US NATIONAL NEWS

Report finds democracy for Black Americans is under attack

Published

3 years ago

April 16, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — Extreme views adopted by some local, state and federal political leaders who try to limit what history can be taught in schools and seek to undermine how Black officials perform their jobs are among the top threats to democracy for Black Americans, the National Urban League says.

Marc Morial, the former New Orleans mayor who leads the civil rights and urban advocacy organization, cited the most recent example: the vote this month by the Republican-controlled Tennessee House to oust two Black representatives for violating a legislative rule. The pair had participated in a gun control protest inside the chamber after the shooting that killed three students and three staff members at a Nashville school.

“We have censorship and Black history suppression, and now this,” Morial said in an interview. “It’s another piece of fruit of the same poisonous tree, the effort to suppress and contain.”

Both Tennessee lawmakers were quickly reinstated by leaders in their districts and were back at work in the House after an uproar that spread well beyond the state.

The Urban League’s annual State of Black America report released Saturday draws on data and surveys from a number of organizations, including the UCLA Law School, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. The collective findings reveal an increase in recent years in hate crimes and efforts to change classroom curriculums, attempts to make voting more difficult and extremist views being normalized in politics, the military and law enforcement.

One of the most prominent areas examined is so-called critical race theory. Scholars developed it as an academic framework during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. The theory centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation’s institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

Director Taifha Alexander said the Forward Tracking Project, part of the UCLA Law School, began in response to the backlash that followed the protests of the George Floyd killing in 2020 and an executive order that year from then-President Donald Trump restricting diversity training.

The project’s website shows that 209 local, state and federal government entities have introduced more than 670 bills, resolutions, executive orders, opinion letters, statements and other measures against critical race theory since September 2020.

Anti-critical race theory is “a living organism in and of itself. It’s always evolving. There are always new targets of attack,” Alexander said.

She said the expanded scope of some of those laws, which are having a chilling effect on teaching certain aspects of the country’s racial conflicts, will lead to major gaps in understanding history and social justice.

“This anti-CRT campaign is going to frustrate our ability to reach our full potential as a multiracial democracy” because future leaders will be missing information they could use to tackle problems, Alexander said.

She said one example is the rewriting of Florida elementary school material about civil rights figure Rosa Parks and her refusal to give up her seat to a white rider on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus in 1955 — an incident that sparked the bus boycott there. Mention of race was omitted entirely in one revision, a change first reported by The New York Times.

Florida has been the epicenter of many of the steps, including opposing AP African American studies, but it’s not alone.

“The things that have been happening in Florida have been replicated, or governors in similarly situated states have claimed they will do the same thing,” Alexander said.

In Alabama, a proposal to ban “divisive” concepts passed out of legislative committee this past week. Last year, the administration of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, rescinded a series of policies, memos and other resources related to diversity, equity and inclusion that it characterized as “discriminatory and divisive concepts” in the state’s public education system.

Oklahoma public school teachers are prohibited from teaching certain concepts of race and racism under a bill Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law in 2021.

On Thursday, the Llano County Commissioners Court in Texas held a special meeting to consider shutting down the entire public library system rather than follow a federal judge’s order to return a slate of books to the shelves on topics ranging from teenage sexuality to bigotry.

After listening to public comments in favor and against the shutdown, the commissioners decided to remove the item from the agenda.

“We will suppress your books. We will suppress the conversation about race and racism, and we will suppress your history, your AP course,” Morial said. “It is singular in its effort to suppress Blacks.”

Other issues in his group’s report address extremism in the military and law enforcement, energy and climate change, and how current attitudes can affect public policy. Predominantly white legislatures in Missouri and Mississippi have proposals that would shift certain government authority from some majority Black cities to the states.

In many ways, the report mirrors concerns evident in recent years in a country deeply divided over everything from how much K-12 students should be taught about racism and sexuality to the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

Forty percent of voters in last year’s elections said their local K-12 public schools were not teaching enough about racism in the United States, while 34% said it already was too much, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of the American electorate. Twenty-three percent said the current curriculum was about right.

About two-thirds of Black voters said more should be taught on the subject, compared with about half of Latino voters and about one-third of white voters.

Violence is one of the major areas of concern covered in the Urban League report, especially in light of the 2022 mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The accused shooter left a manifesto raising the “great replacement theory ” as a motive in the killings.

Data released this year by the FBI indicated that hate crimes rose between 2020 and 2021. African Americans were disproportionately represented, accounting for 30% of the incidents in which the bias was known.

By comparison, the second largest racial group targeted in the single incident category was white victims, who made up 10%.

