NASCAR fans pack into Talladega Superspeedway ahead of Sunday's Jack Links 500 race

LINCOLN, Ala. – NASCAR's high-stakes Jack Links 500 title is scheduled for Sunday day astatine Talladega Superspeedway successful Lincoln, Alabama, wherever 41 drivers will return connected nan league's largest way successful beforehand of an estimated 100,000 title fans.

The legendary way attracts visitors from "all 50 states and aggregate countries," according to way officials.

"It's for illustration a picnic for them. There's group that conscionable spot each different doubly a twelvemonth here, and they meet up present astatine Talladega Superspeedway," Patrick Barfield, Senior Director of Venue Experience and Guest Services astatine Talladega Superspeedway, said. "They each person their small parties and groups, and it's a awesome site."

Josh Harris, Regional President astatine Talladega Superspeedway, credits nan charm of nan way to its unpredictable battalion racing astatine utmost speeds exceeding 200 mph. The track, astatine 2.66 miles, is nan longest successful nan NASCAR Cup Series, and drivers must complete 188 laps to decorativeness nan 500-mile race.

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Track officials expect astir 100,000 fans to be nan Jack Links 500 astatine Talladega Superspeedway successful Lincoln, Alabama. (FOX News)

"Everything's conscionable a small spot bigger present astatine Talladega, and that's really we for illustration it," Harris said.

The Jack Links 500 is nan tenth title successful nan 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, and drivers are already fighting for their spot successful nan playoff standings. 

"Drivers are positioning themselves. They want to beryllium successful that apical 16 travel Daytona successful August and beryllium capable to jump themselves into nan chase," Harris said.

Talladega is ever challenging for drivers, according to Harris, some physically and mentally. As nan NASCAR Cup Series continues into Spring and Summer, he said nan wrong of a title car tin transcend 100 degrees connected an 85-degree day. 

Many fans, however, are taking advantage of nan lukewarm weather. Thousands of fans started camping extracurricular nan way and successful nan infield complete nan past week.

Riley Eubanks traveled from Indianapolis, Indiana, pinch his relative and friend. The 3 of them are spending their first Talladega title together successful a mini shelter wrong move one, surviving connected "plenty of nutrient and water" and a changeless crippled of poker.

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Some title fans started camping retired successful nan infield of Talladega Superspeedway successful nan week starring up to nan Jack Links 500.  (FOX News)

"We spent hundreds, if not thousands connected nutrient and plentifulness of water," Eubanks said. "We're capable to supply nutrient to others if they want to travel by, but we person sewage plentifulness to eat present for a fewer days."

Many fans said they were excited to spot nan track's infamous 33-degree banking successful its 4 turns, nan steepest successful banal car racing. The turns are engineered to let drivers to support 200 miles per hr without losing traction. 

Talladaga Superspeedway is location to nan steepest banking successful banal car racing pinch a 33 grade banking successful its 4 turns.  (FOX News)

"The coolest point is getting complete present and checking retired really precocious up that wall really is. Seeing it for nan first time. Just clang aft clang complete years. After years of watching, I sewage to spot it," Caleb Eubanks said. 

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Drivers will statesman qualifying Saturday greeting to unafraid their starting position for Sunday's race.