Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway

(⏰ Sunday, 3 p.m. ET | 📺 USA, NBC Sports App | 📻 MRN, SiriusXM)

Everything you need to know for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas, the 28th points-paying race of the 2023 Cup Series campaign.

Weekend schedule | TV schedule | Weather tracker | Kansas playoff race 101

📍 Location: Kansas City, Kansas
📐 Track length: 1.5 miles
🎟️ Buy tickets: Find weekend passes, seats for the race
💰 Cup Series race purse: $8,806,315
📏 Race distance: 267 laps | 400.5 miles
🔢 Stages: 80 | 165 | 267
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📋 Starting lineup: Bell on pole at Kansas
🚗 Pit stall assignments: See where drivers will pit
🏆 Most recent winner: Bubba Wallace, fall 2022

Key things to watch 🔑

Saturday’s sessions

Christopher Bell earned the pole for the second race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver also won the pole last week at Darlington, a race won by Kyle Larson, who lines up alongside Bell on the front row after qualifying second. Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick complete the top five for the Kansas playoff race. Eight playoff drivers qualified in the top 10. | Read the full practice, qualifying recap

Big story line

Will playoff drivers avoid Kansas chaos?
At first glance, nothing about Kansas Speedway seems all that daunting: a fairly standard 1.5-mile tri-oval with considerable-but-not-extraordinary banking set in the heart of America’s Midwest. But with the NASCAR Playoffs in full swing, challenges lurk around every corner. According to Racing Insights, 56% of the 2022 postseason contenders — nine of 16 drivers — suffered some sort of an issue during the Kansas playoff race a season ago.

The NASCAR Cup Series enters Kansas after a Southern 500 at Darlington that featured 10 playoff drivers — 62.5% — experiencing some sort of adversity. The most recent race at Kansas delivered its own drama between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson — two potential favorites to advance to the Championship 4. Is more last-lap contact in store this weekend? | Recap the dramatic spring race

History tells us…

Toyotas will be tough to top in the Sunflower State.
Since NASCAR introduced the Next Gen car in 2022, Toyotas have been undefeated at Kansas Speedway. The No. 45 car from 23XI Racing’s stable swept the 2022 races with Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace behind the wheel for their respective victories, and team co-owner Denny Hamlin used a last-lap nudge on Kyle Larson to complete the pass and score the win in May.

The stats, of course, go deeper than the win column. Toyotas have also outscored Chevrolets and Fords combined in top fives (Toyota 10; Chevy and Ford five), laps led (413 for Toyota; 388 for Chevy and Ford) and stage wins (Toyota 3; Chevy and Ford 1). | Memorable moments at Kansas Speedway

He may not be the betting favorite to win, but watch out for…

Chris Buescher. Buescher’s recent surge is impossible to ignore over the past month, collecting three wins and four top fives in each of his last four oval-track starts. The No. 17 RFK Racing Ford stormed to the victory on Aug. 7 at Michigan International Speedway for his second win in that stretch after leading 52 laps.

Buescher’s soar toward top-tier contention shouldn’t be overlooked heading to Kansas. While the track is half a mile shorter than Michigan, its smooth pavement and drivers’ increased throttle time increases the notable similarities between the two facilities. After Buescher netted a third-place finish one week ago at Darlington Raceway, don’t take your eye off the No. 17 Ford quite yet. | See every driver’s odds heading into Kansas

Talkin’ Trophies 🔍 

In this installment of ‘Talkin’ Trophies,’ we explore the origins of Kansas Speedway’s ‘Soaring’ trophy, one of the most unique prizes on the circuit. 

Familiar favorites ⭐️

Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
 • At-track photos: See the best images from Kansas playoff weekend | Photos
• Bubble Watch: No place like a Kansas playoff race | See the bubble
• Fantasy Fastlane: Who should you start, and who should you sit? | See fantasy tips
• Paint Scheme Preview: See the schemes for the Sunflower State | Pick a favorite
• Power Rankings: Bubba Wallace a firm contender in 2023 playoffs | Latest driver rankings
• Stacking Pennies: The crew comments on Ryan Newman’s colorful reaction from Darlington dustup. | Listen to the podcast

💎 NASCAR 75: Learn more about the history of the sport, from pioneers to current stars | Visit NASCAR 75 hub

Get in on the action 💰

Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy and Fan Rewards.