Rachel Carroll Rivas, deputy director of research with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project, said when all the activities are tabulated, including hate crimes, rhetoric, incidents of discrimination and online disinformation, “we see a very clear and concerning threat to America and a disproportionate impact on Black Americans.”

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Central Florida News

ActBlue Managers Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Jose Gamboa Hold Key Roles in Florida House Race Amid Federal Investigations

Published

2 days ago

August 7, 2026

FNN NEWS

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — ActBlue, one of the Democratic Party’s most influential online fundraising platforms, remains under federal and congressional investigations over its donor-verification, fraud-prevention and compliance practices as two ActBlue employees — Florida House District 43 candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago and campaign treasurer Jose Gamboa — hold key political and campaign-finance roles in the same Central Florida race.

Vilchez Santiago publicly identifies ActBlue as his employer while seeking the Democratic nomination for Florida House District 43. Gamboa, who is publicly identified as an ActBlue employee, serves as Vilchez Santiago’s campaign treasurer and also holds a leadership role with Central Floridians for Change, a Florida political committee associated with Vilchez Santiago.

The overlap places two ActBlue employees at the center of a competitive Orlando-area legislative contest while congressional investigators and federal authorities continue examining allegations involving straw donors, potentially prohibited foreign contributions, donor verification, payment safeguards and ActBlue’s internal compliance procedures.

There is no public evidence identified by Florida National News that Samuel Vilchez Santiago or Jose Gamboa has been named as a subject or target of any federal investigation involving ActBlue.

Their employment with ActBlue does not establish that either participated in, knew about or was responsible for any conduct being examined by federal authorities.

The federal scrutiny concerns ActBlue’s broader fundraising and compliance practices and should be distinguished from the activities of individual employees unless evidence establishes a connection.

ActBlue Faces Continuing Federal Scrutiny

ActBlue has faced congressional and federal scrutiny involving its online political fundraising practices.

Congressional inquiries have examined issues including donor identity verification, fraud prevention, potentially prohibited foreign contributions, prepaid-card transactions, suspicious contribution patterns and ActBlue’s internal compliance procedures.

The scrutiny has involved the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Federal scrutiny expanded following President Donald Trump’s April 24, 2025 presidential memorandum, which directed the attorney general, in consultation with the Treasury secretary, to investigate allegations involving online political fundraising platforms.

The memorandum addressed allegations involving straw or “dummy” contributions, prohibited foreign contributions, identity-related fraud and other potential violations of federal campaign-finance law.

The presidential memorandum ordered federal officials to investigate the allegations. It did not establish that ActBlue or any individual committed a crime.

Straw and “Dummy” Donor Allegations

One focus of the federal scrutiny involves allegations of straw donations, generally referring to political contributions made in another person’s name to conceal the true source of the funds.

Federal law prohibits making a political contribution in the name of another person or knowingly permitting one’s name to be used to disguise the actual source of a contribution.

Investigators have examined whether vulnerabilities in online fundraising systems could potentially allow political money to be divided into smaller transactions and attributed to other individuals.

Trump’s April 2025 memorandum specifically directed federal officials to investigate allegations involving “straw” or “dummy” contributions and potentially prohibited foreign contributions made through online fundraising platforms.

Federal scrutiny has also included questions about whether prepaid cards, gift cards, false identities, unauthorized payment information or other methods could be used to conceal the actual source of political contributions or circumvent fraud-detection systems.

The directive ordered an investigation into allegations; it did not establish that those allegations were proven.

Foreign Contributions and Online Fundraising

Another focus has been whether prohibited foreign money could enter U.S. elections through online fundraising platforms.

Federal law generally prohibits foreign nationals from directly or indirectly making contributions or donations in connection with federal, state or local elections.

Congressional investigators have examined whether foreign individuals or organizations could exploit weaknesses in online donation systems to route political contributions into American campaigns while obscuring the original source.

The April 2025 presidential memorandum cited congressional investigative findings stating that ActBlue had detected at least 22 “significant fraud campaigns,” nearly half of which reportedly had a foreign nexus.

The memorandum also cited findings that during one 30-day period in the 2024 election cycle, ActBlue detected 237 donations originating from foreign IP addresses and involving domestic prepaid cards.

Those figures were cited as reasons for further investigation.

They do not establish that all 237 transactions were illegal foreign contributions or that the individuals involved violated federal law.

Donor Identity and Payment Verification

Congressional scrutiny has also focused on how ActBlue verifies donor identities and determines whether the person making a contribution is the individual identified in the transaction.

