2021 Kansas betting preview, presented by BetMGM

Posted on May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 by Staff Report

The following article is brought to you by BetMGM.

When it comes to Kansas Speedway, you never know who might pull off the win. In fact, this Sunday’s Buschy McBusch Race 400 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has eight different past Kansas winners in the current starting lineup. That makes for an interesting field when you bet NASCAR online.

But of course that doesn’t mean you’ll see the same old drivers celebrating afterward, as you can see below. The youngsters have proven this year they are more than capable of overcoming the veterans. Five of this year’s races already have been won by drivers who’ve been full time in the Cup Series for less than seven years.

If you’re following the NASCAR odds this week, you’ll see some unique names, which we’ll discuss below.

THE FAVORITE

Denny Hamlin (+450)

Where is Denny Hamlin not good, right? More than half of his 552 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series are top-10 finishes, and more than one third of his starts are finishes within the top five — and he tops this Sunday’s NASCAR betting lines. He has two wins in his last three starts at Kansas Speedway. His recent success on this track, coupled with his torrid start to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season (eight top-five finishes in 10 races), makes him a prime candidate to capture the checkered flag this weekend.

And frankly? He needs a win. He has dominated the season and sits atop the season’s standings — and it’s not even close. He is already 87 points ahead of the nearest competitor (Martin Truex, Jr.). But he’s also the only guy in the top six without a victory this year. While he’s still in great shape to make the postseason, a win would lock everything in for what has already been a dream season.

OTHERS: Right behind Hamlin in the odds are Kyle Larson (+650) and Truex (+650), while Kevin Harvick (+900) is a guy you never want to rule out (three wins, 17 top-10 finishes out of 30 starts). As usual, the veteran racers are threats. Brad Keselowski (+850) starts on the pole.

THE DARK HORSE THREAT

Chase Elliott (+900)

It won’t be long before calling Chase Elliott a dark horse threat just looks dumb. He’s good on road courses, he’s good on superspeedways — you name it. In fact, that may remind some big-time fans of his old man, 2015 Hall of Fame inductee Bill Elliott (44 career wins). But you can’t ignore the following data: In 10 career races at Kansas, Chase has a win, four top-five performances and six top 10s. He could be the happiest driver this weekend, but frankly — he could be that guy just about every weekend.

OTHERS: William Byron (+1400) continues to impress, and his BetMGM odds reflect it. He’ll start second this weekend. Don’t be surprised if he pulls off the win.

THE INTRIGUING LONG SHOT

Erik Jones (+10000)

Jones has a tough starting position at 27th, but he’s proven he races well when he races in The Sunflower State. During his short career at the NASCAR Cup Series level, he has five top-10 finishes and three top threes in just nine starts there. In two of his past three starts there, he has actually started out in the 20s, only to come home with fifth and seventh-place finishes. He knows how to navigate traffic at 1.5-mile oval tracks. On the intermediate tracks, his success percentages (top fives, top 10s and average finish) are his best among track types.

OTHERS: It’s funny, for a guy who actually has a pretty good record here, Chase Briscoe (+25000) isn’t expected to capture the checkered flag. Granted, he starts 19th on Sunday, but he’s won here on two junior racing circuits (Xfinity and ARCA). Joining SHR was his big Cup Series break. Who knows, right? If you take this guy and he rocks it, you’ll look really smart.

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Staff Report

The 2021 NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola campaign is more than just a military appreciation platform — it’s a campaign that salutes our heroes next door. Each week, NASCAR.com will highlight multiple individuals in the week’s race markets that have made a difference with their service both in the military and to their communities.

In our second profile of a hero next door, NASCAR.com is highlighting U.S. Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Robert Lovell, who is currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Lovell grew up in Martinsville, Illinois, and joined the Army in 2004 as an infantryman. During his 17 years in the Army, he has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, while also spending four years as a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, helping to train, develop and mold young recruits. Following his last deployment, he received his current orders that placed him at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

At Fort Leavenworth, Lovell was able to channel his love of the outdoors — mainly fishing and hunting — into volunteer work with the non-profit The Fallen Outdoors (TFO) organization. Started in 2009 at a remote outpost in Afghanistan by three Army soldiers, TFO is an all-veterans volunteer group that unites veterans with each other and the great outdoors and serves thousands of veterans a year. The mission of the organization is to set up and organize outdoors adventures for veterans from all military branches — at no cost — and to teach them a skill and passion they can continue and maintain for a lifetime.

