The NASCAR Cup Series is back at a drafting track for the Jack Link’s 500 on April 26 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Pack-drafting races are not easy to predict, though Tyler Reddick won the first two of the season at Daytona and Atlanta.
Advertisement
Reddick is coming off of his fifth win of the season at Kansas and is a former Talladega winner.
Here are The Tennessean’s expert picks for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega:
1 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty waves to fans as he walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
1 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty waves to fans as he walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
2 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty holds onto his cowboy hat as strong gust of wind and a rain storm approaches, Sunday February 16, 2025 during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
3 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty celebrates in 1971. One of his 200 wins during his legendary career.
4 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
TOPSHOT – US President Donald Trump greets Richard Petty, prior to riding in the Presidential limousine ahead of the start of the Daytona 500 Nascar race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Sunday, February 16, 2025. (Photo by Al DRAGO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AL DRAGO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
5 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 21: NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip (L) and Richard Petty give the command to start engine prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21, 2023 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
6 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty after winning the 1964 race.
7 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 7, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Former NASCAR drivers Richard Petty shows off custom vest with his son Kyle Petty on the red carpet before the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Charlotte Convention Center Crown Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
8 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 20: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty speaks during the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day at NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 20, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images)
9 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty holds up his grandson, Adam Petty, while celebrating his 1981 victory. Adam would become a driver himself and died during a practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000.
10 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Country Music star Marty Robbins, left, greets Richard Petty after both qualified during the time trials for the Nashville 400 NASCAR race at the Fairgrounds Speedway July 30, 1966. Petty set a track record of 82.49 miles per hour to win the pole.
11 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Jan 19, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Richard Petty speaks to the audience during the Induction Ceremony at Charlotte Convention Center Crown Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
12 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Drivers Richard Petty, left, and Jim Paschal, right, along with Jim Estes, center, waits for the star of the Nashville 400 at the Fairgrounds Speedway on Aug. 4, 1963. Paschal went on to win, while Petty finishes fourth in the rain-shortened NASCAR late model race before 12,875 fans.
13 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Richard Petty attends as “The Running Man” Glen Powell serves as NASCAR grand marshall at The South Point 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
14 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Drivers Richard Petty, left, and Bobby Allison hope to put a stop to fellow driver Darrell Waltrip, after he won the pole for the Marty Robbins 420 NASCAR race at the Nashville Raceway May 6, 1983.
15 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Jimmie Johnson, right, and Richard Petty share the news that Johnson finalized an ownership stake with the Petty GMS race team.
16 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty is acknowledged before the Clean Harbors 150 presented by Premier Chevy Dealers, Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.
17 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
NASCAR King Richard Petty is ready to name the reception of the Minnie Pearl Award for humanitarian deeds during the 26th annual TNN/Music City News Country Award show at the Grand Ole Opry June 8, 1992. Emmylou Harris was honored with the award but couldnÕt attend and made a videotaped.
18 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Driver Richard Petty checks the controls during qualifying trials for the Nashville Pepsi 420 NASCAR Grand National race at Nashville International Raceway on July 13, 1984. Petty will start in the third spot for the race.
19 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty and his wife Lynda arrive at the Calvary Church in Charlotte for the memorial service to honor Dale Earnhardt.
20 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Drivers Billy Wade, left, and Richard Petty talk after taking the top two spots for the NASCAR 400-lap race at Fairgrounds Speedway Aug. 1, 1964. Petty, in a ’64 Plymouth, topped the pole while Wade, in a ’64 Mercury, took second.
21 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty, center, and Ned Jarrett, right, check over the first-place trophy June 3, 1964 for the NASCAR 200-lap late model automobile race coming up at Fairgrounds Speedway.
22 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
NASCAR drivers Dick Hutcherson, left, Richard Petty, and Jim Paschal are ready for the Nashville 400 race at the Fairgrounds Speedway July 28, 1967.