• Fantasy Live: Participate in interactive gameplay from week to week | Choose your lineup
• Fan Rewards: New in 2023, get rewarded for your participation | Learn more
• NASCAR BetCenter: Don’t miss your chance to get key advice each week | Visit the BetCenter
• Going the distance: 2023 Cup Series championship odds | See them here

🔮 Advance to Victory Lane: Racing Insights projects the finishing order

Posted on by Staff Report

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs roll on this Sunday at Kansas Speedway (3 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App) in the midpoint of the Round of 16.

The Sunflower State oval has been known to create playoff drama and heartbreak and this weekend should be no different. Before another chapter in the postseason is written, take a look at playoff drivers closest to the elimination line with analysis courtesy of Racing Insights.

RELATED: Cup playoff standings | Where playoff drivers rank after Darlington

✅ DRIVERS ABOVE ELIMINATION LINE

RYAN BLANEY

Points above: 16

Trending: Hit or Miss

Kansas outlook — Mostly Cold: Blaney had a good race, points-wise, to open his 2023 playoff campaign at Darlington with a top-10 run. However, Kansas has been a hindrance for Blaney with four finishes outside the top 15 in the last five races. The last four top-10 runs for Blaney have all been ninth-place finishes, but he’s failed to score back-to-back top 10s in this stretch. You have to go back to Gateway in early June for the last time Blaney had back-to-back finishes like that. 

ROSS CHASTAIN

Points above: 13

Trending: Snapped Cold Streak

Kansas outlook — Hot: Chastain recovered for a fifth-place finish in the Cook Out Southern 500 after falling a lap down in Stage 1. Kansas has been a great track for Chastain as he’s produced three consecutive top-10 results.

JOEY LOGANO

Points above: 3

Trending: Hit or Miss

Kansas outlook — Hit or Miss: It’s hard to place faith in Logano’s chances to make a deep playoff run, but if NASCAR’s Mr. Opportunistic comes through, a turnaround likely begins at Kansas. Logano owns three wins at Kansas and finished sixth there in May.

CHRISTOPHER BELL

Points above: 1

Trending: Cooling Off

Kansas outlook — Hit or Miss: Bell’s Kansas results have been good for the most part. He wrecked early at the Sunflower State track in May, resulting in a last-place finish but can’t afford to suffer back-to-back mulligans if he wants to advance out of the Round of 12.

🚩 DRIVERS BELOW ELIMINATION LINE

BUBBA WALLACE

Points below: 1

Trending: Darlington Snapped Cold Streak

Kansas outlook — Hot: Wallace is the defending winner of the Kansas playoff race, which could mean this Sunday is his golden-ticket opportunity to reach the Round of 12 by defending last year’s victorious performance.  

KEVIN HARVICK

Points below: 2

Trending: Mostly Cold Recently

Kansas outlook — Cold: An unfortunate pit-road circumstance at Darlington took Harvick from a potential win and berth in the Round of 12 to still below the elimination line and heading to a track where he hasn’t scored a top-10 finish in the Next Gen car. 

RICKY STENHOUSE JR.

Points below: 4

Trending: Cold

Kansas outlook — Mostly Cold: Stenhouse recovered decently after a Stage 1 speeding penalty on pit road at Darlington to score a point in Stage 2 and finish 16th. One may not see Kansas as a Stenhouse specialty, but the No. 47 Chevrolet has had sneaky speed on the oval with a top 10 last season and a 12th-place run in May. 