“Our major goal is to build a strong network of like-minded individuals,” Lovell said. “Getting veterans or active duty members out of the barracks or off the couch can do wonders on psychological problems they could be dealing with. Being a part of The Fallen Outdoors helps me connect with those guys and hopefully in some way give someone a new purpose or renewed joy in life that may have been in a rough spot.”

This year, the Team Kansas TFO — of which Lovell is a volunteer staffer — organized 231 hunting and fishing trips for 878 veterans throughout the state. He is currently working on a project leading a Wood Duck Box build with TFO and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The boxes will be delivered to various landowners who help support TFO.

Courtesy photos from SFC Lovell

Lovell, who is married with five children, is currently working toward his Bachelor of Science degree in Fish and Wildlife Science through Oregon State University online. His additional volunteer work has included more outdoors work as he has worked with the installation biologist at Fort Leavenworth to plant spring pollinator plants and helped to cut and clear fallen trees from the various walking and horse trails around the installation. He has also participated in wetland seeding projects coordinated through the Leavenworth Ducks Unlimited Chapter.

Lovell is an avid NASCAR fan and his favorite driver is Kevin Harvick. He took his wife, brother and sister-in-law to their first race in 2019.

Posted on May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 by Staff Report

STAFFORD, Conn. — Patrick Emerling dodged the wreck. And then waited on the rain.

His reward? The Orchard Park, New York, driver is the 49th NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler winner Friday night. Rain ended the race after 130 laps at Stafford Motor Speedway.

To get the win, Emerling had to pilot the No. 07 Captain Pip Marina Chevrolet through a cluster of spinning cars after Ryan Preece and Ron Silk got together in Turn 2 battling for the win. The wreck also collected Anthony Nocella and Justin Bonsignore. Emerling, who was running fifth, went high and then dove between the pinwheeling Nocella and Bonsignore to get clear.

The red came out during the ensuing caution for developing rain showers, and the weather eventually forced NASCAR officials to call the event.

How about Patrick Emerling finding a lane through the spinning leaders?

He’s now p1 under 🔴 for 🌧#NWMT | @StaffordSpeedwy pic.twitter.com/aGbQjcGDK2

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) May 1, 2021

Eric Goodale, who won the season opener at Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway, also picked his way through the cars to finish second.

Tommy Catalano finished third, while Timmy Solomito overcame an earlier spin of his own to finish fourth. Craig Lutz rounded out the top five.

RELATED: Complete race results

It is Emerling’s second career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win in 112 starts over 11 seasons. He won at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 after leading 148 of 150 laps. On Friday, the only laps he led where the final seven under yellow.

His best finish at Stafford was fourth in 2018. Driving for his family-owned team, Emerling also matched crew chief Jan Leaty, who won the 1996 Spring Sizzler as a driver.

Jon McKennedy finished sixth, followed by Andrew Krause, Chuck Hossfeld, Ronnie Williams and Kyle Bonsignore.

Justin Bonsignore was scored 13th, Silk 14th, Preece 17th and Nocella 18th after the late wreck.

Goodale leads Emerling by six points and Catalano 11 after two races. McLaughlin is fourth, while defending tour champion Justin Bonsignore is tied with his cousin Kyle for fifth.

Matt Swanson earned his first Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award earlier in the evening and led a race-high 84 laps, but a wreck ended his night after 111 laps and he finished 20th.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to action on Saturday, May 15, with the first of three trips to Riverhead Raceway on Long Island.

Patrick Emerling drove the No. 07 Captain Pip Marina Chevrolet to the win in the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 30, 2021 in Stafford, Connecticut. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Staff Report

STAFFORD, Conn. — Matt Swanson has ‘Ole Blue’ in a familiar spot, even if it’s entirely new to him.

The 21-year-old from Acton, Massachusetts, earned his first career Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award Friday in qualifying for the evening’s NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway.

