Posted on by Sean Montgomery

The top eight playoff drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings sit comfortably above the cutline entering Sunday’s elimination race at Kansas Speedway. However, the four remaining contenders still have a solid chance to save their season — and they may have history on their side.

RELATED: Expert picks for Kansas | Winners of playoff elimination races

Despite no change to the top eight after the 2018 Round of 12 elimination race, playoff history tends to lean towards a more variable outlook.

Since the adoption of the current NASCAR Playoffs format during the 2014 season, five drivers who were in position to advance to the Round of 8 saw their title hopes dashed in the Round of 12 elimination race. Two of the five, Kyle Larson in 2017 and Kyle Busch in 2014, entered with more than a 25-point cushion but had back-of-the pack finishes that derailed their chase for the Cup.

Although winning the race is the ultimate goal, it is not necessarily a must for the fringe contenders racing to salvage their title hopes. Only one outside-sitting driver under the current format has won the Round of 12 elimination race to advance to the next round: Brad Keselowski in 2014. Keselowski went on to finish the season in fifth place that year, despite tallying a series-high six wins and 17 top five finishes in 36 races.

For a pair of the outside four, recent playoff success at Kansas may lead to a more positive and familiar outlook in the high-stakes race. In last season’s Hollywood Casino 400, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman both secured top-10 finishes. Bowman crossed the line in ninth place, while Elliott dominated the final 44 laps to take home the checkered flag, locking down his coveted spot the Round of 8.

As for the final two, they may have to put together one of the best Kansas performances of their careers. Clint Bowyer, currently sitting 24 points out of contention, has just one top five finish in his last 12 races at Kansas, while William Byron (27 points below the cutline) has an average finish of 30.3 in three career starts at the track.

With Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney being the only drivers securely locked into the Round of 8 after each notching their first win of the season, the playoff tension is building for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM Radio).

Source: Racing Insights

Posted on by Staff Report

As increasingly more eSports drivers gain traction on the national stage, the conversation often turns to: How would eSports drivers fare on a real track, in a real car? Thanks to Sunoco’s eWorld vs. Real World challenge, a pair of Richmond Raceway eSports’ elite competitors had a chance to square off with current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace in a series of events that provided a pathway to the answer.

The challenge was split into two parts: an iRacing experience and a real-world track experience.

RELATED: Full eNASCAR coverage

Richmond Raceway eSports drivers Malik Ray (No. 90 Sunoco Toyota) and Jimmy Mullis (No. 46 Sim Seats Toyota) defended their home turf against Wallace (No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet), as they sat behind the wheel of a Sim Seats driving simulator. The trio of drivers competed at virtual Richmond Raceway to see who could lay down the quickest lap time.

The second part of the challenge featured a real world at-track experience. Each challenger wheeled a US Legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s quarter-mile track, battling to see who could put together the fastest four-lap run.

After the conclusion of both segments, each driver’s recorded times were totaled, and the winner was crowned. Check out the video above to see the full experience play out and who ended up with the ultimate bragging rights.

Posted on by Staff Report

Two NASCAR team haulers have experienced trouble on the way to this weekend’s races at Kansas Speedway with two incidents in a span of less than 24 hours.

Kaulig Racing announced Wednesday evening that its No. 10 Xfinity Series team hauler had crashed on the way to the 1.5-mile track. Thursday morning, JTG Daugherty Racing announced that its No. 47 Monster Energy Series team hauler had suffered a fire, and that the team was assessing the damage to its equipment. A statement from JTG on Friday said the No. 47 team would work out of the Hendrick Motorsports test hauler, and the original backup No. 37 car will serve as the primary No. 47 at Kansas.

RELATED: Full schedule for Kansas

WLOS-TV reported that the Kaulig Racing crash took place on westbound Interstate 40 in McDowell County, just east of Asheville, North Carolina. FOX Carolina reported that state troopers indicated that a medical issue with the driver caused the crash, forcing the tractor-trailer through a guard rail and down an embankment.

FOX Carolina also reported that the driver and co-driver were taken to a local hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Kaulig Racing said Thursday morning that both had been released from the hospital to convalesce at home.

Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice indicated Wednesday that the organization intends to field its two-car effort as planned for Justin Haley’s No. 11 Chevrolet and Ross Chastain’s No. 10 at Kansas. In a Thursday update, Kaulig Racing said that the team was preparing an additional car for Kansas, working with team partner Richard Childress Racing.

JTG Daugherty team owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement that both drivers of the No. 47 hauler were OK after their incident. “We are assessing the damage to our trailer and race cars and will have more information as it becomes available,” Geschickter said.

Ryan Preece is in his first full-time season driving the No. 47 Chevrolet for the JTG Daugherty team.

Posted on by Staff Report

PHILADELPHIA – Comcast announced Thursday the finalists for the 2019 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, an annual award created to recognize the philanthropic efforts of individuals within the NASCAR industry. From 2015, when Comcast began its entitlement sponsorship of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, to 2019, Comcast has donated $600,000 to 15 different NASCAR-affiliated organizations to honor their efforts and help further the impact of their causes.

The 2019 finalists are:

  • Artie Kempner, NASCAR on FOX Coordinating Director and Co-Founder of Autism Delaware
  • David Ragan, NASCAR driver and Ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children
  • Mike Tatoian, President and CEO of Dover International Speedway and USO Delaware Chairman

“Community service is one of Comcast’s core values, and from the beginning of our partnership with NASCAR, we wanted to find a way to tell the amazing stories of how individuals within the sport are giving back to their communities in remarkable ways,” said Matt Lederer, Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Comcast. “In the fifth year of the program, we have another inspirational group of NASCAR industry members who are using their platforms to make a positive impact on so many lives. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to them for their tireless efforts.”

The 2019 Comcast Community Champion of the Year will be selected by a panel comprised of Comcast and NASCAR executives, as well as defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who won the award in 2018. Comcast will award $60,000 to the winner’s affiliated charity, and $30,000 to each of the two remaining finalists’ selected charities.

RELATED: Logano honored for foundation’s works

The 2019 award winner will be announced on Thursday, November 14 at W. South Beach Hotel in Miami in conjunction with NASCAR Championship Weekend.

Comcast has a long track record of community service, aiding in the advancement of local organizations, developing programs and partnerships, mobilizing resources to connect people and inspiring positive and substantive change. To learn more about the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, please visit ComcastCommunityChampion.com.

2019 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalists:

Artie Kempner (Wilmington, Delaware): In 1998, a small group of parents got together in the living room of Marcy and Artie Kempner’s house in Wilmington, Delaware. The Kempners had three boys and their middle son, Ethan, had been diagnosed with autism a year earlier. All of the parents at the table had children on the autism spectrum. That gathering was the beginning of Autism Delaware and Artie became the group’s first president. The organization started as a simple support group, but 20-plus years later, it’s a statewide service agency, fielding more than 1,500 calls from families annually, offering lifespan services, as well as social and recreational program for families in a safe and welcoming environment. Kempner’s work on the Drive for Autism Celebrity-Am Golf Outing, helped the group raise the necessary money to launch its critically acclaimed adult vocational and employment program known as POW&R, Productive Opportunities for Work & Recreation.  Now in its 11th year, POW&R assesses an individual’s strengths and vocational goals, and matches them with community-based employment, volunteer and recreational opportunities. Today, the program serves over 150 adults with autism in paid employment.

David Ragan (Unadilla, Georgia): Since 2012, David Ragan has been dedicated to supporting Shriners Hospital for Children as a part of their ambassador program. Ragan spends much of his off-time visiting hospitals, fundraising, as well as inviting patients to the race track for once-in-a-lifetime experiences at NASCAR events. Ragan’s passion for the hospital goes beyond just the bare-minimum appearance, he makes an effort to remember each patient’s name and story and will continue to stay in touch long after he meets them. Ragan knows the children and families he meets are likely struggling and wants to do what he can to put a smile on their face. His association with the Shriners, as well as being a Shriner himself, has not only brought attention to the hospitals and the great work they are doing, but has increased donations from race fans and team partners. Many people aren’t aware of the great work that the Shriners do, but Ragan has been a strong voice for them for the past 10 years and has changed countless lives because of his great work.

Mike Tatoian (Dover, Delaware): Mike Tatoian has been a staple of the Delaware and mid-Atlantic charitable communities, particularly with local military organizations at Dover (Del.) Air Force Base, since he began his tenure at the “Monster Mile” in 2007. One of his longest commitments has been with United Service Organizations. Established during World War II, the USO supports U.S. service members wherever they are, including on-base, deployed abroad, passing through an airport or in local communities at more than 200 locations around the world. One-particular duty that distinguishes USO Delaware is it’s the only USO in the world that shares the responsibility of bringing home fallen service members, working alongside other units such as the Air Force Mortuary Affairs, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, the Joint Personal Effects Depot and the Families of the Fallen. For 13 years, Tatoian has assisted USO Delaware with countless programs and currently serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Council for the organization.

