Alfredo Back With Beard For Talladega Cup Series Race

Anthony Alfredo (Nickolas Wolf / Nigel Kinrade Photography)

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Anthony Alfredo will return to the NASCAR Cup Series with Beard Motorsports at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 27, alongside partner Fortify Building Solutions.

The Ridgefield, Conn., native – who turns 26 on March 31 – will take to the high-banked, 2.66-mile oval for the Jack Link’s 500 for his second appearance of the year at stock car racing’s premier level, after an attempt to qualify for the season opening Daytona 500 in February.

It will mark the 31st Cup Series showing for the family-owned Beard Motorsports team, founded by the late Mark Beard Sr. and continuing under the ownership of Linda Beard, with children Amie Beard-Deja and Mark Beard Jr. overseeing the organization’s daily operations.

“We’ll head to Talladega feeling like there is some unfinished business to take care of, in more ways than one,” said Beard-Deja, executive vice president of Beard Motorsports. “Despite the incredible preparation that is the hallmark of this team, beginning with our crew chief Darren Shaw, things just didn’t go our way at Daytona this time. That’s the way it goes in this highly competitive arena, particularly for a small, single-car, open team. It was certainly disappointing, but it only strengthens our resolve as we prepare for Talladega.

“Anthony and the team did a remarkable job there last spring, and we’ll look to improve on that this time around,” Beard-Deja continued. “We are pulling out all the stops to deliver a top result.”

Fortify Building Solutions – part of the Cornerstone Building Brands family of exterior building product brands – will be back onboard for the company’s third Cup Series race with Beard Motorsports.

Spotlighted as part of the sponsorship will be Hypersteel cold-formed buildings, a line of simple metal buildings that offer a quick design and production turnaround for customers and contractors.

“We share a heightened commitment with the Beard family to community, perseverance and, well, speed,” said Heather Hollis, vice president of marketing at Cornerstone Building Brands. “Showcasing Hypersteel cold-formed buildings on the No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet helps us share an exciting story about how customers can get a new customized metal building faster and easier.

“Our partnership with Anthony Alfredo underscores our dedication to speed and endurance.”

Talladega will be Alfredo’s fifth race with Beard Motorsports, and he’s excelled in his limited starts at the wheel of the No. 62 Chevrolet. His career-best Cup Series result of sixth came at Talladega last spring, and he led four laps during that race while racing among the lead contenders.

Also of note, he earned a third-place result at the track in the Xfinity Series the same weekend. Alfredo is competing full time in the Xfinity Series this year for Young’s Motorsports, where he’s coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes in that group’s best period so far this season.

Alfredo came up just short of making his third Daytona 500 start, finishing second among Open, non-chartered teams in his Duel qualifying race at the World Center of Racing.

It was a disappointing moment for driver and team, but one that has only served to motivate them, Alfredo pointed out.

“I echo Amie’s sentiments when I say we definitely have some unfinished business next month at Talladega,” he said. “We went to Daytona feeling very confident after making the 500 on qualifying speed last year. We executed flawlessly during our Duel, had an awesome, green-flag pit stop, but we were outnumbered with the lack of drafting opportunities with other Chevrolets.

“I feel thankful to be back at Talladega with the Beard family and Fortify Building Solutions, continued Alfredo. “I’m excited to push for a result even better than our sixth-place finish last year, showcasing the Hypersteel product and our shared commitment to being hyper fast.”

Talladega will mark Alfredo’s 42nd Cup Series start overall. He’ll run double duty during the race weekend, also continuing his full-season commitment to Young’s Motorsports in the Xfinity Series on Saturday prior to Sunday’s Cup Series headliner.

Broadcast coverage of the Jack Link’s 500 is slated for Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m. ET, live on FOX, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.