NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega live updates, highlights, leaderboard

The carnage of Talladega can change the dynamic of the NASCAR playoffs with three races remaining in the 2025 season.

The YellaWood 500 on Oct. 19 is the second of three races in the Cup Series Round of 8, and it could be the best way to right the wrongs of a poor showing at Las Vegas last week for Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and William Byron.

One sure thing about the Championship 4 is that Denny Hamlin will be in it after winning at Vegas.

Kyle Larson (+35) is the only playoff driver to start the day with more than a 20-point cushion above the cutline, so it’ll be a consequential 500 miles in Alabama today.

Michael McDowell, as he often does, is on the pole for the race.

Follow along with the Tennessean’s race updates below:

NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega: Live updates, highlights, live leaderboard for the YellaWood 500

LIVE LEADERBOARD: Full field leaderboard of NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500

Kyle Busch leads YellaWood 500 | Lap 89

Is this the day that Kyle Busch finally wins another NASCAR Cup race? Busch leads the YellaWood 500, over Josh Berry, Michael McDowell and Cody Ware.

Race leader AJ Allmendinger crashes, collects Chase Elliott

AJ Allmendinger went from the back to the lead at the NASCAR Talladega race on Sunday. But a late crash in Stage 1 took him out and damaged others, including NASCAR Playoff driver Chase Elliott.

Noah Gragson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also out of the race. Allmendinger’s car was smoking heavily after it came to a stop. He was helped out of the car.

The wreck occurred when Erik Jones tried to push Gragson, who lost control of his car and then collected into Allmendinger.

Others involved in the crash include: Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon and Justin Haley

Hendersonville’s Josh Berry took the lead from the outside lane before moving to the inside. Joey Logano is pushing him and is in second.

Kyle Busch takes lead | Lap 5

Kyle Busch has the lead at the NASCAR Talladega race. Busch and Bubba Wallace are swapping back and forth. Busch is on the inside lane. Wallace is in the middle lane.

Michael McDowell on the pole; full NASCAR Cup Series Talladega starting lineup

Here’s where every playoff driver is starting on Sunday:

• 2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• 7. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• 8. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
• 13. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• 16. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
• 17. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• 19. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• 25. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Find the full starting lineup here.

NASCAR race radio coverage: How to listen to NASCAR Cup race at Talladega

The YellaWood 500 will be aired on the radio by the Motor Racing Network. MRN has affiliates all across the country, and their feed can also be streamed on NASCAR.com as well as the NASCAR app. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

NASCAR Talladega race TV schedule, start time

• Green Flag Time:  Approx. 1:25 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 19
• Track:  Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval) in Talladega, Alabama
• Length: 188 laps, 500 miles
• Stages: 60 laps, 60 laps, 68 laps
• TV coverage: NBC
• Radio: MRN
• Streaming: Watch FREE on Fubo; HBO MAX app for in-car cameras (subscription required); NASCAR.com and SiriusXM on Channel 90 for audio (subscription required)

The YellaWood 500 will be broadcast nationally on NBC. Other streaming options for the race include HBO MAX for in-car cameras for each driver.

Recent NASCAR Cup Series winners at Talladega

• 2025 spring: Austin Cindric
• 2024 fall: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
• 2024 spring: Tyler Reddick
• 2023 fall: Ryan Blaney