Ms. V breaks down the Jack Link’s 500 with her NASCAR picks, predictions, and value plays for Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Race: Jack Link’s 500
Date: Sunday April 26th, 2026
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Time: 3pm ET
Channel: FOX
What Did We Learn From Last Weekend?
It hasn’t happened since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 that a driver has won 5 of the last 9 races in Cup Series, but Tyler Reddick pulled it off after winning Sunday’s race at Kansas Motor Speedway! It was a pretty dramatic finish as the driver fought in overtime to take the checkered flag, with both Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battling with Reddick to see who could get to the finish first. Reddick was fighting some pretty wild circumstances including fuel system issues, causing him to flip tanks, scraping the outside wall in the closing laps, and colliding with Christopher Bell in overtime. Somehow, someway Reddick pulled it out and overcame all adversity again to win over Larson with 0.112s to spare. Larson just didn’t have the momentum in overtime to overtake Reddick and knew it the whole time.
Larson came away with a respectable runner-up finish in a race that saw only 3 cautions on the day. Chase Briscoe edged out Denny Hamlin for third when all was said and done with Hamlin and Bubba Wallace rounding out the top 5 spots. Christopher Bell had a strong run going through the day, so his 20th place result was disappointing to say the least. Reddick recognized the faults and definitely knew it was frustrating for Bell to be caught up, but nonetheless, Reddick prevailed in the chaos. Brad Keselowski had another solid run, bringing home a 6th place finish followed by William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Chris Buescher to finish out your top 10 drivers. The next 4 might surprise you. If you’re looking for Logano, Chastain, or Bowman, look again. Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, Riley Herbst, and Corey Heim were the next 5 spots. That goes to show their strength, especially running on a day filled with very few cautions. The new generation is here, and they are ready.
Where Are We Headed This Weekend?
This weekend, they will all be battling at Talladega for what’s sure to be an afternoon of suspense. Nothing brings out the crazy quite like a super speedway. Talladega is the biggest track on the circuit with speeds to match. This 2.660 mile asphalt tri-oval with 33 degrees in the turns, 16.5 degrees in the tri-oval, and 2 degrees on the straights is absolutely breathtaking to watch. These drivers maneuver with inches to spare between the cars, side-drafting, often in lines 10 or more long. What it takes to avoid causing absolute calamity is top-notch skill. One small wrong move will easily wipe out half of the field in the blink of an eye. The “big one” is what it is because of these super speedways. It takes serious talent to keep these guys from taking each other out.
Odds and Value Picks
When it comes to picking a winner, it can be a tough bet here because of the lack of predictability. Since the field can easily be wiped out so quickly, there’s just no telling who will get to the end of the race unscathed. This is often why we see rookies or lesser known guys in victory lane at Talladega. It’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time here, and that last lap is all that matters. We can’t take away from the fact that there are some outstanding drivers on these types of tracks. Let’s take a look at your potential winners as we head into this weekend’s race at Talladega:
Winner: William Byron (+1400)
Call me crazy, but Byron has the best average finish in the last 4 starts at Talladega. Dudr has 2 top 5s, 3 tops 10s, and has led laps here. 2026 has been an interesting year for him, but we can’t discount how well he runs here. Even in all-time career starts, Byron sits 3rd best for average finishes, with 5 top 5s, 7 top 10s, and a runner-up finish in one of his 16 starts. Byron can’t be counted out. He plays smart, and he will be there contending at the end.
Mid-Range Pick: Brad Keselowski (+1400)
Keselowski is a Talladega master. There’s no way around it. If Brad can win a race this year, he can win it here. He has 34 starts and 6 wins, the most of any active driver. He’s also had 2 top 5 finishes in his last 4 starts. If his team can give him a strong car, Brad’s experience will pay off. Look for Brad in victory lane. He can pull it off.
Dark Horse: Austin Cindric (+1400)
Cindric has a win at Talladega in his last 4 starts. He’s slowly coming along, proving that he’s someone that has a level of consistency to be envied. Cindric also has 69 career laps led and is someone to keep your eyes on throughout the race on Sunday. His success will depend on his ability to stay out of trouble.
Those odds are crazy. There’s so much to take into account when it comes to picking a winner that it truly is anyone’s chance to take home. Talladega will definitely also throw a wrench in the points, as things tend to get a little wild. Let’s take a look at where everyone landed after Kansas so we know where we stand heading into Sunday’s race:
- Tyler Reddick
- Denny Hamlin
- Ryan Blaney
- Ty Gibbs
- Kyle Larson
- Chase Elliott
- William Byron
- Bubba Wallace
- Brad Keselowski
- Christopher Bell
- Chris Buescher
- Carson Hocevar
- Ryan Preece
- Joey Logano
- Chase Briscoe
- Daniel Suarez
I think that we need to keep our eyes on the Ford crews as well. Logano and Blaney are both notoriously good on any tracks with serious speed. I wouldn’t be surprised for them to be in the mix when the race comes to a close. Austin Cindric will be working hard with his Ford as the race progresses, though, to jump back into the top 16. He’s currently sitting just outside, 13 points below Suarez. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Reddick and the shot that he has. At this point, he’s a favorite for whatever race it is this weekend. We can’t forget the value that he brings to the table. Will Reddick be able to take home a sixth trophy this year? We will have to wait and see. Stay tuned for what’s sure to be an awesome afternoon of racing at Talladega Superspeedway!
