NASCAR Cup race at Dover 2018: Start time, lineup, TV schedule, more
It’s NASCAR race day at Dover International Speedway, and we’ve got some essential information you need to get ready for Sunday's AAA Drive for Autism 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race:
START TIME: Philadelphia Eagles team announcers Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:01 p.m. ET, followed by the green flag at 2:09 p.m. ET. Linebacker Jordan Hicks, a member of the Super Bowl-winning Eagles, will wave the green flag.
RACE DISTANCE: The AAA Drive for Autism 400 is 400 miles and 400 laps around the 1-mile concrete oval.
RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into stages and handing out points. Here are the segments for tonight's Cup race: Stage 1: 120 laps, Stage 2: 120 laps, Stage 3: 160 laps.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: International country music star Jessica Lynn will perform the national anthem at 1:55 p.m. ET followed by a flyover by four F-16’s from the 113th Wing of the District of Colombia Air National Guard.
LARSON: Pole winner says restarts will be key at Dover
TRUEX: Reigning series champion aims to regain title form at Dover
CHEVROLETS: Look to make headway at Monster Mile
TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will broadcast the race and has a pre-race show beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio will call the event on the radio.
LIVE STREAMING: Fox is offering a live stream through its Fox Sports Go app.
WEATHER: Iffy. The Weather Channel is calling for scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon with precipitation ranges between 45-60%. Green flag temperature expected to be in the mid 60s.
LAST TIME: Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch won his second playoff race in a row, topping Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson in October. And one year ago, Johnson continued his dominance of the Monster Mile, extending his track record to 11 wins last June. Johnson has not won a race since then.
LINEUP: Kyle Larson won his fifth career pole and gave Chevrolet its best starting spot since Alex Bowman won the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who is aiming for his first victory of the season, is joined on the front row by Stewart-Haas Racing's Kevin Harvick, who has three wins in 2018.
Here's the starting lineup for today's AAA Drive for Autism 400 (car number in parentheses):
1. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
2. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
3. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
4. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota
5. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford
6. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
7. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota
8. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford
9. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford
10. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
11. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota
12. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford
13. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
14. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
15. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
16. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet
17. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
18. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
19. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
20. (21) Paul Menard, Ford
21. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
22. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford
23. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet
24. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford
25. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet
26. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet
27. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
28. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
29. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
30. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
31. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
32. (38) David Ragan, Ford
33. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet
34. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet
35. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota
36. (99) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet
37. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet
38. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
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