NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500: Qualifying, Zane Smith’s 1st Pole, Lineup At Talladega Superspeedway

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on Get to know Jeff Hawkins better

Sports Editor

Published26 Apr 2025

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Fourth-year NASCAR Cup Series driver Zane Smith needed a boost. 

In nine events this season, Smith, who has not won a national series race since 2023, has yet to a top-five finish. Perhaps, Saturday’s qualifying effort at Talladega Superspeedway will give the 2022 Truck Series champion a jolt of confidence. 

Smith clocked a qualifying lap of 52.564 seconds to crush the field, beating runner-up Kyle Busch by more than a tenth of a second. Smith will start Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 from the inside of the front row for the first time in his Cup career. 

He quickly credited his teammates. 

“I wish I could take a lot of credit for it, but, truthfully, (it was) a fast (machine),” Smith told Prime. “A huge shout out to all these guys (on the team). Super stoked for this. 

“So cool.“   

Rodney Childers Departs Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Team 

New Spire Motorsports’ crew chief Doug Powers is off to a bumpy start.  

After Rodney Childers announced he was parting ways with the Mooresville, North Carolina, organization earlier in the week, his No. 7 Chevrolet failed two pre-qualifying inspections Friday at Talladega. 

Powers was suspended for the rest of the weekend, leaving pit boss Ryan Sparks to guide the team Sunday. 

Haley (178.78) qualified P37. 

Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series’ Jack Link’s 500    

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway: 

Starting Position, Driver, Car No. 

  • 1, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford 
  • 2, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet 
  • 3, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford 
  • 4, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford 
  • 5, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet 
  • 6, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford 
  • 7, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford 
  • 8, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford 
  • 9, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford 
  • 10, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota 
  • 11, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota 
  • 12, Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford 
  • 13, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota 
  • 14, Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet  
  • 15, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford 
  • 16, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet 
  • 17, Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota 
  • 18, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet 
  • 19, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet 
  • 20, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota 
  • 21, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet 
  • 22, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford 
  • 23, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota 
  • 24, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet 
  • 25, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet 
  • 26, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota 
  • 27, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford 
  • 28, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet 
  • 29, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota 
  • 30, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet 
  • 31, Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Chevrolet 
  • 32, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet 
  • 33, Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford 
  • 34, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota 
  • 35, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet 
  • 36, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet 
  • 37, Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet 
  • 38, BJ McLeod, No. 78 Chevrolet 
  • 39, JJ Yeley, No. 44 Chevrolet 

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Jeff Hawkins
Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on Get to know Jeff Hawkins better

Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on All posts by Jeff Hawkins