MICHAEL MCDOWELL

Points below: 19

Trending: Win or Bust

Kansas outlook — Cold: Darlington was the race McDowell needed to be good at to have a fighting chance to reach the Round of 12. He’s never finished better than 13th in 24 career Kansas starts, so don’t expect to see McDowell gain on the elimination line when the checkered flag waves Sunday. 

Posted on by Staff Report

Kyle Larson’s win in last Sunday night’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs opener in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway secured his spot in the Round of 12.

Fifteen drivers are looking to join Larson in the next round by surviving and winning at the challenging 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon (3 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

Before the green flag drops in the Sunflower State, see who can clinch their spot in the next round without needing to worry about next Saturday night’s Round of 16 elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the 12-driver field of the next round: Kyle Larson.

Can clinch via points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 11th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain or Joey Logano.

— William Byron: Would clinch with 53 points (55 points if Reddick, Buescher, Hamlin or Truex Jr. wins, needs help if Busch, Keselowski, Blaney, Chastain or Logano win)

— Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help

— Chris Buescher: Could only clinch with help

— Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help

— Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help

— Kyle Busch: Could only clinch with help

— Brad Keselowski: Could only clinch with help

— Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help

— Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help

— Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Christopher Bell or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 10th winless driver in the standings.

— William Byron: Could only clinch with help

— Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help

— Chris Buescher: Could only clinch with help

— Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help

— Martin Truex Jr.: Could only clinch with help

— Kyle Busch: Could only clinch with help

— Brad Keselowski: Could only clinch with help

— Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help

— Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help

Can clinch via win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Already clinched

The following 10 drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Josh Berry, Sheldon Creed, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton.

Can clinch via points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the fifth winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Josh Berry, Sheldon Creed or Daniel Hemric.

— Daniel Hemric: Would clinch regardless of finish

— Riley Herbst: Would clinch with 54 points

— Parker Kligerman: Would clinch with 55 points

If there is a new winner from Parker Kligerman or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the fourth winless driver in the standings.

— Daniel Hemric: Would clinch with 1 point

— Riley Herbst: Could only clinch with help

— Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help

Can clinch via win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

— Daniel Hemric, Riley Herbst, Parker Kligerman, Brandon Jones, Brett Moffitt, Parker Retzlaff, Kaz Grala, Ryan Sieg, Jeremy Clements, Anthony Alfredo, Josh Williams, Joe Graf Jr.

Can clinch Regular Season Championship

Additionally, the Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:

— Austin Hill: Would clinch with 38 points

— John Hunter Nemechek: Could only clinch with help

— Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help

Posted on by Reid Spencer

The moment has finally arrived for full-time drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, whose playoff field will be written in stone after Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway (3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Xfinity Series standings | Kansas schedule

Ten drivers already have clinched berths in the postseason. Eight are in on wins: series leader Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton. Two have qualified on points: Josh Berry and Sheldon Creed.

Daniel Hemric will clinch simply by scoring one point at Kansas, even if a driver below him in the standings wins the race.

That leaves Riley Herbst and Parker Kligerman to battle for the final playoff spot, with Herbst holding a one-point lead entering the decider. Herbst surged back into the final playoff-eligible position with a sixth-place finish on Saturday at Darlington, where a late-race wreck relegated Kligerman to 24th.

Herbst, still seeking his first Xfinity Series win, will be keeping a close eye on points throughout Saturday’s race.

“At the end of the day, we show up at the race track each and every weekend to contend for the win,” said Herbst, who climbed as high as second in the standings before a rash of five DNFs (did not finish) in 10 races placed him squarely on the playoff bubble. “It’s cool to be back in the playoffs at the moment, and I’m hoping we can keep ourselves in contention.

“We never wanted to be in this position with how solid we were at the beginning of the year, but I know that we can bounce back from this. My hope is that we can go out, contend for the win and lock ourselves in the playoffs with a victory, but we’re also going to be conscious of the points. We’re in the better position right now above the cut line, so it’s about finding that balance.”

