Overview
- Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 is set for 3 p.m. ET on FOX, with Cup qualifying Saturday morning to set the grid for the 188‑lap, 500‑mile race.
- NASCAR set new stage lengths at 98‑45‑45, a reversal designed so the final two 45‑lap segments can be run without green‑flag fuel stops.
- The entry list shows 36 chartered teams plus five open entries for 41 cars, meaning one driver will miss the race after Saturday qualifying.
- The Cup purse is $11,233,037, up about $178,000 from last spring, which offers a valuable payout bump for teams that often rely on Talladega results.
- Drivers and analysts warn some teams may still short‑fill at stage breaks to gain track position, which could keep fuel saving in play even with the new format.