While Swanson is looking for his first tour win, the No. 3 Propane Plus/Jericho Performance Chevrolet is one of the iconic rides in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history. The Boehler family car won the first Spring Sizzler in 1972 with driver Fred DeSarro.

It was Swanson’s 75th career start. His previous best qualifying effort on the tour was a fourth, while his best at Stafford was a fifth in the 2019 Spring Sizzler in which he wound up out of the race after just 51 laps with a power steering issue.

He had a qualifying lap of 18.008 seconds (99.956 mph) Friday, and held on as Jon McKennedy – who was fastest in practice – went out last and qualified second at 18.051 (99.717).

RELATED: Complete Qualifying Results

Craig Lutz qualified third at 18.099 (99.453).

Doug Coby was fourth and Timmy Solomito fifth.

Anthony Nocella, Woody Pitkat, Eric Goodale, Tyler Rypkema and Andrew Krause rounded out the top 10.

NASCAR Cup Series driver and former Spring Sizzler winner Ryan Preece qualified 11th, and defending tour champion Justin Bonsignore will start 15th.

The NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler is slated to go green shortly after 8 p.m., and fans can watch on TrackPass on NBC Gold.

Matt Swanson piloted the No. 3 Propane Plus/Jericho Performance Road Chevrolet to the Mayhew Tools Pole Award at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Posted on April 30, 2021May 3, 2021 by Staff Report

The Next Gen car will be unveiled to the public for the first time on Wednesday from Charlotte, and fans can watch the historic event with NASCAR.com’s live stream starting at 3 p.m. ET. The event will also air across NASCAR’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels.

NASCAR and its OEMs – Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota – have worked together to develop a car from the ground up that will help boost competition across the garage. Each manufacturer will reveal their unique look in anticipation of the Next Gen car making its competition debut for the start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The production of the Next Gen car has been a collaboration of the brightest engineering minds in racing, with contributions coming from all sides of the NASCAR and automotive industries. The first prototype, built by Richard Childress Racing, was test driven by Austin Dillon in October of 2019 at Richmond Raceway.

The car was tested three more times in late 2019 and early 2020 before testing was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Testing resumed in August of 2020 at Dover International Speedway with Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer behind the wheel.

In February of 2021, NASCAR announced that development on the Next Gen car was complete. Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota brought prototypes to Martinsville Speedway in April for testing. Then, Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick drove the car during a Goodyear tire test the following week at Darlington Raceway.

Stay tuned to NASCAR.com after the reveal for more news and updates about the Next Gen car.

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Staff Report

STAFFORD, Conn. — Jon McKennedy has finished sixth and second in his last two trips to Stafford Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The Chelmsford, Massachusetts, driver got off to a fast start Friday as he looks for his first trip to Victory Lane at the historic half-mile.

McKennedy paced the one-hour practice session for Friday night’s NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler, posting a lap of 17.926 seconds (100.413 mph). His No. 7 Ultra Wheel Chevrolet was the only in the field to clock a lap faster than 100 mph.

Andrew Krause was second fastest at 18.048 (99.734), while Doug Coby’s lap in the final minute of practice of 18.087 (99.519) was good for third quick.

RELATED: Complete practice results

Craig Lutz and Timmy Solomito were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Matt Swanson was sixth, followed by Woody Pitkat, Ronnie Williams, Ron Silk and Dave Sapienza.

Championship points leader Eric Goodald was 18th, while defending tour champion Justin Bonsingore was 15th. NASCAR Cup Series driver and former Spring Sizzler winner Ryan Preece was 12th.

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Marcus DiNitto

Kyle Larson sits atop the oddsboard at SuperBook USA in Las Vegas ahead of this weekend’s Buschy McBusch Race 400, as the market-making sportsbook rates the No. 5 Chevrolet a tick higher than competing betting shops around the nation.

The SuperBook, whose NASCAR numbers influence the broader betting market, prices Larson at 5/1 odds (+500, or bet $100 to win $500) to win Sunday at Kansas Speedway, making him the co-favorite with Cup Series points leader Denny Hamlin. While BetMGM also lists Hamlin as the 5/1 favorite as of Friday morning, Larson is the 6/1 co-second choice along with Martin Truex Jr. Barstool has Hamlin +550 and Larson and Truex each at +650.