At the top of the standings, the Regular Season Championship likewise won’t be decided until Saturday. Hill holds a lead of 23 points over Nemechek and 33 over Allgaier. The regular-season winner gets a bonus of 15 playoff points, with 10 going to the runner-up and eight to the third-place driver.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

Once upon a time, Kyle Busch considered Kansas Speedway a “jinx” track.

He finished 37th in his debut race at the 1.5-mile speedway in 2004. A decade later, Busch scored his first top five at the track, and it wasn’t until 2016 that he found its Victory Lane for the first time.

Busch’s win that year marked the completion of a dramatic turnaround at a speedway he couldn’t solve early in his career. It was part of a streak of five straight top fives and eight straight top 10s, transforming Kansas from a track Busch dreaded to one he relished.

Lately, though, the track has been trending back toward the “jinx” category, leaving it a matter of conjecture as to which Kansas will greet Busch when he returns for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

KANSAS: Full schedule | Projected results

After a gritty 11th-place finish in last Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Busch enters the second playoff race of 2023 seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, 20 points above the current elimination line for the Round of 12.

“Overall, it was just nice to get an 11th-place finish … for what looked like was going to be a 20th,” said Busch, who had to start the Darlington race from the rear after slapping the wall in practice, necessitating repairs to his car. “Definitely not a day that we wanted but just survived with what we could there.

“Really proud of everyone at RCR and ECR (Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines) for fighting hard all day long. The pit crew had some really good stops today and got us some spots on pit road. We had issues, some self-inflicted and some with our strategy with just the luck of the draw with how the cautions fell. …

“At least we get to live to fight another day.”

A 20-point margin is tenuous, however, considering that Busch has finished 26th and 35th in his last two starts at the Midwest track, the latter of which was his first run with his new Richard Childress Racing team.

Then again, Busch picked up his first victory in the No. 8 RCR Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. — like Kansas, a downforce track.

And Busch’s situation is far less perilous than those of the drivers who occupy positions 11 through 15 in the playoff standings — Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Kevin Harvick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., respectively.

Between Logano in 11th and Stenhouse in 15th, there’s a six-point spread, providing the opportunity for considerable movement at Kansas.

Having escaped Darlington with a 16th-place finish, Stenhouse feels the final two tracks in the first round (Kansas and Bristol) are more to his liking.

“If we do our job, I feel like we can transfer through rounds,” Stenhouse said. “We’re focused on the first round. We’ll see where we end up after Bristol Motor Speedway and figure it out from there on out.

“Darlington was probably the least of the best tracks for us. I’ve run good at Kansas before, and Bristol is my favorite track by far.”

Posted on by Brandon White

Tommy Baldwin Jr. and Doug Coby have unfinished business to address.

With the owner-driver duo still leading the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup presented by JDV Productions, they are bringing out the iconic No. 7NY for a one-off appearance in Saturday’s Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway with the goal of obtaining another accomplishment together.

“After winning at Monadnock in May and leading the Cup standings heading into Saturday, we really wanted to make this event happen,” Baldwin said. “The team will be ready to roll into Monadnock to chase the Cup title, but also another win for Mayhew Tools and everyone involved with Doug and our team.”

Mods at Monadnock: Entry list | Buy tickets | How to watch

Doug Coby and Tommy Baldwin Jr. (Photo: Nick Grace/NASCAR)

Baldwin was forced to step away from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in August after he was diagnosed with cancer. He is progressing well in his treatments and is determined to be back with the series on a more regular basis once his cancer is in remission.

Despite the setback, there were plenty of incentives for Baldwin to finish out the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup with Coby. Not only can the team earn a $5,000 championship payout, but they are also eligible for $6,400 in bonuses stemming from leading the most laps and recording the best average finish across the three-race series.

Coby started the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup on the right note by earning a dominant win at Monadnock after leading 188 of 200 laps. He followed that performance with a sixth at Lee USA Speedway, giving him a narrow, three-point lead in the standings.

Confidence is on Coby’s side as he makes final preparations for Saturday’s Winchester Fair. He is thrilled to be back in the No. 7NY after a two-race hiatus and is willing to help Baldwin in any way possible as he continues his recovery.

