Goodyear keeps proven tire sets for Talladega's three-race weekend
By Staff Writer · Published 10/21/2026, 2:33:00 AM ET
The Cup Series will use the same Talladega compounds introduced in spring 2025, while teams weigh two- and four-tire stops against fuel-only calls.
Goodyear will bring familiar tire combinations for all three NASCAR national series at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, giving teams established data for a track where fuel position and drafting partners often matter more than tire falloff.
Cup teams will use the same left- and right-side compounds that debuted at Talladega in spring 2025. NASCAR will again use the 3.5-inch rear spoiler introduced at Daytona in August, rather than the seven-inch spoiler used at EchoPark Speedway in July. Sunday's YellaWood 500 is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on NBC, HBO Max, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The Cup race will retain Talladega's spring stage distances: 98 laps to the first break, followed by two 45-lap stages. Each car receives one qualifying set and six additional sets for the race; the qualifying tires transfer into the race allotment.
The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will use its spring Talladega setup for Saturday's Progress Group 250 at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Craftsman Truck Series will use the combination run at Daytona's season opener for Friday's Love's RV Stop 225 at 4 p.m. ET. Each team in those two series receives one qualifying set and three race sets.
Goodyear racing director Justin Fantozzi said Talladega's low-wear surface should leave teams with several pit-road options. Crews can take four tires, two tires or fuel only, with the choice tied to track position and the amount of fuel needed rather than a fixed tire-life limit.
What it means
The lack of a new compound removes one variable from the weekend, but the smaller Cup spoiler is a more recent change at a Talladega race. Teams still must determine how that aerodynamic package affects drafting stability and passing in a 188-lap event.
Because the supplied tires are expected to lose little performance, pit timing can become a positioning decision. A shorter two-tire or fuel-only stop may gain track position, while a longer four-tire stop offers fresher rubber without evidence from the release that it will deliver a large speed advantage.
Source
This State & Nation summary is based on NASCAR.com’s original release, dated 2026-10-20. The reporting and statistics above are attributed to that publication.