What’s Happening?

The 30th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule returns all three NASCAR National Series to Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. For the Cup Series, this is the first race of the Round of 12; for the Xfinity Series, it is the first race of the Playoffs; and for the Truck Series, this is the elimination race of the Round of 10.

• Kansas Speedway, outside of Kansas City, Kansas, is owned and operated by NASCAR’s International Speedway Corporation. The 1.5-mile track opened in 2001, with Jeff Gordon winning its inaugural race. The track has a sister track in Joliet, Illinois, Chicagoland Speedway, which is currently unused by NASCAR.
• The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series first raced at Kansas Speedway in 2001. Ricky Hendrick, grandson of Rick Hendrick, won that race, his only victory in one of NASCAR’s National Series. The SeriesSeries began hosting two races a year in 2022. However, in 2020, the Series hosted three races at the track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The NASCAR Xfinity Series first raced in Kansas in 2001, with Jeff Green winning. The Series races at Kansas once a year. However, the track hosted the Series twice in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The NASCAR Cup Series first raced in 2001, with Jeff Gordon winning, which he would also do in 2002. The track earned its two race weekends a year in 2011 and has hosted the Series twice a year ever since.
• The track is one of a handful to host a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race since the Series introduced the format in 2004. Kansas moves from the first race of the Round of 12 to the second race of the Round of 12 in 2025.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times CT)

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Thursday, September 19th – Truck Series Practice/Qualifying – Truck RACE

• 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Truck Series Practice/Qualifying on FS2
• 7:30 p.m. – Truck Series Kubota Tractor 200 on FS1

Saturday, September 28th: Cup and Xfinity Series Practice/Qualifying – Xfinity RACE

• 10:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Xfinity Series Practice/Qualifying on NBC Sports App
• 12:05 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying on USA
• 3:00 p.m. – Kansas Lottery 300 on the CW

Sunday, September 29th: Cup Series RACE

• 2:00 p.m. – Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet on USA

Race Facts

Kansas Speedway – Track Facts

• Opened: 2001
• Length: 1.5-mile
• Shape: Oval
• Banking: Turns can range from 17° to 20°. The front stretch is 10°, and the backstretch is 5°.
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights: Yes
• Rain Tires: No

Truck Series

• Race Length: 134 Laps (201 Miles)
• Stages: 30 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 74 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Christian Eckes (Fall 2023)

Xfinity Series

• Race Length: 200 Laps (300 Miles)
• Stages: 45 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 110 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: John Hunter Nemechek (Fall 2023)

Cup Series

• Race Length: 267 Laps (400.5 Miles)
• Stages: 80 Laps (Stage 1), 85 Laps (Stage 2), 102 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Tyler Reddick (Fall 2023)

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Entry Lists

Truck Series

For the Truck Series, there are 34 entries for 36 spots, meaning no teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Brenden Queen – No. 1 – Tricon Garage
• Nathan Byrd – No. 02 – Young’s Motorsports
• Marco Andretti – No. 04 – Roper Racing
• Connor Mosack – No. 7 – Spire Motorsports
• Jennifer Jo Cobb – No. 10 – Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing
• Frankie Muniz – No. 22 – Reaume Brothers Racing
• Dawson Sutton – No. 25 – Rackley W.A.R.
• Conor Daly – No. 44 – Niece Motorsports
• Justin Mondeik – No. 46 – Young’s Motorsports
• Corey Day – No. 91 – McAnally Hilgemann Racing

Former Winners in The Field:

• Christian Eckes – Spring 2024
• Corey Heim – Fall 2023
• Grant Enfinger – Spring 2023
• Matt Crafton – 2010, 2013, 2020

Xfinity Series

For the Xfinity Series, there are 38 entries for 38 spots, meaning no teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Daniel Dye – No. 10 – Kaulig Racing
• JJ Yeley – No. 14 – SS-Green Light Racing
• Logan Bearden – No. 15 – AM Racing
• Taylor Gray – No. 19 – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Aric Almirola – No. 20** – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Corey Heim – No. 26 – Sam Hunt Racing
• Carson Ware – No. 35 – Joey Gase Motorsports
• Brad Perez – No. 45 – Alpha Prime Racing
• Connor Zilisch – No. 88 – JR Motorsports
• Dawson Cram – No. 92 – DGM Racing

Former Winners in The Field:

• Brandon Jones – 2019, Spring 2020

**According to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, the No. 20 will be Almirola’s part-time ride throughout the playoffs.

Cup Series

For the Cup Series, there are 38 entries for 40 spots, meaning no teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Kaz Grala – No. 15 – Rick Ware Racing
• Ty Dillon – No. 16 – Kaulig Racing
• J.J. Yeley – No. 44 – NY Racing Team
• Jimmie Johnson – No. 84 – Legacy Motor Club

Former Winners in The Field:

• Brad Keselowski – Spring 2011, 2019
• Bubba Wallace – Fall 2022
• Chase Elliott – Fall of 2018
• Denny Hamlin – Spring 2012, 2023, Fall 2019, 2020
• Jimmie Johnson – 2008, Spring 2015, Fall 2011
• Joey Logano – Fall 2014, 2015, 2020
• Kyle Busch – Spring 2016, 2021
• Kyle Larson – Spring 2024, Fall of 2021
• Martin Truex Jr. – Spring 2017, Fall 2017
• Tyler Reddick – Fall 2023

Qualifying Order

Truck Series

Xfinity Series

Cup Series

What To Watch For

Truck Series

• Kansas is the first elimination race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. The round of 12 has yet to see a Playoff driver win a race, as Layne Riggs went back-to-back at Milwaukee and Bristol. Daniel Dye and Ben Rhodes are currently looking in from outside. However, this is only by 7 and 12 points, meaning both drivers will have to race well at Kansas.
• Points leader Christian Eckes won last fall in Kansas, while second place Corey Heim won this spring. For these two drivers, a win is not crucial to advancing. On the other hand, the two Ford drivers, Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski, will need to work together to navigate a Playoff full of Chevrolets and Toyotas.

Xfinity Series

• It’s the first race of the first round of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. The Xfinity Series Playoffs feature the series’ most competitive drivers, any of whom can win a race. The first four drivers out are all drivers who have yet to win a race this season or in their career. However, each has experience with deep Playoff runs.
• From the past five races at the track, none of the winning drivers are in the Playoffs, leaving an open slot for a new winner to walk away with the win this season. Last year’s race saw three accidents following the start of the final stage.

Cup Series

• The Round of 12 starts at Kansas for the NASCAR Cup Series. Interestingly enough, veteran favorites Martin Truex Jr and Brad Keselowski are out of the Playoffs. However, the four “underdogs” who made it to the next round find themselves shuffled back behind the cutline.
• Last Spring, the race in Kansas led to fans calling for it to be the championship. At the same time, that may never be the case. Kansas will be a good pallet cleanser following a slow race at Bristol dominated by Kyle Larson. Larson won this race in the Spring. If he can do so again, he could establish himself as the Championship Favorite.

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.