For more evidence of the SuperBook’s respect for Larson this week, the Hendrick driver is priced as a solid favorite in head-to-head matchup props over a suite of NASCAR heavyweights. Larson is -130 (bet $130 to win $100) over Hamlin, -130 over both Truex and Ryan Blaney, and large -140 chalk over Brad Keselowski.

This despite Larson’s solid yet unspectacular history at Kansas and a distant starting position of 32nd on Sunday.

Larson’s 17.4 average finish over the 10 most recent races at this track ranks just 15th, but he’s finished in the top eight in four of his last six Cup events here. For much of this season, he’s been running near the front in his new Hendrick equipment, and he’s been excellent on 1.5-mile tracks in 2021, finishing fourth at Homestead, first in Las Vegas and second in Atlanta. All three of those tracks are used as comparisons to Kansas by race handicappers.

Stacking up the SuperBook’s odds against Barstool, there’s value to be found in the latter’s matchup props, where Larson is a +115 underdog vs. Hamlin (-150). Betting against Hamlin, who’s finished in the top five in eight of 10 races this season, takes some gumption, but per the SuperBook’s usually sharp numbers, +115 represents 35 cents of value, a massive edge in any bet.

Oddsmakers disagree on Penske drivers

More odds discrepancies between the SuperBook and other betting locales can be found within Team Penske, as the Vegas shop lists Ryan Blaney with the shortest price of the three drivers in the garage, while BetMGM and Barstool have him with the longest.

At +600 on the SuperBook’s board, Blaney sits just behind Larson and Hamlin, equal with Truex and ahead of Penske teammates Keselowski (+800) and Joey Logano (+1000). Matched in a prop against Keselowski, Blaney is a solid -125 favorite.

This pricing suggests Blaney is an enticing play at 10/1 odds to win the race in the outright market. While Blaney has the skinniest number among Penske drivers at the SuperBook, he is the longest shot of the three at Barstool, where Keselowski is +850 and Logano is +900.

Also at Barstool, the No. 12 Ford is available at +105 in a matchup against Truex, 15 cents fatter than the SuperBook, which prices the Truex vs. Blaney matchup -110 coinflip. Similar to the Larson over Hamlin angle discussed above, while a play against Truex isn’t for the faint of heart, the difference in pricing suggests value on the underdog at Barstool.

After a less-than-impressive start to the season, Blaney has been rounding into form and climbing steadily up the driver rankings. Following a disappointing 29th at Homestead, his two most recent outings on 1.5-milers resulted in a fifth in Vegas and a win in Atlanta. He sits in fifth place in the standings heading into Kansas.

Still, his visits to Victory Lane have been infrequent — he has five career wins, one in each of the last five years — and his history at Kansas has been wildly inconsistent. Blaney’s 15.0 average finish over the last 10 races at the track ranks 12th.

Hesitance to back Blaney over his Penske teammates can be forgiven, as Logano won here in October, and Keselowski boasts an average finish of 10.9 over the last 10, including a win in May 2019.

Based largely on the strength of these three drivers, in addition to Stewart-Haas’ Kevin Harvick — who hasn’t been much of a threat this season but has been outstanding at Kansas and is +900 to win Sunday — Ford is the +170 favorite at Barstool to be the winning manufacturer, with Chevrolet +175 and Toyota +180.

Marcus DiNitto is a writer and editor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been covering sports for nearly two-and-a-half decades and sports betting for more than 10 years. His first NASCAR betting experience was in 1995 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he went 0-for-3 on his matchup picks. Read his articles and follow him on Twitter; do not bet his picks.

Posted on April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 by Staff Report

In our first profile of a hero next door, NASCAR.com is highlighting U.S. Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ashley Neago, who is currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Neago grew up in Massillon, Ohio, and joined the Army to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, who served under General George Patton in World War II. She enlisted in the Army in 2010 and completed her basic and advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, before being assigned to the 165th Military Police (MP) Company in Fort Leavenworth as a Correctional Specialist. During her 11 years in the Army, Neago has been assigned to work in Cuba, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in addition to Fort Leavenworth.

