NASCAR heads to Talladega Superspeedway for the second race of the second round in the Cup Series playoffs.

As the largest and fastest oval in NASCAR, Talladega presents a unique set of challenges, including close pack racing and the likelihood of significant multi-car incidents. With twelve drivers vying for playoff advancement, the field will be cut down to eight following next week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

A victory at Talladega will guarantee a spot in the third round, easing the tension for the Charlotte elimination race. Performing well this Sunday—or simply avoiding mishaps at Talladega—can greatly influence drivers’ standings and morale.

However, the unpredictable conditions at Talladega can also disrupt playoff standings, placing some drivers in a difficult position if they become victims of “The Big One” during the race. Ultimately, steering clear of major trouble may be the most valuable achievement.

Who will triumph at Talladega on Sunday? Here’s everything you need to prepare for the YellaWood 500:

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega start?

The YellaWood 500 is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local time) on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway located in Talladega, Alabama.

What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega on?

You can catch the YellaWood 500 on NBC, which will air a pre-race show starting at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time).

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega?

The YellaWood 500 can be streamed live through the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app. It is also available on Fubo for streaming.

How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega?

The YellaWood 500 comprises 188 laps around the 2.66-mile oval, totaling 500.08 miles. The race will be divided into three segments: Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 60 laps; Stage 3: 68 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Talladega?

Tyler Reddick led for 13 laps on April 21, 2024, including the final six, securing his victory over Brad Keselowski as the race concluded under yellow flag conditions.

Last year, Ryan Blaney led for eight laps and overtook Kevin Harvick in the final two laps to win the playoff race on October 1, 2023, beating William Byron by just 0.012 seconds.

What are the playoff standings heading into the NASCAR race at Talladega?

Here are the playoff standings as of now, with the top eight drivers advancing after the next week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

1. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports — 3,074
2. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske — 3,068 (-6 points)
3. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing — 3,068 (-6)
4. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports — 3,058 (-16)
5. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing — 3,051 (-23)
6. Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports — 3,048 (-26)
7. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports — 3,044 (-30)
8. Joey Logano, Team Penske — 3,044 (-30)
9. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing — 3,040 (-34)
10. Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing — 3,030 (-44)
11. Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing — 3,019 (-55)
12. Austin Cindric, Team Penske — 3,015 (-59)

What is the lineup for the YellaWood 500 NASCAR playoff race at Talladega?

Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver

1. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford

2. (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford

3. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford

4. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet

5. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford

6. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford

7. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

8. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota

9. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford

10. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet

11. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet

12. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet

13. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

14. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota

15. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota

16. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet

17. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

18. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford

19. (4) Josh Berry, Ford

20. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford

21. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota

22. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford

23. (48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet

24. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota

25. (13) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet

26. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota

27. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

28. (51) Corey LaJoie, Ford

29. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota

30. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota

31. (99) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet

32. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet

33. (62) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet

34. (15) Cody Ware, Ford

35. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet

36. (14) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford

37. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet

38. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet

39. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet

40. (44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet