Posted on by Reid Spencer

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – With a handful of laps left in a pitched battle between Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson joined the party.

Larson needed a victory in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway to advance to the Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and late in the race, he began making dramatic gains on Busch, who was running second, and Elliott, who held the lead.

Larson, however, stalled out in third place and saw his chance for a championship ended two positions short at the finish of a remarkable weekend for the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing team.

RELATED: Race results | Playoff standings | Who’s in, Who’s out Round of 8

Larson wrecked his primary car two laps into Friday’s opening practice and qualified 27th in a backup. Because of the change to the backup car, he had to abandon his starting position and drop to the rear at the start of Sunday’s race.

By the end of the second stage, Larson had raced his way to sixth before mounting his charge in the late going.

Unlike in previous years, when quirky circumstances took him out of the playoffs, Larson could cite overall performance as the reason he didn’t advance to the Round of 8 this season.

“I’m actually glad that nothing stupid took us out of the playoffs this year,” Larson said. “We had that battery come out at Dover a couple years ago. Blew up an engine here last year.

“Obviously, I would have liked to have made it into the next round. But I’m glad it wasn’t anything other than just us not performing where we needed to be that kept us out of the next round.

“Just trying to figure out how to make our cars better. Try to figure out this new package we’re running next year, try to be prepared, good all season long.”

Posted on by Pat DeCola

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Joe Gibbs strolled by his Toyota affiliate Martin Truex Jr. on pit road after the race, giving him a fist bump — complete with grandiose Super Bowl ring — saying, “You had me sweatin’!”

“Me too,” grinned a relieved Truex Jr., who narrowly advanced to the Round of 8 following a gritty fifth-place finish Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Welcome to the NASCAR Playoffs.

To think Truex Jr. — the defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and member of the dominant “Big 3” all season — would be in danger of elimination before we hit November is difficult to fathom. It speaks volumes about how unforgiving this playoff format, which debuted in 2014, can be.

And just how fascinating.

RELATED: Who’s in, Who’s out Round of 8 | Playoff standings

Coming into Sunday, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman were provisionally out of the Round of 8. Tracking the cut line throughout the race, we saw so many different scenarios playing out — Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch out … Clint Bowyer tip-toeing along the line … Blaney and Keselowski, essentially in must-win territory, spending a combined 35 laps at the front of the field.

In the end, the four cut remained the same going out as coming in, but, boy, was that fun to follow.

Fun for us, that is. Stressful for the guys behind the wheel and on the pit boxes.

“There’s a lot of pressure (in this format),” said Truex Jr., who now sits third in the playoff standings entering Sunday’s Round of 8 opener at Martinsville Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN). “There’s a lot that can happen, but at the end of the day, you can’t let the pressure get to you. You just have to go out and try to focus on your job and doing it the best you can.

“I wasn’t really (sweating), but I’m sure the guys on the box were. They’re sitting there looking at the numbers and looking at the times and they see what’s going on, but I don’t. I’m focused on what I’m doing inside the car and just trying to get everything I can every single lap. … As a team, we’ve been here before, so you can’t let the pressure dictate how you race and impact the decisions you make. You’ve got to be yourself and we’ve done that.”

RELATED: Blaney so close to advancing

And just take a look at the eight drivers that remain — with the exception of Chase Elliott, who’s as even-keeled and cool-under-pressure as the vets — every one of them has been racing at NASCAR’s top level for at least a decade. Experience matters. Nerve matters.

But so do playoff points.

“For the teams that start the playoffs with not many playoff points, you’re already at a pretty big deficit to those guys. You know you have to be perfect,” said Larson, who came up short despite finishing third. “Stage points are so important. That’s just kind of where us as a team, weren’t able to get really any stage points. We didn’t have any stage points until today. Only one stage out of the six stages.

“Can’t really expect to make it to the next round without being up front all race long. So that’s kind of where our round went wrong.”

And it can be as simple as that. Whatever it is — dropping the ball as pressure mounts, not accruing playoff points throughout the season or even one tiny slip-up on pit road, a brush with the wall late in the race — a driver’s shot at the title can vanish in the blink of an eye.

Both driver and team have to be perfect to win the Monster Energy Series title these days.

“(This playoff format) is tough,” Busch told NASCAR.com on pit road following the race. “You know, you race all year. Consistency is the way that I was raised, but you’ve got to race hard and get wins, get stage wins, get stage points. We had one pit stop today with an uncontrolled tire, and you hope your season isn’t on the line with one pit penalty. That’s the hard part about this setup.”

When all was said and done Sunday, the eight teams still in contention are arguably the eight that should be there, having combined to win 26 of the 32 races this season. The cream rises, etc.

It only gets harder from here, though, and Clint Bowyer put it best.

“Now there’s eight good teams left. I mean, there’s 16 good teams,” the Stewart-Haas Racing driver said after his 13th-place run was enough to advance.

“But these are eight damn-good teams.”

And we’re about to see them battle in four more damn-good races.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Coming into the Hollywood Casino 400 — the Round of 12 finale at Kansas Speedway — Ryan Blaney had a bit of an uphill climb for him to advance in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

The 24-year-old sat 22 points outside the final transfer spot at the start of Sunday’s action. He would need a big day to make it to the Round of 8.

He did have a big points day, earning 47 points — including 17 stage points — as he finished seventh in the race. However, it was not enough to move him into the next playoff round as he sat six points on the outside.

RELATED: Who’s in, who’s out

As the race unfolded — and thanks to the stage points — Blaney was above the cutline deep into the final stage. A scrape with the wall on Lap 204 while running third as he ran along the top line was a minor setback that proved costly as he lost a few spots over the final run and fellow playoff drivers Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch made up ground.

Those small moves — his scrape and the SHR drivers’ gains — were enough to push Blaney back below the cutline.

“I messed up and cost us a shot,” Blaney said afterward. “The whole 12 team deserves better than that. That was unfortunate on my part.”

MORE: Hear Blaney’s post-race reaction

Blaney has a history of strong runs at Kansas, and now has five top-seven finishes in eight career starts at the 1.5-mile track. That said, the young Team Penske star didn’t think he had the best car on the track before the contact with the wall.

“Obviously, it was a mistake I made trying to work hard to catch those guys and I pushed too hard and got in the fence,” Blaney said. “It is all my fault. Whether it would have worked out for us or not, I don’t know. I don’t think we had the speed the 9 (Chase Elliott, race winner) or 4 (Kevin Harvick, led 76 laps) had. The 9 was super fast.”

Blaney’s drive for stage points was apparent early as he shot right up to second from his qualifying spot of fourth on the opening lap. He took two tires on a pit stop under caution on Lap 62 to try to nab a stage win. He led eight laps in Stage 1 but was unable to hold off the four tires of teammate Joey Logano and he settled for third in that stage. He added a second-place finish in Stage 2 to contribute to his points total.

Despite not going as far in the playoffs in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford as he did in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford last season, Blaney still saw an uptick in his numbers with a chance to add to them with four races to go. His top fives (seven), top 10s (15), laps led (617) and average finish (14.4) are all career bests.

The day as a whole was a tough blow for Team Penske’s hopes of capturing a championship. Brad Keselowski, who won three races in a row in September, was eliminated from the playoffs following the Kansas race as well. Only Logano remains in the title hunt for the organization.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – It took 99 races for Chase Elliott to get his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory.

Ten events later, the scion of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott has three wins, the latest coming at Kansas Speedway in the Sunday’s Round of 12 elimination race in the series playoffs.

Elliott took charge in the Hollywood Casino 400 when Kevin Harvick was hit with a pit road speeding penalty on his last green-flag pit stop on Lap 214 of 267. After inheriting the lead when Brad Keselowski came to pit road on Lap 224, Elliott stayed out front the rest of the way.

RELATED: Race results | Stages recap

Over the closing laps, runner-up Kyle Busch chopped Elliott’s three-second lead to .300 seconds but could get no closer.

Elliott crossed the finish line .903 seconds ahead of Busch, as Kyle Larson — needing a victory to advance to the Round of 8 — came up short with a desperation charge that carried him to third-place finish.

The victory was Elliott’s second in three weeks, as the driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet made a statement entering the next round of the playoffs. To Elliott, the “overnight” success wasn’t a surprise.

“I thought last year we had a pretty solid run at it and didn’t win any, obviously, but had some really good runs,” Elliott said. “Just so proud of my race team and the pit stops we had today. (Crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) made some great calls.

“We just can’t get complacent. This is a huge time of year. We have a lot of work to do and a long way to go.”

Elliott was well aware Busch was gaining on him near the end of the race, but he was reluctant to run up against the outside wall, where Busch was gaining ground.

“I got really tight that last run, and especially the second half of the run, he was catching me, and he was making a lot of time right against the wall, and I was just afraid to get up there and put it in the fence and really ruin it,” Elliott said.

“I felt comfortable running down just slightly. I could move up a little bit to make some time when I had to; I just really didn’t want to do it if I didn’t absolutely have to.”

Fortunately for Elliott, Busch’s effort stalled out in the final five laps.

“We had a great race there at the end,” Busch said. “We were trying to chase down Chase. We were close. Got kind of there, then just the car died out, didn’t have any more to go. I was afraid that was going to happen. Good day for us.”

Elliott and Aric Almirola, who finished 10th on Sunday, already were guaranteed berths in the Round of 8, thanks to respective wins at Dover and Talladega. Harvick, who came home 12th after leading 76 laps, locked himself into the next round with a second-place result in Stage 1.

RELATED: Who’s in, who’s out Round of 8

Pole winner Joey Logano led a race-high 100 laps and cemented his position in the next round with a Stage 1 victory and an eighth-place finish. Kyle Busch and reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. (fifth on Sunday) are still alive in the championship battle.

So, too, are Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch, as all four Stewart-Haas Racing drivers advanced to the Round of 8. Bowyer finished 14th after the nose of his No. 14 Ford sustained damage on restart from contact with Jimmie Johnson’s Chevrolet.

Kurt Busch made the next round despite a tire violation on pit road that cost him a lap. Busch finished 18th but ended the day six points ahead of Ryan Blaney for the last spot in the Round of 8. Blaney was third in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2 but slapped the wall on Lap 204, dropped to seventh at the checkers and finished six points behind Kurt Busch for the final berth.

RELATED: Blaney so close

“I’m really happy,” Kurt Busch said. “It’s exciting for us. It’s our goal to win the championship. We’re an elite eight team when we started Daytona and here we are — we did it. It was a rough day in the pits and on the track but we had enough points from the (Charlotte) Roval and our stage races.

“It was a rough day, and we need to put it quickly behind us. We’re back on even ground. We’re in the top eight, and Martinsville (next Sunday) is the path to the championship down in Homestead.”

Eliminated with Blaney were Larson, sixth-place finisher Brad Keselowski and ninth-place Alex Bowman, whose only path to the Round of 8 would have been a Kansas victory.

Erik Jones, who was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, scored his second fourth-place result in the past three races.

Note: The No. 42 car was found to have one lug nut not safe and secure during post-race inspection.

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs field was whittled from 12 drivers to eight on Sunday following the playoff race at Kansas Speedway, where Chase Elliott won.

Kansas was the site of the third and final race in the Round of 12. The four drivers lowest in the standings were eliminated from the postseason and the ability to compete for a championship in Miami.

RELATED: Full race results

The following drivers advanced to the Round of 8, which will play out at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and ISM Raceway at Phoenix. This list will be updated with the official standings and points once confirmed by NASCAR.

1. Kyle Busch
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Kurt Busch
6. Joey Logano
7. Chase Elliott
8. Aric Almirola

ELIMINATED: The four drivers eliminated from the postseason after Kansas were: Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman.

MORE: Memorable weekend pics

SETTING THE STAGE: With Brad Keselowski (-18) and Ryan Blaney (-22) facing big deficits entering the race, stage points were crucial. Blaney finished third in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2, good for 17 points to gain on the cutline. But his incredible run soured late, with Blaney scraping the wall fighting for position. That contact dropped him out of the top five and below the cutline in a frenetic final stage, and he could not recover.

TIRE TROUBLE: A poor-handling race car was problem No. 1 for Kurt Busch. An uncontrolled tire violation late in Stage 2 was the second problem, and a much bigger one at that. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver was scored 23rd and one lap down following the penalty. He was below the cutline when he emerged after starting the day 30 points above it, but rallied in the final stage to just be clear of Blaney for the final transfer spot.

SO CLOSE!: The weekend couldn’t have started any worse for Kyle Larson. Larson damaged his car badly in Friday’s practice, showed no speed in qualifying and then learned his team’s L1-level penalty — which included a 10-point hit to his driver point total — was upheld on appeal. Moving to a backup car forced Larson to the rear of the field, already facing a likely must-win situation to advance.

And Larson nearly pulled it off. He hugged the top line like only Larson can do, churning through the field late but falling just short. He finished third.

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series will be in action at Martinsville Speedway while the NASCAR Xfinity Series is off. The Monster Energy Series heads to the first race of the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs, while the Camping World Truck Series enters the first race in the Round of 6. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

MORE: How to find NBCSN

SUNDAY, Oct. 28
RACE-DAY SCHEDULE
12:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver/Crew Chief Meeting (Drivers Meeting Tent Outside Turns 3&4)
1:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Introductions
2:25 p.m.: Intro Presentation of Colors by: Fork Union Military Academy Honor Guard
2:25:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Mike Hatfield, Chatham Heights Baptist Church
2:26 p.m.: National Anthem by: 380th Army Band
2:27:30 p.m.: Flyby TOT: The Bandit Flight Team (Turns 3&4 to 1&2)
2:32:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Chairman and CEO-First Data, Frank Bisignano
2:38 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 (500 laps, 263 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
6 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

FRIDAY, Oct. 26
12:05-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series first practice (no TV) CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
2:05-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (no TV) CANCELED DUE TO RAIN

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
10:30 a.m.: Timothy Peters
10:45 a.m.: Justin Haley, Johnny Sauter
11 a.m.: Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger
11:15 a.m.: Noah Gragson, Brett Moffitt

RELATED: VIP experience for Ford fan

SATURDAY, Oct. 27
9-9:50 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
10:05 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying, FS1 (Results)
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions (200 laps, 105.2 miles), FS1 (Results)
4:05 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
8:15 a.m.: Chase Elliott
10:30 a.m.: Clint Bowyer
10:45 a.m.: Kyle Busch
2:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race
4:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

Posted on by Staff Report

What channels are NASCAR races on this week? We answer that and give you the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET. 

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

MONDAY, October 22
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m.: Beyond the Wheel, FS1

On MRN
Noon: Motorsports Monday (with hosts Woody Cain and Joey Meier)

TUESDAY, October 23
4 p.m.: Glory Road, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Live (with host Mike Bagley)

WEDNESDAY, October 24
1 a.m.: Glory Road: Blacker, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1:30 a.m.: Glory Road: NASCAR Goes Road Racing, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 a.m.: Glory Road: Modified Mastery, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 a.m.: Glory Road: Battle of the Big 3, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR America: Wednesdays with Dale Jr., NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race  Hub, FS1
8 p.m.: Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge: Road Atlanta (re-air), FS2

On MRN
Noon: Crew Call (with hosts Sammi Jo Francis and Rocko Williams)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (with hosts Kyle Rickey and Hannah Newhouse)

THURSDAY, October 25
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5:30 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
Noon: The Straight Line
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday: 2006 Banquet 400

FRIDAY, October 26
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
Noon: The Inside Line (with host Tyler Burnett)

SATURDAY, October 27
9 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
10 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pole Qualifying, FS1
11:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
12:30 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Texas Roadhouse 200, FS1
4 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3)

SUNDAY, October 28
Noon: NASCAR RaceDay: Martinsville, FS1
Noon: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m.: Countdown to Green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3)
6:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
7 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Posted on by Staff Report

Kevin Harvick took command of Stage 2 on Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway, securing his series-leading 16th stage win of the Monster Energy Series season.

Harvick, who started second, grabbed the lead for the first time Sunday on Lap 138 and kept it until the end of the stage on Lap 160. With the stage win, Harvick added one playoff point to boost his season-long total to 54.

