What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series playoff drivers are ready to roll the dice in Las Vegas this weekend. There are just four races left in each Series Playoffs, and for some drivers, Vegas is their best bet to make the Championship Four.

• Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1996. The first NASCAR race there was a Truck Series race, which Jack Sprague won. Beginning in 2018, the Xfinity and Cup Series race twice yearly in Las Vegas.
• The Xfinity Series first raced in Las Vegas in 1998. Up into the mid-2010 Cup Series, regulars or “Buschwhackers” had a knack for winning the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas.
• The Cup Series first raced at Las Vegas in 1998. Jack Roush’s Ford’s won the first three races at the track. However, in recent years, Rick Hendricks Chevrolets have won five of the last seven races in the desert.
• Las Vegas is one of a few NASCAR Playoff tracks that will not have a race date change next year.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times PT)

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Friday, October 18th: Xfinity Series Practice/Qualifying

• 3:35 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Xfinity Series Practice and Qualifying on NBC Sports App

Saturday, October 19th: Cup Series Practice/Qualifying – Xfinity RACE

• 1:35 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Cup Series Practice and Qualifying on USA
• 4:30 p.m. – Ambetter Health 302 on the CW

Sunday, October 20th: Cup Series RACE

• 2:00 p.m. – South Point 400 on USA

Race Facts

Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Track Facts

• Opened: 1996
• Length: 1.5-mile
• Shape: Tri-Oval
• Banking: 20° in turns, 9-12° on frontstretch and backstretch
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights: Yes
• Rain Tires: No

Xfinity Series

• Race Length: 201 Laps (301.5 Miles)
• Stages: 45 Laps (Stages 1 & 2), 111 Laps (Stage 3)
• Most-Recent Winner: Riley Herbst (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: Kyle Larson (Fall 2023)

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Entry Lists

Xfinity Series

There are 38 entries for 38 spots in the Xfinity Series, meaning no team teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Myatt Snider – No. 07 – SS-Green Light Racing
• JJ Yeley – No. 14 – SS-Green Light Racing
• Taylor Gray – No. 19 – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Aric Almirola – No. 20 – Joe Gibbs Racing
• Corey Heim – No. 26 – Sam Hunt Racing
• Akinori Ogata – No. 35 – Joey Gase Motorsports
• Garrett Smithley – No. 45 – Alpha Prime Racing
• Joey Gase – No. 53 – Joey Gase Motorsports
• Ryan Vargas – No. 74 – Mike Harmon Racing
• Connor Mosack – No. 88 – JR Motorsports
• Dawson Cram – No. 92 – DGM Racing

Former Winners in The Field:

• A.J. Allmendinger – Spring 2021
• Austin Hill – Spring 2023
• Riley Herbst – Fall 2023

Cup Series

For the Cup Series, there are 37 entries for 40 spots, meaning no teams will be sent home.

Notable entries include:

• Cody Ware – No. 15 – Rick Ware Racing
• Shane Van Gisbergen – No. 16 – Kaulig Racing
• Jimmie Johnson – No. 84 – Legacy Motor Club

Former Winners in The Field:

• Alex Bowman – Spring 2022
• Brad Keselowski – 2014, 2016, Fall 2018
• Denny Hamlin – Fall 2021
• Jimmie Johnson – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010
• Joey Logano – Spring 2019, 2020, Fall 2022
• Kyle Busch – 2009
• Kyle Larson – Spring 2021, 2024, Fall 2023
• Martin Truex Jr. – Spring 2017, Fall 2019
• William Byron – Spring 2023

Qualifying Order

Xfinity Series

Cup Series

What To Watch For

Xfinity Series

• The Xfinity Series playoffs enter a fresh round at Las Vegas. The eight drivers that remain are all Championship contenders from earlier this season. Veteran Justin Allgaier enters Vegas with the points lead. However, Allgaier found himself deep in a hole entering the Roval. The veteran has no championships and no wins in Las Vegas. There is still a lot for Justin to overcome, and a win in Vegas could be a major step in doing so.
• The Xfinity Series at Las Vegas is a wildcard, no pun intended. The track has not had a repeat winner since 2020. That year, Chase Briscoe became the only back-to-back Xfinity Series winner in Las Vegas history. The fall race will definitely have a new winner, as the spring race winner, John Hunter Nemechek, is not competing on Saturday.

Cup Series

• The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs may have the strongest lineup of teams and drivers in Round of Eight history. The Round of Eight includes Tyler Reddick, the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion, five champions, and five Daytona 500s. Five of those eight have won at Vegas, and all eight have made their case for the championship.
• This spring, Tyler Reddick battled hard for the Las Vegas win with current points leader Kyle Larson. That race wrote the story for this season. Larson and Reddick have gone back and forth all year long, including battling on track and in the standings. Will this dynamic duo put heads this weekend as well?

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