Investigators have examined issues involving donor identity verification, suspicious-transaction detection, prepaid cards, foreign IP addresses, potentially unauthorized payment information and repeated or unusual contribution patterns.

Another area of inquiry has involved ActBlue’s historical policies concerning card verification value, or CVV, the security code commonly associated with credit- and debit-card transactions.

Investigators have questioned whether stronger identity and payment-verification requirements could help prevent fraudulent transactions, contributions made in another person’s name or attempts by prohibited foreign sources to participate financially in U.S. elections.

Congressional Investigation Reaches ActBlue Personnel

Congressional scrutiny has expanded beyond ActBlue’s fundraising technology to include current and former employees, executives and personnel involved in legal and compliance operations.

House investigators have sought documents and testimony concerning ActBlue’s handling of potentially fraudulent or prohibited contributions and what employees and executives knew about suspicious fundraising activity.

Congressional investigators reported that five current or former ActBlue employees invoked their Fifth Amendment rights in response to substantive questions during depositions, according to a 2026 joint congressional staff report.

Invoking the Fifth Amendment is a constitutional right and does not establish guilt or prove that an individual committed a crime.

Investigators have also examined personnel changes within ActBlue’s legal and compliance operations following the 2024 election and sought information about how senior officials responded to internal concerns.

Scrutiny Expands to ActBlue Leadership

Congressional investigators have also sought information from individuals within ActBlue’s leadership structure, including members of its board.

Investigators have requested documents, communications and testimony concerning what senior leadership knew about fraud concerns, potentially prohibited foreign contributions, internal compliance procedures and ActBlue’s responses to congressional inquiries.

Congressional committees have additionally examined whether requested information was fully provided and whether representations made to lawmakers accurately reflected ActBlue’s internal fraud-prevention and compliance practices.

Those allegations remain disputed and do not constitute findings of criminal wrongdoing by a court.

Justice Department and FBI Scrutiny

The scrutiny has extended beyond Congress.

Trump’s April 24, 2025 memorandum directed the attorney general, in consultation with the Treasury secretary, to investigate allegations involving unlawful straw or dummy contributions, prohibited foreign contributions and other potential violations involving online fundraising platforms.

Congressional investigators have also referred or provided information from their ActBlue investigation to federal law-enforcement authorities.

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil said in 2025 that he received a classified briefing at FBI headquarters concerning active campaign-finance investigations following congressional concerns about potential foreign participation in U.S. elections through online fundraising platforms.

Because portions of federal investigative activity are not public, the full scope and current status of any Justice Department or FBI investigation cannot necessarily be determined from publicly available information.

The existence of an investigation does not establish that ActBlue, its employees or campaigns using its platform committed a crime.

ActBlue Denies Wrongdoing

ActBlue has denied allegations of wrongdoing and has maintained that it complies with federal campaign-finance laws and maintains systems designed to detect and prevent fraudulent or prohibited contributions.

Evidence that ActBlue detected suspicious transactions does not necessarily mean those transactions were completed, accepted as lawful political contributions or ultimately determined to violate federal law.

Congressional subpoenas, investigative reports, federal inquiries and employee testimony likewise do not, by themselves, establish criminal or civil liability.

Against that national backdrop, the involvement of ActBlue employees Samuel Vilchez Santiago and Jose Gamboa in Florida House District 43 gives the federal scrutiny a direct Central Florida political connection.

Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Jose Gamboa Hold Key HD 43 Roles

Public campaign records identify Samuel Vilchez Santiago as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Florida House District 43.

Publicly available professional information identifies Vilchez Santiago as holding a management position with ActBlue. His employment with the organization is separate from his candidacy for public office.

Vilchez Santiago’s campaign website states that, as a Senior Nonprofit Manager at ActBlue, he helps thousands of nonprofits and grassroots movements across the country build people-powered fundraising programs aimed at shifting political influence away from corporations and toward communities.

Jose Gamboa is publicly identified as an Account Management Specialist at ActBlue and serves as treasurer of Vilchez Santiago’s campaign.

Florida campaign-finance records also identify Gamboa as an officer of Central Floridians for Change, a Florida political committee associated with Vilchez Santiago.

The arrangement places Vilchez Santiago and Gamboa — both publicly identified ActBlue employees — in significant campaign and campaign-finance positions surrounding the same Florida legislative contest.

Vilchez Santiago is the candidate.

Gamboa is responsible for campaign treasury operations while also holding leadership roles (chairman and treasurer) with an associated political committee.

Their employment and campaign roles do not, by themselves, establish a violation of state or federal law.