“We had a great car last time at Monadnock,” Coby said. “This will be a little bit of a different race being at night compared to the daytime back in May.

“As far as Tommy wanting to go to the track, it’s good for him to have something different to focus on, and he feels good enough to make it happen, which is great to hear.”

Baldwin Strong stickers can be purchased at TommyBadlwinRacing.com. All proceeds will be donated to the Matheny School, a hospital for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities.

The Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway is set to take place Saturday evening at 8 p.m. ET. FloRacing will provide coverage of all the on-track action.

Austin Beers looks to continue stellar sophomore campaign by claiming a Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup title. (Photo: Dakota Moyer/NASCAR)

Austin Beers within striking distance of Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup

With Jon McKennedy and Matt Hirschman not expected to compete in the Winchester Fair, Austin Beers is the closest to overtaking Doug Coby for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup crown.

Currently trailing Coby by just six points, Beers’ position in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup standings is one of many highlights from what has been a successful sophomore campaign on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Beers broke through for his first pole and victory in the second race of the 2023 season at Richmond Raceway. He has followed that win up with four more poles and another win, which he obtained at Lancaster Motorplex last month.

The speed Beers has shown throughout the 2023 season has been prevalent in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup. He has not finished outside the top five in either event, with a third-place run at Lee USA Speedway being his best showing in the three-race series.

Beers will need to be perfect in Saturday’s Winchester Fair if he wishes to usurp Doug Coby and become the second Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup champion.

Sam Rameau is only nine points back from a potential Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup championship. (Photo: Rachel O’Driscoll/NASCAR)

Sam Rameau looks to finish Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup on a high note

Part-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Sam Rameau also finds himself in the mix for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup with just a nine-point deficit.

Rameau opened the three-race series with a solid sixth-place finish at Monadnock Speedway in May. His fourth-place performance at Lee USA Speedway is what has him in contention for the championship heading into Saturday’s Winchester Fair at Monadnock.

Rameau last competed full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2020. Since then, he has made infrequent appearance with the series but has mixed it up with the series regulars by recording a top-five finish in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

The top five Rameau obtained at Lee USA matched his career-best finish at Monadnock the year before. Having found a comfort zone in the first two legs of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, Rameau enters the final leg as a legitimate contender for the crown.

Coby stands in the way of Rameau pulling off a potential upset, but the Westminster, Massachusetts native can still end the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup with a top-five points finish if he finishes strong in the Winchester Fair.

NOTES:

  • Current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader Ron Silk sits fifth in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup standings. Silk enters the Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway with momentum on his side, as he is fresh off his fourth win of the year at Oswego Speedway.
  • The second leg of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup at Lee USA Speedway saw rookie Brian Robie qualify on the outside pole before finishing 11th. Robie earned a lead-lap finish of 13th in the first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock this year and is seeking his second career top 10 on Saturday night.
  • After running five races in the No. 46 for Russell Goodale, Anthony Nocella is back in his family-owned No. 92 for Saturday’s Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway. Nocella is looking for a much better showing at Monadnock on Saturday after a broken rear end relegated him to 27th in May.
  • Monadnock Speedway regular Nathan Wenzel is set to make his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut Saturday. A four-time winner in Monadnock’s weekly division this year, Wenzel looks to carry over that efficiency into Saturday’s Winchester Fair.
Posted on by Staff Report

Throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Advance Auto Parts is spotlighting a series of Home Track Heroes from NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks around the country. Each Home Track Hero, nominated by his or her peers as a result of contributions made to the race track, will have his or her name appear on the C-Post of Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang in a Cup Series Playoff race. Bruce Heggerud, the safety director at Edmonton International Raceway, is the Home Track Hero whose name will appear on Blaney’s car during the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Simply put: Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada could not operate as smooth as it does without the aid of the man who’s volunteered at the quarter-mile race track for more than 30 years and never missed a race event.

