NASCAR Heads to Texas After Talladega Thriller and Breakout Win

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Updated: 3:20 PM CDT May 1, 2026

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By Kansas City’s Own® KCWE

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Round 12 today, carrying plenty of momentum after a dramatic showing at Talladega Superspeedway.

That race delivered a breakthrough moment for Corey Day, who captured his first career win in a chaotic, high-speed finish. Day stayed composed through the closing laps and made the right moves when it mattered most, securing a milestone victory and continuing what has been an impressive season.

Talladega also added to a growing list of memorable finishes across the schedule—and Texas has delivered its share of those as well. Just two years ago, the Fort Worth track produced one of the closest endings in recent memory. Sam Mayer surged past Ryan Sieg at the line after Sieg briefly lost momentum exiting Turn 2, creating a dramatic, last-second pass that still stands out as one of the track’s signature moments.

Now, the series returns to the 1.5-mile oval for its third intermediate race of the 2026 season, where speed, tire management, and track position are expected to play major roles.

Kyle Larson is back behind the wheel of the No. 88 and brings a strong track record with him. He already has a win this season in Las Vegas and also took the checkered flag at Texas one year ago, making him a driver to watch once again.

Dr. Patrick Staropoli’s qualifying order is position 7 for Texas. He made contact with the wall just a couple laps into the race at Talladega, putting him behind early, but was able to continue and finish the event despite the damage. He now looks to rebound with a cleaner run at Texas. BMR is a promotional partner with KCWE this season.

With recent races producing breakout winners and unforgettable finishes, Texas Motor Speedway sets up as another opportunity for drama in the 2026 campaign.

Live coverage begins Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on Kansas City’s Own® KCWE and The CW.