23 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty hauls a load of tire rims to his car as they get ready for qualifying for the Music City USA 420 Grand National race at Nashville Speedway May 9, 1975.
24 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Glen Powell, Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty attend as “The Running Man” Glen Powell serves as NASCAR grand marshall at The South Point 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
25 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
A half-dozen of the country’s top NASCAR drivers met in Nashville Jan. 2, 1975 to try their hand at making a record instead of breaking one. Darrell Waltrip, left, Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison and David Pearson are part of an album, titled “NASCAR Goes Country,” that will be released in mid-February.
26 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Drivers Richard Petty, left, and Cale Yarborough talks as they wait for the start of the Nashville 420 Grand National race at the Nashville Speedway July 19, 1975. But rain delay the race until the next day.
27 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Richard Petty, left, chats with 16-year-old son Kyle prior to qualifying for Nashville 420 NASCAR race at the Nashville Speedway July 16, 1976.
28 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Driver Richard Petty, center, gets out of the car as he and his crew get it ready for the Nashville 420 Grand National Winston Cup race at the Fairgrounds Speedway Aug. 25, 1973.
29 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Drivers David Pearson, left, Bobby Isaac, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison eye the trophy that goes to the winner for the NASCAR Nashville 400 race during the time trials at the Fairgrounds Speedway July 27, 1968. Pearson went on to win the trophy in the rain-shortened race before 15,221 fans.
30 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 1, 1969; Riverside, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; NASCAR Grand National Series driver Richard Petty looks over his car in the garage at the 1969 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
31 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 19, 1984; Daytona Bch, FL, USA FILE PHOTO; NASCAR Winston Cup driver Richard Petty (43) during the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
32 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 17, 1985; Daytona Bch, FL, USA FILE PHOTO; NASCAR Winston Cup driver Richard Petty during the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
33 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Mar 16, 2008; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Jarrett with Richard Petty prior to the start the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jarrett is running the final race of his career. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
34 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 11, 2009; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart (right) talks with Richard Petty during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
35 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Jun. 21, 2009; Sonoma, CA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (right) with car owner Richard Petty after winning the SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
36 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
July 26, 2009; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Richard Petty before the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
37 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 18 2012; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner Richard Petty (left) talks with driver Matt Kenseth (17) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
38 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
June 24, 2012; Sonoma, CA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Richard Petty poses for pictures with fans before the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
39 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Jan 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; NASCAR crew chief Maurice Petty (left) gets a kiss and is inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame by his brother Richard Petty during the NASCAR hall of fame induction ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
40 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Apr 22, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Richard Petty looks on during practice for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
41 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; ESPN analyst Lee Corso talks with NASCAR team owner Richard Petty on the set of College Gameday prior to the Battle at Bristol football game between the Virginia Tech Holies and Tennessee Volunteers at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
42 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Nov 3, 2017; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR driver Darrell Wallace Jr. (left) and team owner Richard Petty (right) are interviewed before the qualifying for the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
43 / 43
Richard Petty, NASCAR driver, retired legend with 7 Cup titles, all-time wins leader
Feb 19, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; Former driver Richard Petty shares a laugh with former driver Bill Elliott before the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
NASCAR predictions for Talladega Cup Series race: Here’s who wins the Jack Link’s 500
Mike Organ’s pick: Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Now that his winless streak has reached a full year, it’s time for the 2025 Cup Series champion to take control of a race like he did last week at Kansas and hang on this time.
Nick Gray’s pick: Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
McDowell is a very good drafting driver who is due for a strong result, as is Spire at large.
Advertisement
Tom Kreager’s pick: Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Wallace will need to curb his frustrations and stay away from having a role of the Big One. But he’s had a history of running well at Talladega. He has three top-10 finishes over the past four races with one top-five finish. The Toyotas have been the dominant manufacturer in 2026. That continues this week.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Talladega predictions 2026, expert picks for Cup Series race