Bruce Heggerud was working as search and rescue officer when he joined Edmonton to aid in its safety program all those years ago. Now doubling as the safety director at the track while serving his primary job as a truck driver for Maple Leaf Foods, Heggerud remains the first employee to arrive at Edmonton on a race day and the last to leave.

Heggerud uses his own truck, covered with logo stickers and topped with Whelen safety lights, for his safety work at the race track. The staff applauds him for having constantly improved EIR’s safety program over the course of his tenure, not to mention his work away from the track. For example, the former volunteer firefighter once organized fire safety training for the Wetaskiwin City Fire Department.

Heggerud’s weekday job also allows him to aid others on occasion. While driving his rig, he never passes a stranded car on the side of the road without pulling over to make sure all people involved are OK and receiving the aid they need. He even has assisted the local police and fire departments on dispatch calls.

Heggerud’s passion for the well-being of others can only be rivaled by his love for racing at Edmonton International Raceway. Even when that dedication clashed against a new affection, when he was planning his wedding years ago, the race track had to be considered. Heggerud made sure to schedule his summer wedding on a weekend when the track was not hosting an event.

Heggerud is a Home Track Hero in more ways than one, but to Edmonton International Raceway, he’s the lifeblood that keeps the track’s safety program top-notch.

Posted on by Staff Report

Darlington Raceway is commonly coined the “Track Too Tough to Tame” for a reason, and last Sunday’s Round of 16 opener at the fabled location didn’t diminish this long-held notion a bit. After all, 10 of 16 playoff drivers had varying mishaps, further proving Darlington’s reputation as a tough postseason-opening venue.

RELATED: Playoff Pulse | Where Larson and Byron land in current Power Rankings 

But while uncertainty might have surrounded many drivers during the Cook Out Southern 500, there was nothing but certainty for Kyle Larson and William Byron, especially regarding each team’s respective pit crews.

In the case of Larson, his crew — led by front-tire changer Blaine Anderson, rear-tire changer Calvin Teague, tire carrier RJ Barnette, jackman Brandon Johnson and fueler Brandon Harder — helped vault the No. 5 firmly inside the top four among all Cup teams in average four-tire pit stop times (11.244 seconds). The No. 24 piloted by Byron, meanwhile, continued to maintain his top position — with an average four-tire pit stop time at 11.071 seconds — thanks to front-tire changer Orane Ossowski, rear-tire changer Jeff Cordero, tire carrier Ryan Patton, jackman Spencer Bishop and fueler Landon Walker.

And what fruits did this labor eventually help net for both drivers? Larson won at Darlington and clinched a Round of 12 berth, while Byron’s fourth-place result was the No. 24’s third consecutive finish inside the top 10, dating back to the team’s victory at Watkins Glen International. Should the Hendrick Motorsports duo wish to continue their positive playoff push, efficiency in the pits will be critical.

See below to analyze additional pit-road statistics through Darlington and before the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

TEN FASTEST FOUR-TIRE PIT STOPS IN 2023

RankTrackDriverTime
1SonomaKyle Busch9.185 seconds
2Richmond-2Daniel Suárez9.260 seconds
3Richmond-2Ty Gibbs9.276 seconds
4NashvilleKyle Larson9.281 seconds
5SonomaAustin Cindric9.301 seconds
6Richmond-1Corey LaJoie 9.309 seconds
7NashvilleDaniel Suárez9.333 seconds
8Richmond-2Ty Gibbs9.343 seconds
9CharlotteWilliam Byron 9.383 seconds
10Richmond-2Denny Hamlin9.408 seconds

BEST AVERAGE FOUR-TIRE PIT STOP TIMES IN 2023

Posted on by Cameron Richardson

Last Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway was another race to remember after bedlam in the Final Stage crafted more questions than answers in the Cup Series Round of 16.

With Kansas Speedway on the horizon, the goal for playoff drivers will be a clean afternoon to either have a healthy gap heading to the elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway or win and not have to worry about points racing on the short track. Before Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (3 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), take a look at the top story lines entering Kansas, trends to watch at the 1.5-mile oval and interactive ways to follow all the action this weekend.

