NASCAR Cup race at Kansas 2018: Start time, lineup, TV schedule, more
It’s NASCAR race day at Kansas Speedway, and we've got some essential information you need to get ready for Saturday night's KC Masterpiece 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race:
START TIME: A group of Vietnam veterans will instruct drivers to start their engines at 8:01 p.m. ET (7:01 p.m. local), followed by the green flag at 8:10 p.m. ET (7:10 p.m. local).
RACE DISTANCE: The KC Masterpiece 400 is 267 laps around the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, or 400.5 miles.
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: 80 laps, Stage 2: 80 laps, Stage 3: 107 laps.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: Reviver Records recording artist Michael Tyler will perform the national anthem at 7:55 p.m. ET (6:55 p.m. local) followed by a flyover by four A-10’s from the 303rd Fighter Squadron of the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman AFB in Missouri.
TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will broadcast the race and has a pre-race show beginning at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local). 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.
PREVIEW: Kenseth's debut, Roush reunion ups Kansas intrigue
KENSETH: At 46, former champ ready to jump back into fray
ALMIROLA: Hopes for happier Mother's Day one year after crash
HARVICK: Reveals who will be the next Dale Earnhardt Jr.
WEATHER: The Weather Channel is calling for partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80s at the green flag, dropping to the mid-high 70s by checkered flag. There is a 15% chance of rain for the race.
LAST TIME: Martin Truex Jr. swept both races at Kansas in 2017. In October, he led the final 57 laps and 91 overall to run away with the playoff race and earn his second victory in the three-race second round. And one year ago, Truex led a race-high 104 laps to take the spring race.
LINEUP: Kevin Harvick kept his hot streak going. The 2018 Cup Series leader in wins with four added his second pole of the season during Friday's qualifying. But several drivers never made it on the track for qualifying after failing to clear inspection on time. That included Matt Kenseth, who is making his return this week in the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, and Clint Bowyer, the hometown favorite from Emporia, Kansas.
Here's the starting lineup for today's KC Masterpiece 400 (car number in parentheses):
1. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
2. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
3. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota
4. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
5. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford
6. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
7. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
8. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford
9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
10. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet
11. (21) Paul Menard, Ford
12. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota
13. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
14. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota
15. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
16. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford
17. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
18. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
19. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
20. (38) David Ragan, Ford
21. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet
22. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
23. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
24. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet
25. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
26. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
27. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
28. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
29. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota
30. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet
31. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet
32. (51) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet
33. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford
34. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet
35. (6) Matt Kenseth, Ford
36. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
37. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford
38. (66) Timmy Hill, Toyota
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