Smith and Green to Race at Talladega on October 23
Spire Motorsports drivers will compete in the 85-lap event at Talladega Superspeedway this week.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Motorsports
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Sammy Smith and Austin Green are set to drive the No. 7 and No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado RST trucks for Spire Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2026. The race marks the 23rd points-paying event of the 2026 season.
Why it matters
The event serves as the fifth race of the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoff format, with only three races remaining to decide the Owner's Championship. Teams are currently fighting for position in the standings as the season nears its conclusion.
The race spans 85 laps on the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 7 team currently holds ninth in the owner's standings, while the No. 77 team sits in eighth.
The players
Sammy Smith
He is a professional race car driver competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Austin Green
He is a professional race car driver competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Spire Motorsports
This is a Mooresville, N.C.-based racing organization that fields entries across multiple NASCAR series.
The details
Spire Motorsports, based in Mooresville, N.C., will field two entries for this pivotal playoff event. The race is the 23rd of 25 scheduled contests for the 2026 season.
Timeline
The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race begins October 23, 2026, at 4 p.m.
Season Trajectory
This race follows the 2024 Talladega Truck Series race, where the final margin of victory was 0.117 seconds. The intensity of this event reflects the high-stakes nature of the 2026 playoffs as the season nears its end.
The No. 7 team and No. 77 team must navigate Talladega to improve their current ninth and eighth rankings in the owner's point standings. Fans can watch the live broadcast on FS1, the NASCAR Racing Network, or SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
The takeaway
Talladega remains one of the most critical tracks for playoff contenders due to its unique 2.66-mile length. Drivers must maintain high drafting speeds to secure the points necessary to climb the owner's standings.
Further reading
For more on the current season standings and schedule, visit Motorsports.
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Do you plan to tune in to the NASCAR Truck Series race this weekend?
