NASCAR Cup race at Talladega 2018: Start time, lineup, TV schedule, more
It’s NASCAR race day at Talladega Superspeedway, and we’ve got some essential information you need to get ready for Sunday's GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race:
START TIME: Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:07 p.m. ET (1:07 p.m. local), followed by the green flag at 2:19 p.m. ET (1:19 p.m. local).
RACE DISTANCE: The GEICO 500 is 188 laps around the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. That's 500.08 miles.
RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into stages and handing out points. Here are the segments for tonight's Cup race: Stage 1: 55 laps, Stage 2: 55 laps, Stage 3: 78 laps.
STREAKING: Kyle Busch aims to become the 13th driver to win at least four Cup races in a row after consecutive victories at Texas Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond Raceway. Kevin Harvick won three in a row earlier this season.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: The 313th United States Army Band from Birmingham, Ala., will perform the national anthem at 2:01 p.m. ET (1:01 local) followed by a flyover by three F-18s from the Ragin’ Bulls of the United States Navy.
TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: Fox will broadcast the race and has a pre-race show beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio will call the event on the radio.
LIVE STREAMING: Fox is offering a live stream through its Fox Sports Go app.
TALLADEGA PREVIEW: Fast speeds keep drivers racing by seat of their pants
TV ANALYSTS: Cup drivers get turn in Fox booth for Xfinity race
WATCH: Wild and memorable wrecks in Talladega Cup races
NASCAR: Makes rule change after McMurray's car goes airborne
WEATHER: The Weather Channel is calling for gorgeous weather in Talladega with sunny skies, no chance of rain and highs in the upper 60s.
LAST TIME: Brad Keselowski used a last-lap pass in October to win his fifth career Cup race at Talladega and clinch a berth into the third round of the 2017 playoffs. And one year ago, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recorded his first Cup Series victory, holding off Jamie McMurray in overtime last May.
LINEUP: It will be on all Stewart-Haas Racing front row after Kevin Harvick won the pole and Kurt Busch recorded the second-fastest time in final-round qualifying. Ford drivers captured seven of the top 12 starting spots. Kyle Busch, looking to extend his winning streak, will start 19th.
Here is the starting lineup for the GEICO 500 (car number in parentheses):
1. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
2. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford
3. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
4. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
5. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
6. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota
7. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford
8. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford
9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
10. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford
11. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
12. (38) David Ragan, Ford
13. (21) Paul Menard, Ford
14. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota
15. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet
16. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
17. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
18. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
19. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota
20. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
21. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford
22. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
23. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
24. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
25. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet
26. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet
27. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet
28. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
29. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
30. (62) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet
31. (96) DJ Kennington, Toyota
32. (92) Timothy Peters, Ford
33. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford
34. (00) Joey Gase, Chevrolet
35. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
36. (72) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet
37. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota
38. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet
39. (51) Timmy Hill, Ford
40. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
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