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Harvick clinched a berth in the Round of 8 on the basis of points after the opening stage, leaving five playoff spots still to be claimed at race’s end. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano also advanced to the Round of 8 based on the results of the first two stages Sunday. Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola had already locked in two positions for the Round of 8 with wins at Dover and Talladega.

The postseason field will be chopped from 12 drivers to eight at the end of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).

Ryan Blaney, who led twice for nine laps through the opening two stages, finished second in Stage 2. Pole-starter and Stage 1 winner Joey Logano was third, with Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch rounding out the top five positions at Lap 160.

The full race distance is scheduled for 267 laps (400.5 miles).

Driver Team Race Points
1 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 10
2 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 9
3 Joey Logano Team Penske 8
4 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 7
5 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 6
6 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 5
7 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 4
8 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports 3
9 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports 2
10 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing 1

Logano dominates in Stage 1

Pole-starter Joey Logano rolled to an opening-stage victory Sunday at Kansas Speedway and Kevin Harvick, second in the stage, clinched a spot in the Round of 8.

Logano, a two-time Kansas winner, led 60 of the 80 laps in the Team Penske No. 22 Ford. He surrendered the top spot once during a green-flag cycle of pit stops midway through the stage. He then rallied past teammate Ryan Blaney with nine laps to go in the stage after taking on four fresh tires during a Lap 62 pit stop to Blaney’s two.

RELATED: Stage 1 results

It’s the fourth stage win of the season for Logano, who added a playoff point and 10 points in the Monster Energy Series standings as he bids for a spot in the next round of the postseason. His running playoff point total stands at 15.

Kevin Harvick slipped past Blaney for the second position at the end of the second stage in the Hollywood Casino 400 and clinched a spot in the Round of 8. Blaney, Kyle Busch and Paul Menard completing the top five.

Sunday’s event is the final race in the postseason’s Round of 12. The championship-eligible field will be trimmed from 12 drivers to eight at the end of the event.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Joey Logano Team Penske 10
2 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 9
3 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 8
4 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 7
5 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing 6
6 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing 5
7 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 4
8 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 3
9 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports 2
10 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 1

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Ever wonder what goes on in a driver meeting? We’re here to help.

This year, we’ll publish the actual rules video your favorite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will watch before climbing into their stock cars. Above is the video for the Hollywood Casino 400 (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Kansas Speedway.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 21, 2018) – NASCAR announced the four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s eighth annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award on Sunday at Kansas Speedway. The award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman, honors NASCAR fans who are also accomplished volunteers working for children’s causes in their communities throughout the United States.

The award winner will be determined via an online fan vote today through Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. (ET) at NASCARfoundation.org/Award. The winner will be announced on Nov. 29 during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas. The NASCAR Foundation will donate $25,000 to the charities represented by the award finalists, with the winner’s charity receiving a $100,000 donation.

Here are the four finalists:

• Carl Dakes of Harwood, Maryland, an 18-year volunteer representing the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, Inc. of Catonsville, Maryland. The foundation provides hospital and respite housing services to critically ill children and their families.

• Sarah Kersey of Dublin, Ohio, a cancer survivor who represents Flying Horse Farms in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. The facility, where Kersey has served as a volunteer since 2010, provides transformative camp experiences for children with serious illnesses, at no cost.

• Cliff Preston of Gainesville, Florida, representing UF Health Shands. He has volunteered for more than 25 years as a “cuddler” to soothe hospitalized newborns in the NICU during a parent’s absence.

• Rex Reynolds of Hazel Green, Alabama, representing the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama. Reynolds grew up participating in club programs and has now served in a volunteer role for 13 years.

“This year’s stellar group of finalists consists of loyal longtime NASCAR fans who also are outstanding people,” said The NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton. “Each of these individuals demonstrates, on a daily basis, true commitment and passion for their causes. Their good works are exactly the sort of volunteerism Betty Jane France wanted to spotlight, when the award was created.”

Since the award’s inception, The NASCAR Foundation has impacted the lives of more than 260,000 children by providing more than $1.2 million in contributions to charities represented by finalists for the award.

To learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and to cast your vote for the 2018 finalists, visit NASCARfoundation.org/Award.