RELATED: See paint schemes for Kansas | Betting favorites for Sunday’s Cup race

PROVING GROUND FOR 23XI RACING 📍

Entering the Kansas playoff race last season, Tyler Reddick held a 32-point gap above the Round of 12 elimination line. He appeared to have the dominant car early in the Sunflower State until wrecking late in Stage 1 set Reddick up to be eliminated in the Round of 16 for a second-consecutive season at Bristol.

Reddick is in similar territory entering Sunday as he’s 30 points above the elimination line after a runner-up finish at Darlington. Toyota has dominated on speed in recent Cup events at Kansas, and this weekend should be no different. Reddick’s teammate Bubba Wallace is the defending winner of the Kansas playoff race and had a great top-10 run at Darlington to pull himself just one point from the top 12.

A mistake-free day for Reddick and Wallace could mean two spots potentially secured in the next round for all 23XI Racing.

📉 TRENDS TO WATCH 📈

— Toyota has won the last three Kansas races.

— Four of the last five Kansas winners got their first win of the season.

— 37 lead changes at Kansas in the spring set a track record.

— The race winner started in the top 10 for the last seven Kansas races.

(Via Racing Insights)

CLASSIC KANSAS SPEEDWAY RACES 🎥

2001: Jeff Gordon wins inaugural Kansas race | WATCH

2004: Joe Nemechek, Ricky Rudd battle for win in closing laps | WATCH

2015: Logano spins Kenseth late to amplify playoff drama | WATCH

ON-TRACK SCHEDULE 🗓️

Saturday, September 9

— Noon ET: Practice (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App)

— 12:45 p.m. ET: Qualifying (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App)

Sunday, September 10

— 3 p.m., ET: Hollywood Casino 400 (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App)

MORE: Full weekend schedule at Kansas

RULE CHANGES/GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES 🛞

The GEICO Restart Zone returned to its 2022 dimensions after being extended for this season’s first five races.

Cup teams will run the same tire setup that was used at Kansas in May. Goodyear will allot one set of tires to teams for practice, one for qualifying and an additional eight sets for Sunday’s race.

NASCAR implemented safety updates to the Next Gen car.

Along the right-side door bars and extending toward the rear clip, teams are mandated to run a steel plate in addition to the chassis adjustments made for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The right-side door bar gussets and the removal of the front clip V-brace are changes that remain, in addition to the removal of other front-clip components, to create a softer and larger crush zone for frontal impacts.

Also included in the updates are front bumper strut softening (modifications to existing parts), the requirement of an empty front ballast box and a modified cross brace. NASCAR incurs the cost of all these updates.

In the event of a lost wheel that is contained to pit road, the offending team will be subject to a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions. If the infraction occurs during a caution period, the offending team will restart at the tail end of the field.

If the wheel breaks free outside of pit road, the new rules guidelines mandate a two-lap penalty plus a two-race suspension for two crew members. Each penalty is series-specific: Violations in one series will not impact those crew members’ eligibility to participate in other series.

RELATED: See rules changes for 2023

FAN REWARDS 🫵

Fans can get in on the action all season long with NASCAR Fan Rewards, a free program that rewards fans for participating in the action when they watch races and play NASCAR Fantasy.

There’s no cost to join. Fans must be 18 years or older to participate in the program.

Earn points by checking into a race from home or at the track, setting your Fantasy Live lineup, making purchases on the NASCAR.com shop and more. Points can be redeemed for race tickets, merchandise and VIP experiences at the track, including pace car rides and waving the green flag at qualifying.

JOIN TODAY

FOLLOW THE RACE 📲

NASCAR Mobile has now added support for fans to “Follow the Race” and access live leaderboard and race information from Live Activities in the current app release (v13.2.0), available now. Android users, we didn’t forget you — the same functionality has been custom-built for Android devices, as well.