In addition to her duties working with the Director of Correction Programs (DCP) staff at the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Neago has spent a lot of time volunteering in her local community. She has also encouraged and motivated the soldiers under her responsibility to do the same. Since joining her post at the DCP in September, Neago has completed over 150 volunteer hours. That level of community service resulted in her being awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for the second time in her Army career.

“I volunteer to make a meaningful difference in the lives of soldiers and their families and to make a difference in our Fort Leavenworth community,” Neago said. “By volunteering with my soldiers, it has further resulted in a sense of satisfaction and achievement within my platoon. We have been able to build new friendships and become a cohesive team.”

Neago and her team volunteer weekly at the Fort Leavenworth Animal Stray Facility and the Fort Leavenworth Frontier Army Museum. The team recently sanitized the museum in order for it to stay within COVID guidelines and remain open. The group has also been working on repairing a new exhibit by patching, sanding and painting the walls of the museum. Neago has also volunteered her time at the Mission Food Pantry, Fort Leavenworth Rod and Gun Club, Leavenworth Lions Club, Wreaths Across America, and Boys Scouts of America.

Her volunteer work with the annual Wreaths Across America event at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery left an indelible mark and was one of the most rewarding experiences she has had volunteering.

“This year due to COVID families with loved ones in the cemetery could not attend in person so each time we laid a wreath in front of a grave, we said the name of the soldier and had a moment of silence,” Neago said. “We did this in their honor as they paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Courtesy photos from SFC Neago

Neago’s sense of community and service extends to her Army family as well. She organized a drive-by baby shower for a soldier in need that followed COVID guidelines. Over the holiday season, she volunteered her time to work for soldiers so they could spend more time with their families. She did this while also being a single parent herself to her daughter. Her selfless leadership traits have earned her a nomination for the Army’s 2021 Correction Professional of the Year.

When not serving her country, community and raising her daughter, Neago is working toward her Bachelor Degree in Homeland Security. She is an avid NASCAR fan who counts Kurt Busch as her favorite driver.

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Nascar

Meet the NASCAR Fan Council Member of the Month for May 2021

Name: Chace
Current City: Jacksonville, Alabama
Member Since: 2018

Getting to KNOW Chace:

Q. How did you first become interested in NASCAR?

“I had never even heard the word NASCAR, let alone knew what NASCAR was until I was about 10 years old, and my dad just happened to be watching a race on tv. It was the race at Talladega when Jeff Gordon passed Dale Jr right before the caution came out and Gordon won under yellow, then fans pelted his car... I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen, and ever since then I have been hooked!”

Q. What is your favorite part about NASCAR?

“What’s not to like about NASCAR? The speed, the danger, the competition… it’s like no other sport on earth. The fact that 40 cars can race side by side going upwards of 200 miles per hour for hours at a time is mind boggling. Knowing one wrong move or one lapse in concentration can send you head on into the wall and ruining your day. Living in a world that is losing its mind, it’s nice having NASCAR as my weekly escape from reality.”

Q: What is your favorite NASCAR memory?

“In 2009, Talladega Superspeedway had a fan event where ticket holders could drive their personal vehicle around the track. So my family went to drive laps in my mom’s minivan. It was [during] the playoff Loudon race, it’s almost the finish of the race, and it’s our turn to drive out on track in our van. While we were driving a good 80 MPH in the minivan, my all-time favorite driver and hero, Mark Martin, wins the race. I remember screaming because I was so excited that my driver had won and I was actually on the race track myself. That was Mark Martin’s last win in his career, and it’s a day I’ll never forget.”

Q: Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?

Current Driver: “Ryan Blaney.”

Past Driver: “Mark Martin.”

Up and Coming Driver: “John Hunter Nemechek.”

Track: “Talladega Superspeedway.”

Sponsor: “FedEx is my favorite NASCAR sponsor because they have stuck with Denny Hamlin his entire Cup career. That takes so much dedication to be fully invested in a sport and a driver for 15 years. It’s good to see that kind of longevity with a sponsor. Also, my dad is a manager at a FedEx office, and he has worked for them for 30+ years. Growing up, my dad would take us to Talladega and Bristol using his FedEx hospitality suites. That’s another reason why FedEx is my favorite!”