Posted on by Staff Report

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Thursday morning that Harrison Burton will move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full time in 2020, driving the No. 20 Toyota.

Burton has competed in six Xfinity Series events this year, with a best finish of fourth at Iowa Speedway in June. The 19-year-old driver will replace Christopher Bell, who will vacate the No. 20 to move to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next season with Leavine Family Racing.

“I want to finish this season strong, but I’m excited to get 2020 started,” Burton said in a statement provided by the team. “My time with JGR this season will really help me because I’ve already gotten to know so many people there and it’s such a great team and organization. They have a long history of helping to develop drivers and this is big for the next step in my career.”

RELATED: Key players in Silly Season | Harrison Burton driver page

Joe Gibbs Racing indicated that DEX Imaging will provide primary sponsorship. The organization said that the No. 20 team’s crew chief for 2020 will be announced at a later date.

Burton, a product of the NASCAR Next youth initiative, is in his first full season in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports. He won the 2017 championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, and is a three-time winner in ARCA Menards Series competition.

JGR indicated that Burton is scheduled to make two more Xfinity starts this season before joining the series full time. He’s set to drive the No. 18 Toyota in Friday’s Kansas Lottery 300 (3 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and then again on Nov. 2 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Bell, 24, has 15 career wins in the Xfinity Series, including seven victories this season. He entered this year’s Xfinity Playoffs as the series’ top seed and will begin the Round of 8 this weekend at Kansas.

Posted on by @nascarcasm

Greetings, denizens of the Internet an iRacing artists,

We asked you to create ugly paint schemes, and like the Octo-Mom, you over-delivered.

The #CasmUglySchemeContest, in which the winner receives an amazing VIP iRacing package courtesy of iRacing, was a roaring success. So many downright hideous paint schemes were submitted. Selecting a winner was difficult. As the old saying goes, it was like trying to pick your least favorite child.

Judging was painstaking, as well as unsettling. One by one, each hideous abomination was analyzed for ugliness. I’m honestly less repulsed when watching “Dr. Pimplepopper” videos on YouTube.

I wish we could give prizes to all of you, but as you all know, when it comes to creating paint schemes that induce nausea and dizziness, it’s a cutthroat world where there are no participation trophies.

I personally selected 12 finalists. From there, they were sent to an esteemed panel of judges, which included several NASCAR Digital Media supervisors and co-workers, iRacing executive vice president and executive producer Steve Myers, Kaz Grala, Corey LaJoie, and Ryan Truex if he ever actually responds to the DM.

The feedback from the judges was extensive, with many aesthetic critiques offered. “Looks like something from Forever 21,” said one judge. “What I was looking for here was the best balance of equal parts offensive and ugly, but also a scheme that I felt would have a legitimate shot to make it through NASCAR’s approval process to get on a real car. To truly be an authentically ugly scheme like some of the all time greats, it has to make it through the approval process,” said an extremely thoughtful Landon Cassill. Nothing, said Ryan Truex, because again, he didn’t reply to the DM.

So now, without further ado, your ugly-paint-scheme podium.

Third place, and winner of 100 iRacing credits: @RyanStone_GTA

2019 October Uglywinners Thirdplace

Ryan’s incorporation of current events into his scheme is impressive. The “ugly” comes not from the faces on the scheme, but rather the incident it references, which thankfully did not result in an actual fracas inside a chain restaurant. Plus, the rollerskating Morgan Shepherd on the roof is like the rug in “The Big Lebowski” – it just really ties the car together.

Second place, and winner of 250 iRacing credits: snackpackdude

2019 October Uglywinners Secondplace.png

There is no greater tribute to such a beloved figure than this tribute to the late Grumpy Cat. Vivid colors that act as a visual metaphor for Grumpy Cat’s bright personality. You look at this car and you hear “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper and “Crossroads” by Bone Thugs N’ Harmony simultaneously. We think Grumpy Cat would approve. Or probably not.