How to access Live Activities on iPhones:

  1. Make sure your iOS device has been updated to 16.1 or higher.
  2. Available on the leaderboard of all NASCAR Series races.
  3. Click on the three-dot menu near the top right of screen.
  4. Select “Follow the Race.”
  5. Swipe up to access the home screen and you will see the Live Activities at the top.
  6. Lock the device and you will see Live Activities on the Lock Screen.
  7. To turn off, simply visit the leaderboard, click the three-dot menu and “Unfollow the Race.”

FANTASY LIVE 🏆

Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which resets for the playoffs. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts by garaging a driver by the end of Stage 2, and there is a $10,000 prize for the winner.

How to play: Fantasy Live | Set up a team today!

PLAYOFFS GRID CHALLENGE 🏆

During the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, fans have the opportunity to compete in The Playoffs Grid™ Challenge presented by Ruoff Mortage. Fans can enter by visiting The Playoffs Grid™ Challenge page beginning Tuesday, Aug. 29 and registering for a free NASCAR.com account before filling out a bracket. From there, choose from a list of playoff-eligible drivers round by round, and you’re on your way to compete for prizes!

How to play: Playoffs Grid Challenge | Set your grid today!

ALSO ON NASCAR.COM 💻

Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week a select number of in-car cameras will be available — as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.

NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement to the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter and more — and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.

Posted on by Staff Report

Legacy Motor Club announced Wednesday that John Hunter Nemechek will drive for its No. 42 team next season, bringing the 26-year-old driver back to the NASCAR Cup Series.

Nemechek is currently in his first full season with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series, where he ranks second in the standings with one race left before the playoffs begin. The move, announced Wednesday on FOX Sports’ Race Hub news program, makes Legacy MC his third team in the last four years.

RELATED: Xfinity Series standings | Kansas schedule

“To be able to announce my plans for next season so early and officially say I will be competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series relieves a lot of pressure,” Nemechek said in a statement. “There is so much to be done for next year, and this gives us the opportunity to get the news out there and move forward. Also, driving for Maury (Gallagher), Jimmie (Johnson) and Richard Petty is a dream come true for me.”

Co-owner Johnson and John Hunter’s father, Joe, were teammates at Hendrick Motorsports in 2002 and 2003, as the elder Nemechek drove the No. 25 entry in the Cup Series. John Hunter was just five years old at that time.

“We’re excited to have John Hunter in the Legacy Motor Club family and I can’t wait to see what he can do in the No. 42 next season,” Johnson said in a statement. “He is impressive both on and off the track and will be a great ambassador for Legacy M.C. and our partners. He will be a solid teammate to Erik (Jones) and I can’t wait to watch them both compete for wins and championships for years to come.”

Nemechek’s lone full season in the Cup Series was 2020 when he joined Front Row Motorsports’ No. 38 team. Since then, he has been in the Toyota development pipeline, driving two seasons with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series before jumping to the Xfinity Series and JGR. The last three years have been among Nemechek’s most prolific, with 13 of his 20 national-series victories arriving during that stretch.

Nemechek will remain in the Toyota camp with the shift. Legacy Motor Club announced in May that it would switch its manufacturer partnership from Chevrolet to Toyota for 2024.

The personnel move is intended to bring stability to the No. 42 team, which began the year with rookie Noah Gragson behind the wheel. Gragson was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Aug. 5 for a member conduct violation, and Legacy Motor Club granted his release from the team five days later.

Since Gragson’s suspension, three drivers have taken his place in the No. 42 Chevy — Josh Berry and Mike Rockenfeller for two races each, and Truck Series regular Carson Hocevar in the series’ most recent event at Darlington Raceway. Hocevar, 20, is also scheduled to drive the No. 42 in the Cup Series’ next two races, at Kansas Speedway this Sunday and at Bristol Motor Speedway the next weekend.

The organization is in its first season under the Legacy Motor Club banner. The former Petty GMS Motorsports team transformed in the offseason with the addition of seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson to its ownership group.