Q. What do you like to do in your free time?

“I pretty much work my life away, but in the little free time I do have, I spend it working out trying to stay healthy or at church. Watching racing isn’t something I just like to do, it’s something I HAVE to do.”

FROM ALL OF US AT NASCAR, WE THANK CHACE FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM HIM IN 2021! Look for Chace on the Official NASCAR Fan Council page on NASCAR.COM.

Posted on April 29, 2021April 30, 2021 by Holly Cain

Brad Keselowski added his name to the impressively long and varied list of 2021 winners with a victory at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend.

There have been nine winners through the opening 10 races headed into Sunday’s Buschy McBusch Race 400 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), but notably absent on that list of victors are two of Kansas Speedway’s best, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.

Hamlin, who has eight top-five finishes in the opening 10 races, is a three-time Kansas winner and the defending race winner. In 25 starts at Kansas, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes and boasts victories in two of the last three Kansas races, dating back to the 2019 playoff stretch.

Harvick also has plenty of reason to feel especially optimistic about the Kansas 1.5-miler. He is the statistical top mark among current drivers. His wins (three), top fives (10) and top 10s (17) are most among active drivers, and his 109.7 driver rating is tops in the field as well. His last win at Kansas was 2018.

The driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford has three top-five and seven top-10 runs in the 10 races to date this season, but this is only the second time since 2012 he hasn’t celebrated in Victory Lane already by race No. 10. He has a pair of top-10 finishes in his last four races and two top 10s at the three 1.5-mile tracks so far this year.

“Something I tell everybody year after year, whether we’ve had a good year or a bad year, you just never know what the next year is going to bring until you get on the race track,” Harvick said. “The things that people don’t see during the offseason are the things most people don’t see – whether NASCAR changes a little rule here or Goodyear makes a little bit of a change to a tire there. Sometimes it suits you and sometimes it doesn’t. Last year, everything went our way. This year, it hasn’t really gone our way.

“Our Busch Light team has really done a great job of scratching and clawing for every position that you can get on the weekend. It’s bought us time week after week to get our cars back to where we want them to be. It’s not a position we haven’t been in before. It’s definitely part of the sport and part of the things you have to do to keep yourself going. You are sometimes digging yourself out of a hole and figuring things out. It’s a big science project, I can say that for sure. There are a lot of engineers on a lot of computers burning the midnight oil trying to make sure we start making some headway on getting our cars where we need them.”

Two other drivers certainly worth watching this week in particular include reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott and two-time series champ Kyle Busch – both still looking for their first victory this season as well.

Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, has only four top-10 finishes this season, none on 1.5-mile tracks. And he’s only led three laps in the last six races of the season. His work at Kansas should make him optimistic, though. He won the 2018 playoff race at Kansas and has six top-10 finishes in 10 starts. He has finished sixth or better in four of the last five races there.

Busch, driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, is still looking for his first win with new crew chief Ben Beshore. Busch has two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 2021 but only led 14 laps on the season. He has scored top-10 finishes in all three of the previous 1.5-mile races, however, including a season-best third at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month.

Busch has earned 10 of his career 12 top-10 finishes at Kansas in the last 12 races there, including a win in 2016. He was fifth in his last start at the track back in October.

It is worth noting Sunday’s race marks the 700th career NASCAR Cup Series start for veteran Ryan Newman. The Roush Fenway Racing driver joins Kurt Busch (730) and Harvick (728) as the only active drivers with at least 700 starts. Newman, who has 18 career wins and whose 51 pole positions is most among active drivers, noted the upcoming milestone with his typical humor.

“Seven-hundred starts means I’m old and that’s OK, but it’s a milestone no doubt,” the No. 6 Ford pilot said. “It just shows that I’m experienced, lost more than I’ve won just like everybody else in this sport, and it’s pretty cool to still be doing something this long that I’m so passionate about.”

The lineup for Sunday’s race features last week’s winner Keselowski on the Busch Pole with Talladega runner-up William Byron starting second.