First place, and winner of an iRacing VIP package (2 years, with 2,000 credits): @Andrewtfawcett

2019 October Uglywinners Firstplace 2

SWEET, GLORIOUS ABOMINATION. The winner by a landslide, receiving 64 percent of the first-place votes (NOTE: Subject to change, depending on whether Ryan Truex actually replies to the DM with his picks). The gaudy, mismatched typefaces, the ghastly visage on the hood – to quote “Seinfeld,” “It sickens me…and yet I cannot turn away.” We do not wish to know what all goes on inside Andrew’s mind – we only hope that whatever portions of it that created this monster have been cleared and will not create any more. Kudos, Andrew – we were thoroughly disgusted and impressed.

 

That said, a sincere thank-you to all who took the time to submit a paint scheme. I promise you that from the bottom of my heart, they were all disgusting in their own way. I am appreciative for all of you. Let’s do this again.

Off to fill an eyedropper with bleach and squirt it directly into my corneas,

@NASCARCASM

Posted on by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find NBCSN | Get the NBC Sports App | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App

Monday, Oct. 14
Noon, IMSA Racing: Motul Petit Le Mans (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega (LIVE; race will resume on Lap 58), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m., NASCAR America: Monday, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Racing: K&N Series: General Tire 125, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Tuesday, Oct. 15
2 p.m., Glory Road: Endurance Racing (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 p.m. Glory Road: Stock Car Evolution (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Wednesday, Oct. 16
5 p.m., NASCAR America: Motormouths, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
Noon, NASCAR Coast to Coast

Thursday, Oct. 17
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Friday, Oct. 18
3 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
4 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
7 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
8 p.m., NASCAR 120, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
4 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice
7 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice

Saturday, Oct. 19
12:30 p.m., Drivers & Dreams: Grassroots Racing in America (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Countdown to Green, NBC/NBC Sports App
3 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway, NBC/NBC Sports App

On MRN
1:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300

Sunday, Oct. 20
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Presents: Davey Lives On (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
Noon, NASCAR RaceDay: Kansas, FS1/FOX Sports App
1 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC/NBC Sports App
1:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBC/NBC Sports App
2:30, p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, NBC/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post Race, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
1:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400

Posted on by Staff Report

It didn’t take Ricky Stenhouse Jr. long to find a new home. The veteran NASCAR driver will join JTG Daughtery Racing’s two-car lineup in 2020 after signing a multiyear deal, the team announced Wednesday.

Stenhouse Jr., 32, is in his seventh season driving the No. 17 for Roush Fenway Racing. He’s made 251 career Monster Energy Series starts, all but one of them with Jack Roush, and has two Cup Series wins in his career.

Stenhouse also won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2011 and 2012 with Roush, which announced in late September that the team would bring in Chris Buescher to drive the No. 17 next year.

RELATED: Key Silly Season moves

Buescher currently drives the No. 37 Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing, a seat that became vacant when Buescher and Roush agreed to terms – and a seat Stenhouse will fill in what essentially amounts to a swap of drivers between the two teams.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join JTG Daugherty Racing next season,” Stenhouse Jr. said in a team release. “To be able to see what Tad, Jodi (Geschickter) and Brad (Daugherty) have built over the years says a lot about the team and the organization both on and off the track. JTG has grown from a small team in a barn to a two-car team with more than 100 employees, and I’m looking forward to joining the family. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and ready to go win races with the ultimate goal of making the Playoffs and competing for a championship.”

Stenhouse Jr. joins Ryan Preece in the JTG lineup. Preece, who pilots the No. 47 Chevrolet, currently is in his rookie season with the organization.

Both drivers have extensive backgrounds – and success – in other disciplines of motorsports as well. Stenhouse is an exceptional sprint-car driver while Preece came up through the modified ranks.

The 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Stenhouse Jr.’s two wins both came in 2017 – one at Talladega, the other at Daytona. He also has 15 career top-five finishes and 34 career top-10 finishes at NASCAR’s highest level.

MORE: Stenhouse Jr. driver page

The team said Stenhouse Jr.’s car number and sponsorship would be announced at a later date.

“We’re very fortunate to have Ricky join us next season to continue to elevate our racing program at JTG Daugherty Racing,” team owner Tad Geschickter said. “Ricky brings a lot of experience and talent to the team, and we know we can have two Playoff-contending teams next season with him and Ryan Preece at the helm of our cars.”

Posted on by PJ Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here.

Last week we pegged Michael McDowell and his 100-1 odds as a soild bet to make before cars hit the track at Talladega. McDowell gave us a nice sweat, contending for a win on the final laps before ultimately finishing fifth.

