9 CHASE ELLIOTT Age: 30 (Nov. 28, 1995) Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia Last Race: 8th (Kansas) Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson Standings: 6th 
No. 9 Prime Video Chevrolet 2026Cup Career Talladega Races 936720 Wins 1222 Poles- Chase Elliott is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Talladega Superspeedway, most recently visiting victory lane in the fall of 2022.
- His two wins are tied with Jimmie Johnson for second most at Talladega by a Hendrick Motorsports driver behind vice chairman Jeff Gordon (six).
- Elliott’s most recent victory on a drafting track came last summer at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Including that triumph, he’s finished top 10 in four of the last six drafting-track races.
- The 30-year-old driver was leading on the final lap of the DAYTONA 500 this season before getting caught up in a multi-car incident. He still finished fourth.
- In the last nine drafting-track races, Elliott has earned the fourth-most points (272).
- The 2020 Cup champion’s three wins at drafting tracks in the Next Gen era are tied for second most behind teammate William Byron.
- Elliott’s average finish of 10.3 so far in 2026 is tied for third best in the Cup Series and is also tied for his second best through the first nine races of a season.
| Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL |
| START: 6TH FINISH: 13TH POINTS: 12TH |
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| Carson Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Chili’s Ride The ‘Dente Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, appeared to be destined for a top-10 result in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway until a late-race caution forced overtime. He was ultimately credited with a 13th-place finish. Hocevar qualified sixth, a career-best at the Kansas City, Kan., facility, and quickly raced to fourth. As green-flag pit stops commenced for the first time on the day, the No. 77 team elected to run long in order to have a tire advantage over their competitors later in the run. After inheriting the lead and pacing the field for three circuits, veteran crew chief Luke Lambert called his driver to pit road on Lap 40. During the four-tire change, a broken pit gun hindered the stop, causing the Portage, Mich., native to slip to 18th. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Hocevar drove inside the top 10 with two laps remaining in the 80-lap stage, and took the green-and-white checkered flag in eighth. A second pit road miscue during the ensuing stage break resulted in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year starting Stage 2 in 18th. The team once again ran long during the green-flag pit-stop cycle, leading an additional three laps, and utilized the slightly fresher rubber to reach the 10th position at the conclusion of Stage 2 on Lap 165. The relentless effort throughout the day gained the team a total of four stage points to aid in their pursuit of a spot in The Chase. Carson’s Post-Race Comments “Really good effort from this No. 77 team today. We had to battle through some adversity, but the speed of our Chili’s Chevrolet really showed. We didn’t get the finish we wanted, or really deserved, but some stage points made it a decent points day, overall.” |
| MOORESVILLE, N.C.: As Ryan Ellis heads to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in search of his second top-10 finish of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, ZEROES Premium Beverages will continue its partnership with the veteran driver and Young’s Motorsports in Saturday’s Ag-Pro 300. |
 The Talladega race marks the second year of the partnership between Ellis and ZEROES Premium Beverages, which last appeared on his car in last spring’s race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway — a breakthrough performance that saw Ellis earn his first career top-10 finish in the series.That milestone result not only marked a defining moment in Ellis’ career but also helped solidify the relationship between driver and partner, with both sides eager to build on that momentum as they reunite at one of the sport’s most unpredictable venues. ZEROES is a trailblazing ready-to-drink alcohol beverage redefining how modern consumers enjoy cocktails — with zero sugar, zero carbs, and just 90 calories per can. Proudly veteran-owned and American-made, ZEROES delivers bold flavor and premium vodka in a clean, easy-drinking format made for active, on-the-go lifestyles. Whether you’re winding down or turning up, ZEROES is the smarter way to sip — no mixers, no compromises, just great taste and real refreshment. “I’m really excited to have ZEROES Premium Beverages back with us this weekend at Talladega,” said Ellis. |
| JOE GIBBS RACING JGR AT TALLADEGA: Joe Gibbs Racing owns six NASCAR Cup Series wins at Talladega Superspeedway, including Chase Briscoe’s victory last fall. In 187 combined starts at the track, the organization has tallied 45 top-five finishes, 69 top-10s, four pole awards, and 1,620 laps led. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart join Briscoe on the list of drivers who have taken JGR to victory lane at Talladega. |
| DENNY HAMLINNo. 11 King’s Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls Toyota Camry XSE HAMLIN AT TALLADEGA: Denny Hamlin is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Talladega Superspeedway with victories in 2014 and 2020. Overall, Hamlin has recorded 11 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s, one pole award, and 448 laps led in 40 career starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. KANSAS RECAP: Hamlin led a race-high 131 laps and won a stage before finishing fourth in last Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway. After starting second, Hamlin won stage one and finished second in stage two. In the closing laps, he was battling Tyler Reddick for the top spot. Hamlin eventually passed Reddick for the lead with three laps remaining and he was ahead when a caution waved as Hamlin exited turn four coming to the white flag. On the overtime restart, Hamlin slipped back for a fourth-place result .LEADING LAPS: Hamlin ranks first in the Cup Series with 575 laps led this season. The No. 11 driver has led more than 100 laps in three of the past five races, including last weekend’s race at Kansas where he led 131 laps. KING’S HAWAIIAN: Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota will feature King’s Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Back by popular demand, King’s Hawaiian Ube Coconut Rolls are soft and infused with the rich, nutty taste of real ube and the creamy sweetness of coconut. This limited-time flavor is baked with aloha for a truly one-of-a-kind treat. With its signature purple hue and pillowy-soft texture, it’s the perfect bite of island indulgence for dessert, brunch, or anytime cravings. For more information, visit www.kingshawaiian.com. |
| Building Momentum, Jason Kitzmiller and Team Targets Talladega Superspeedway Success |
| TALLADEGA, Ala.: Bouncing back from a tough finish at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway with a season-high sixth-place effort last weekend at Kansas Speedway, ARCA Menards Series veteran Jason Kitzmiller returns to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for Saturday’s Alabama Manufactured Housing 200, where he sits second in the championship standings and carries a legitimate opportunity to score his first career series win. |
 Quietly, Kitzmiller has been building a strengthening superspeedway résumé, highlighted by a career-best fourth-place finish at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in 2025. After tallying another top-10 finish at the 2.5-mile superspeedway two months ago, Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing — CR7 Motorsports team look to ride that momentum into the series’ upcoming summer stretch. “I’m excited about going to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend,” said Kitzmiller. |