They do, however, create a public-interest question about what safeguards ActBlue maintains when its employees simultaneously become candidates, campaign treasurers or political committee officials.

Political Relationship Between Vilchez Santiago and Gamboa Dates to 2020

The political relationship between Samuel Vilchez Santiago and Jose Gamboa predates the current House District 43 campaign.

When Vilchez Santiago sought the Democratic nomination for the Florida House in 2020, then-Orange County School Board member Johanna López served as his campaign manager.

Gamboa served as deputy campaign manager, while Diana Joaquin served as campaign treasurer.

Vilchez Santiago ultimately lost the 2020 Democratic primary to Daisy Morales, who went on to win the general election and serve in the Florida House.

The political relationships continued to overlap in later election cycles.

According to campaign-finance reports from López’s 2024 Florida House campaign, the campaign reported $2,250 in expenditures to Joaquin and $1,440 in expenditures to Gamboa.

López has endorsed Vilchez Santiago’s 2026 House District 43 campaign, while Central Floridians for Change reported contributing $1,000 to López’s 2026 Orange County Commission District 4 campaign on or about March 20.

The contribution and endorsement do not establish an exchange, agreement or improper relationship.

However, together with the documented campaign relationships dating to 2020, they provide additional context for examining the financial, professional and political relationships surrounding the House District 43 race.

Overall, those expenditures do not indicate wrongdoing. They provide historical context showing that several individuals involved in the current political network have worked together across multiple Central Florida Democratic campaigns.

Gamboa’s involvement with Vilchez Santiago therefore dates at least to the 2020 election cycle, progressing from deputy campaign manager to campaign treasurer while he also holds a leadership position with Central Floridians for Change.

Credit: Samuel Vilchez Santaiago Campaign

Vilchez Santiago Campaign, Associated Committee Report About $217,000 Combined

Campaign-finance reports show substantial fundraising surrounding Vilchez Santiago’s campaign and Central Floridians for Change.

According to publicly reported figures:

Samuel Vilchez Santiago campaign: approximately $155,000 raised
Central Floridians for Change: approximately $62,000 raised
Combined reported fundraising: approximately $217,000

The campaign and political committee are legally separate entities and report their finances independently.

One transaction has drawn particular attention during the closing weeks of the Democratic primary.

Central Floridians for Change contributed $50,000 to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee in July 27, 2026, through three separate contributions of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000, according to Florida campaign-finance reports.

Based on approximately $62,000 in reported committee fundraising, the $50,000 contribution represents roughly 81% of the committee’s reported receipts.

The contribution came weeks before the Aug. 18 Democratic primary.

The Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee is an affiliated party committee that raises and spends political funds in connection with Democratic efforts involving Florida House races.

The contribution itself does not establish wrongdoing.

Its size and timing, however, add another campaign-finance dimension to a primary in which an ActBlue employee is the candidate and another ActBlue employee serves as campaign treasurer and a political committee official.

Credit: Samuel Vilchez Santaiago Campaign

Vilchez Santiago Draws Major Democratic Support

Vilchez Santiago has announced endorsements from numerous elected officials, labor organizations and political groups.

His publicly announced supporters include U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Maxwell Frost, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, State Attorney Monique Worrell and State Rep. Johanna López, along with other current and former elected officials.

Organizational endorsements announced by the campaign include the Florida Education Association, Orange County Classroom Teachers Association and Orange County Fire Fighters Association, among other labor and advocacy organizations.

The endorsements demonstrate substantial institutional and political support for Vilchez Santiago.

However, an endorsement should not be interpreted as evidence that an elected official or organization independently investigated, reviewed or cleared Vilchez Santiago, Gamboa or ActBlue regarding matters under federal scrutiny unless that official or organization specifically states that such a review occurred. (vetting a candidate for endorsement)

The endorsements represent support for Vilchez Santiago’s candidacy.

No Public Evidence Vilchez Santiago or Gamboa Are Federal Targets

The distinction between federal scrutiny of ActBlue and the status of Samuel Vilchez Santiago and Jose Gamboa is critical.

Florida National News has identified no public evidence naming either Vilchez Santiago or Gamboa as a subject or target of the congressional or federal investigations involving ActBlue.

Their employment with the organization should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that either participated in, knew about or was responsible for conduct under investigation.

FNN has also identified no public announcement by federal authorities alleging that Vilchez Santiago’s House campaign or Central Floridians for Change is part of the federal inquiries into ActBlue.

Credit: Samuel Vilchez Santiago Campaign

ActBlue Employee Political Activity Raises Policy Questions

While there is no public indication that Vilchez Santiago or Gamboa is individually under federal investigation, their simultaneous professional and political roles raise broader policy, transparency and compliance questions.

