
The green flag will wave for the YellaWood 500 just after 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 25 on NBC.
Where will the 2026 YellaWood 500 be held?
Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, AL will host the YellaWood 500.
Who is the 2026 YellaWood 500 favorite?
Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano are co-favored to win the YellaWood 500.
Who won the YellaWood 500 last year?
Chase Briscoe won last year's edition of the YellaWood 500.
How do YellaWood 500 props work?
Top 3, 5 and 10 markets are just some of the available YellaWood 500 props at Kalshi.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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