What’s Happening?

NASCAR rolls into America’s Heartland this weekend as Kansas Speedway hosts the first of two NASCAR weekends. The track’s second date is in both the Cup Series and Truck Series Playoffs, making this a very important race for teams with Championship aspirations. Here is everything you need to know about Kansas Speedway’s NASCAR weekend.

• The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series take to the track this weekend as the Xfinity Series enjoys an off-weekend. This is the first of 5 straight race weekends for the Truck Series after having two weekends off post-Texas. The Cup Series begins a stretch of 4 consecutive intermediate track points events at Kansas.
• The ARCA Menards Series is on track this weekend as well. Since it’s on a 1.5-mile track, only National Series drivers are allowed to compete.
• Fans are excited for Kansas Speedway’s NASCAR weekend. It’s quickly become one of the most popular tracks on the schedule, and it produced a banger Cup Series race in 2023.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Saturday, April 27th: ARCA Menards Series/NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series RACE

• 12:00-1:30 PM – Truck Series Practice/Qualifying on FS1
• ~1:30-2:00 PM – NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition on FS1
• 2:00 PM – ARCA Menards Series TIDE 150 on FS1
• ~4:00-5:00 PM – NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition on FS1
• 5:00-7:00 PM – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying on FS1
• ~7:00-8:00 PM – NASCAR RaceDay on FS1
• 8:00 PM – Truck Series Heart of America 200 on FS1

Sunday, April 28th: NASCAR Cup Series RACE

• 2:00-3:00 PM – NASCAR RaceDay on FS1
• 3:00 PM – Cup Series Advent Health 400 on FS1

Race Facts

Kansas Speedway

• Year Built: 2001 (Reconfigured in 2012 to input variable banking in corners)
• Length: 1.5 Miles
• Banking: 17-20 Degrees in Turns, 9-11 Degrees on Frontstretch, 5 Degrees on Backstretch
• Track Type: Intermediate
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights?: Yes
• Rain Tires?: No

ARCA Menards Series

• Race Length: 100 Laps (150.00 Miles)
• 2023 Spring Race Winner: Jesse Love

Truck Series

• Race Length: 134 Laps (201.00 Miles)
• Stages: 30 Laps (Stage 1 and 2), 74 Laps (Stage 3)
• 2023 Spring Race Winner: Grant Enfinger
• Former Dover Winners in the Field: Matt Crafton (3), Grant Enfinger, Zane Smith, Christian Eckes, and Brett Moffitt
• Purse: $770,294

Cup Series

• Race Length: 400 Laps (400.00 MIles)
• Stages: 120 Laps (Stage 1), 130 Laps (Stage 2), 150 Laps (Stage 3)
• 2023 Spring Race Winner: Denny Hamlin
• Former Dover Winners in the Field: Denny Hamlin (4), Joey Logano (3), Jimmie Johnson (3), Kyle Busch (2), Martin Truex Jr. (2), Brad Keselowski (2), Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott

Entry List

ARCA Menards Series

A total of 26 drivers are entered in the ARCA Menards Series race on Saturday. Notable entrants include Marco Andretti (No. 17), Tanner Gray (No. 18), Connor Mosack (No. 28), and Lawless Alan (No. 33), Gray and Alan are both pulling double duty (ARCA and Trucks) on Saturday.

Full entry list HERE.

Truck Series

The Truck Series entry list features 33 trucks for 36 spots, meaning no drivers will go home. Notable entrants include Brett Moffitt (No. 1), Connor Mosack (No. 7), Mason Maggio (No. 22), Kaden Honeycutt (No. 45), Cam Waters (No. 66), and Zane Smith (No. 91).

Cup Series

The Cup Series entry list includes 38 drivers for 40 spots, meaning no drivers will go home. Austin Hill (No. 33) and Jimmie Johnson (No. 84) are the open entries with Riley Herbst (No. 15), and Derek Kraus (No. 16) the other notable entrants. Corey Heim (No. 43) is currently on the entry list, but, according to Bob Pockrass, Legacy Motor Club has not yet decided if Corey Heim will race in place of Erik Jones.

What to Watch For This Weekend

ARCA Menards Series

Kansas Speedway was Jesse Love’s playground in the spring of 2023, leading 96 of 100 laps to take home the win. Since this is not a combination race, the series regulars have a good chance to shine this weekend.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Grant Enfinger dominated at Kansas in the spring of 2023, leading 65 laps and winning by more than 4 seconds. However, GMS is no longer around, meaning the field could be wide open for this weekend. Thus far in 2024, each race winner has come from Spire, Bill McAnally, TRICON, or teams related to one of those three. This race marks the halfway point of the regular season, and Kansas hosts a Playoff elimination race in September.

Cup Series

Both Cup Series Kansas races in 2023 came down to the final lap, so, fans are excited for this weekend’s race. Toyota has taken home the last 4 Kansas wins with 23XI taking home 3 of those, so, watch out for 23XI this weekend. Kyle Larson led the most laps in both Kansas races in 2023, so, he should be near the front as well.

This article will be updated as more information comes out throughout the week, including entry lists, schedule changes, and more.