Among them:

What policies does ActBlue maintain when an employee becomes a candidate for public office?

Are ActBlue employees permitted to serve simultaneously as campaign treasurers or officers of political committees?

What safeguards separate an employee’s ActBlue responsibilities from outside campaign or PAC activities?

Are employees with access to political fundraising systems subject to additional compliance requirements when they become candidates or campaign-finance officers?

Have congressional investigators sought information concerning ActBlue employees who simultaneously serve as candidates, campaign treasurers, political committee officials or political consultants?

The existence of these questions does not establish misconduct.

Answers could provide voters with a clearer understanding of how ActBlue manages employee political activity and potential conflicts involving outside campaigns..

ActBlue Connection Adds National Dimension to Central Florida Primary

The House District 43 Democratic primary is fundamentally a Central Florida legislative contest.

But the employment of candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago and campaign treasurer Jose Gamboa by ActBlue adds a national dimension as the fundraising organization continues to face congressional and federal scrutiny.

Vilchez Santiago has assembled significant financial, labor and political support as he seeks the Democratic nomination.

Morales is seeking to return to the Legislature after representing Florida House District 48 from 2020 to 2022.

The candidates previously faced each other in the 2020 Democratic primary for House District 48, when Morales defeated Vilchez Santiago and two other candidates before winning the general election.

Redistricting later changed the legislative boundaries, with portions of the former House District 48 now located within House District 43.

FNN Continuing Coverage

Florida National News will continue examining the ActBlue federal investigations and their broader implications while separately monitoring the political and campaign-finance activities of ActBlue employees Samuel Vilchez Santiago and Jose Gamboa in Florida House District 43.

FNN will seek responses from ActBlue, Vilchez Santiago, Gamboa and other individuals or organizations identified in this report when their comments materially contribute to the public’s understanding of the issues.

FNN will also monitor campaign-finance disclosures, congressional developments and any publicly released information from the Justice Department or other federal authorities.

Florida National News will update, correct or clarify this reporting when new verified information warrants doing so.

Election Day Aug. 18

The Democratic primary for Florida House District 43 will be held Aug. 18, 2026, with early voting underway.

The Democratic nominee will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to face the Republican nominee and any qualified write-in candidate.

Profile

Trump Targets Birthright Citizenship, ‘Birth Tourism’ in New Immigration Actions

Published

3 days ago

August 7, 2026

FNN NEWS

WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — President Donald Trump announced new executive actions Thursday aimed at restricting birthright citizenship and curbing so-called “birth tourism,” renewing his administration’s effort to narrow who automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at birth.

Trump said he was signing two immigration-related actions, including one seeking to limit automatic U.S. citizenship for certain people born in the United States and another targeting foreign visitors who travel to the country for the purpose of giving birth.

The latest move represents another attempt by the Trump administration to reshape the application of birthright citizenship, a contentious constitutional issue that has generated extensive litigation.

New Order Takes Narrower Approach

The executive order released Thursday appears narrower than Trump’s previous attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.

The new action focuses on specific categories, including children born to certain people connected to foreign embassies or international organizations and those considered “alien enemies” of the United States.

The order also seeks to restrict automatic citizenship in cases involving parents who the administration determines “engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain citizenship.”

Trump said he believes the new approach is constitutional.

The latest action is expected to face close legal scrutiny over how far presidential authority extends in determining citizenship rights under the Constitution and federal law.

Trump Targets ‘Birth Tourism’

A separate executive action seeks to tighten restrictions on foreign visitors who obtain visas with the intention of traveling to the United States to give birth.

Trump described the practice as “birth tourism.”

The administration’s action seeks additional restrictions aimed at preventing visitors from using temporary entry into the United States primarily to secure U.S. citizenship for a child born while they are in the country.

Constitutional Fight Could Continue

Birthright citizenship is rooted in the 14th Amendment, which states that people born or naturalized in the United States “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” are citizens of the United States and the state where they reside.

The meaning and reach of that provision are central to the continuing legal debate over whether a president can restrict birthright citizenship through executive action without congressional legislation or a constitutional amendment.

It remains uncertain whether Trump’s latest approach will survive expected legal challenges.

The administration’s renewed effort signals that birthright citizenship will remain a significant part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda as the White House seeks to change how federal immigration and citizenship laws are applied.

Sports

Talladega Superspeedway Announces 2027 NASCAR Race Dates as The Chase Returns

Published

3 days ago

August 7, 2026

FNN SPORTS

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.