Not bad, especially considering The Action Network’s Nick Giffen also steered us to Ryan Blaney — the eventual race winner at 20-1 — to make it an extremely profitable weekend.

With superspeedway racing done until the 2020 Daytona 500, those triple-digit longshots worth betting become scarce, but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t mispriced drivers to jump on early in the week.

Odds for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway are now available at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, and there is one driver I’m betting on immediately.

Alex Bowman to Win (25-1)

When the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) visited Kansas back in May, Kevin Harvick had the fastest racecar, but Bowman was clearly the second best.

Bowman finished second in that race, was tied for the best average running position (6.0) with Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., ran the second-most fast laps (37) and led the second-most laps (63) overall.

Despite his speed last go-round at Kansas, there are currently eight drivers with better odds to win on Sunday.

My first thought as to why Bowman was listed so far down the odds board related to the MENCS schedule.

The current schedule is front-loaded with 1.5-mile tracks like Kansas — just one of the last 12 races took place at a 1.5-mile track (Las Vegas on Sept. 15) — and the evolution of technology, setups and information could mean that Bowman hasn’t been as good at this track type since that runner-up finish.

But as usual, I was wrong. I looked at the past five races run at 1.5-mile racetracks (Kansas, Charlotte, Chicagoland, Kentucky and Las Vegas) and the No. 88 Chevy is still statistically one of the best cars.

Over those five races, Bowman has the best average finish (6.6) and the third-best average running position (10.8), while ranking second in laps led (159) and sixth in fast laps (92).

In fact, Bowman secured his first career victory at Chicagoland Speedway in June.

While I don’t think Bowman should necessarily be listed among the favorites, his current odds of 25-1 are offering enough value to bet early. This is a great way to start a betting card with a driver fully capable of having top-five speed on Sunday, while also leaving plenty of bankroll room to continue adding drivers throughout the weekend.

Posted on by Staff Report

In a high-stakes elimination race, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Full Kansas schedule | Who’s in? Who’s out?

TRACK DETAILS

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval with an asphalt surface. The track features 17-20 degrees of variable banking in the turns, 9-11 degrees of variable banking on the frontstretch and 5 degrees of banking on the backstretch.

The inaugural race at the track was won by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon on Sept. 30, 2001.

RULES PACKAGE

The setup for Kansas will follow the 2019 rules package with aero ducts and a tapered-spacer engine generating a targeted 550 horsepower.

Each team is allowed three sets of Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials for practice, one set for qualifying and 10 sets for the race (nine sets plus one transferred from practice or qualifying).

Last repaved in 2012, the weathering track surface has led to slightly increased lap times and tire fall-off. Throughout the race, teams will likely opt for four-tire stops to maintain balanced grip entering and exiting the corners.

“We have a new left-side tire for Kansas, with a construction update that we have been rolling into most tracks over this season, paired with a right-side tire the teams have a good notebook on after having run it seven times already this year,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing.  “What we have seen at Kansas over the past several races is that the track surface has weathered a bit and will wear tires. This right-side tire is also designed to lay rubber, so that will lead to the track changing throughout the weekend as multiple racing grooves are created.”

STATS

— Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano have combined to win four of the last six Kansas playoff races, with each winning a pair.

— Chase Elliott took home the checkered flag at Kansas in the fall of 2018 at 22 years old, making him the youngest Kansas winner in Monster Energy Series history. The victory was one of only five Kansas races won by a driver under 30.

— Last fall, the final green-flag stretch was 101 laps, making it one of only two Kansas races with a final green-flag stretch of more than 100 laps.

— A stage winner has never gone on to win the race at Kansas.

— Twice a Kansas playoff race winner has gone on to win the championship: Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and Martin Truex Jr. in 2017.

Source: Racing Insights

LIVE COVERAGE

The final race in the Round of 12 will air live Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streamed on the NBC Sports App. Listen in to live radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Also, follow along on NASCAR.com for live Lap-by-Lap coverage, the live leaderboard, Drive (featuring in-car cameras) and RaceView (subscription: in-car audio, stats, more). Be sure to set your lineup in Fantasy Live and make your picks in the Props Challenge.

2018 RACE WINNER

Chase Elliott dominated the race late, leading the final 44 laps to secure his third victory of the season and lock himself into the Round of 8. The fall finish was the first and only win of Elliott’s career at Kansas Speedway.

ACTIVE KANSAS WINNERS

Kevin Harvick (three); Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. (two wins each); Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman (one win each).