TALLADEGA, Ala. (FNN SPORTS) — Talladega Superspeedway will once again play a pivotal role in NASCAR’s championship battle, with two race weekends scheduled for April and October 2027 at the legendary Alabama track.

NASCAR will return to Talladega April 24-25 and Oct. 29-31, 2027, giving fans two opportunities to experience racing on the superspeedway’s iconic high banks.

The October weekend will carry major championship implications as all three NASCAR national series compete at Talladega during The Chase.

Talladega’s Spring 2027 Weekend

Talladega’s traditional spring race weekend returns April 24-25, featuring the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Cup Series.

The weekend will provide drivers with an early-season opportunity to secure valuable points in one of NASCAR’s most unpredictable superspeedway races.

The schedule includes:

Saturday, April 24: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series races

Sunday, April 25: NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500

The Chase Returns to Talladega in October

The stakes will increase significantly when NASCAR returns to Talladega from Oct. 29-31, 2027, with championship contenders battling for position late in the season.

All three NASCAR national series will compete during the weekend, which is expected to play an important role in determining the drivers who remain in contention for their respective championships.

The October schedule includes:

Friday, Oct. 29: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225

Saturday, Oct. 30: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series The Progress Group 250

Sunday, Oct. 31: NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500

“It’s an honor for Talladega Superspeedway to continue to have two race weekends giving our fans multiple opportunities to experience high-stakes action at this incredible venue,” said Josh Harris, region president of Talladega Superspeedway and Darlington Raceway.

“Looking up into the grandstands and seeing the passion the fans have for NASCAR in the heart of Alabama is extremely rewarding and we look forward to seeing action-packed racing return next spring and fall.”

Carson Hocevar Earned Breakthrough Talladega Victory

Earlier this year, Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega, edging Chris Buescher in a dramatic finish.

The 23-year-old Michigan native celebrated the milestone by sitting on the window ledge of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet during a victory pass in front of the Talladega grandstands.

2026 YellaWood 500 Weekend Still Ahead

Before attention turns to 2027, Talladega will host another major weekend of racing this fall as part of The Chase.

The action begins Friday, Oct. 23, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series follows with The Progress Group 250 on Saturday, Oct. 24, before NASCAR Cup Series drivers take on Talladega’s famous 33-degree banking in the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, Oct. 25.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran linebacker Jahlani Tavai, the team announced Thursday. Jacksonville also waived linebacker Jared Bartlett with an injury designation.

Tavai brings seven seasons of NFL experience and a résumé that includes 107 regular-season games and 67 starts.

The 29-year-old linebacker has played for the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots since entering the NFL as a second-round selection by Detroit with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Over his career, Tavai has recorded 432 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, 14 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Last season with New England, Tavai appeared in 12 regular-season games, making seven starts. He finished with 34 tackles, including four tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.

Tavai also appeared in all four of New England’s postseason games, making two starts, including an appearance in Super Bowl LX.

College Career at Hawaii

A native of Inglewood, California, Tavai played college football at Hawaii from 2014-18.

During his collegiate career, he appeared in 47 games and totaled 391 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

The addition gives Jacksonville another experienced option at linebacker as the Jaguars continue preparing for the 2026 NFL season.

NEW YORK (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic have been named the recipient of the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the organization’s innovative global marketing efforts as part of the NBA’s 2025-26 Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

The award honors NBA teams that develop data-driven international marketing strategies that strengthen brand recognition, create meaningful partnerships and expand fan engagement outside the United States.

Germany Strategy Drives Award-Winning Campaign

Building on last year’s success, the Magic expanded their presence in Germany through a year-long strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.

Rather than focusing solely on the international exhibition, Orlando created a comprehensive campaign that included:

• A summer promotional tour across Germany
• Magic Kiez, an immersive fan experience hub
• Youth basketball clinics
• Business networking summits
• Community watch parties
• Interactive fan activations
• Corporate partnership events

The organization said the strategy helped establish a sustained presence before, during and after the Berlin game while strengthening relationships with German basketball fans and business leaders.

New International Partnerships

The campaign also expanded the Magic’s International Team Marketing Program (ITMP) through collaborations with several new international and global partners, including:

• AIDA Cruises
• Domino’s
• Kellogg’s
• Telekom
• ThreatLocker
• Visit Orlando

The partnerships supported both fan engagement initiatives and business development opportunities throughout Germany.

NBA Recognizes Innovation Across the League

The NBA’s annual Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate excellence in fan engagement, sponsorship activation, innovation, community impact and ticket sales.

This year’s major award winners included:

The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans also received recognition through the NBA’s AI Studio program for innovative applications of artificial intelligence to improve fan experiences.

NBA Executive Applauds Team Innovation

Jonathan Tillman, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Team Marketing and Business Operations, praised the league’s clubs for continuing to innovate.

“The innovation, creativity and strategic thinking NBA teams demonstrate every day continue to raise the bar for the sports industry while creating deeper connections with fans in their communities and around the world,” Tillman said.

He added that NBA teams are finding new ways to grow their businesses through strategic partnerships, artificial intelligence, ticket sales innovations and community engagement.

Selection Process

All 30 NBA franchises were invited to submit entries for the Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

Winners were selected by a committee of NBA league and team executives based on creativity, measurable business results and overall impact.

For the second consecutive season, the Orlando Magic’s international strategy stood out among the league’s entries, highlighting the franchise’s continued commitment to expanding its global brand while strengthening relationships with fans and partners overseas.

Award Highlights

• Orlando Magic won the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second straight year.
• The award recognized the franchise’s comprehensive marketing strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.
• The campaign featured fan engagement, youth clinics, business summits and year-round activations across Germany.
• New international partners included AIDA Cruises, Domino’s, Kellogg’s, Telekom, ThreatLocker and Visit Orlando.
• All 30 NBA teams were eligible, with winners selected by NBA and team executives.