Ty Majeski wins Talladega pole, Sammy Smith starts second
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 23, 2026
Majeski pole run
Ty Majeski claimed the pole for the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway and put himself at the front of the Truck Series field. He turned a lap of 53.983 seconds at 177.389 mph in the final round of qualifying, enough to edge the rest of the grid for the 85-lap race on Talladega’s 2.66-mile oval. Sammy Smith will start second, with Kaden Honeycutt third and Giovanni Ruggiero fourth. Cole Butcher takes fifth, Austin Green sixth, Tyler Ankrum seventh, Corey Heim eighth, Layne Riggs ninth and Ben Rhodes 10th. The event is set for 226.1 miles and will run with stage breaks at 20 laps, 40 laps and 85 laps. It is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on FS1, FOX One and SiriusXM.
Talladega starting order
The rest of the lineup gives the race a wide range of starting spots and storylines. Tony Stewart will roll off 29th, while Cleetus McFarland starts 24th. Both have ground to make up before they can think about the front. The grid also places several drivers in prime positions to shape the early pace and puts the front group in position to influence the race from the opening laps. The lineup matters even more at Talladega because a strong start can help a driver control the first stage and avoid traffic that builds deeper in the pack.
Honeycutt standings lead
Kaden Honeycutt arrives at Talladega with the strongest points position in the story. He leads Layne Riggs by 39 points in the 2026 Truck Series standings after winning at Phoenix Raceway, and Christian Eckes sits third, 112 points behind Honeycutt. With three races left in the season, the standings give extra weight to every lap, every position and every decision on track. Honeycutt’s third-place starting spot adds another layer to the race, since he begins close to the front and can protect his points lead with a strong run. Eckes’ points gap leaves him chasing from farther back in the title race, but the remaining schedule still leaves room for movement. Talladega gives the contenders a race that can change quickly, and the starting order matches that tension.
