NASCAR Cup playoff 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 Gander Outdoors 400, the first race of the second round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs:
START TIME: Tamara Ward, executive vice president of corporate development at Camping World Holdings, Inc., will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:07 p.m. ET, followed by the green flag at 2:16 p.m. ET.
RACE DISTANCE: The Gander Outdoors 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.
PLAYOFFS: Today's race is the fourth of 10 playoff races and the first of the three-race second round, which concludes two weeks from now at Kansas Speedway. Twelve drivers advanced from the first round and remain in contention for the championship.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: The Combined Choir of Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, Del., will perform the national anthem at 2 p.m. ET, followed by a flyover by the U.S. Navy Training Squadron Seven (VT-7) from Meridian, Miss., flying the T-45C Goshawk.
TV RADIO SCHEDULE: The race will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) starting at 2 p.m. ET, with a pre-show beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. Radio calls can be found on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio.
LIVE STREAMING: NBCSports.com will live-stream the race for those who sign in with their cable/satellite provider's credentials.
PREVIEW: Ford drivers have edge as Round of 12 begins at Dover
LARSON: Hopes bad playoff luck now in rear view mirror
PLACE YOUR BETS: Sports book comes to Dover for the first time
WEATHER: Mild. The Weather Channel is forecasting mostly cloudy skies with highs in the low 80s and a very slim chance of precipitation.
LAST TIME: Kevin Harvick led 201 of 400 laps in May and held off Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer en route to his fourth win of the season. And one year ago in the playoff race, Kyle Busch passed Chase Elliott with two laps remaining to win the first-round elimination race.
LINEUP: Rain washed out Friday's qualifying, setting the field on owner points and putting the 12 remaining playoff drivers on the first six rows. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, who have topped the standings for most of the season, will start on the front row.
Here's the starting lineup for today's Gander Outdoors 400 (car number in parentheses):
1. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota
2. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
3. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
4. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford
5. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford
6. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
7. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford
8. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
9. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
10. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
11. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
12. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
13. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
14. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
15. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
16. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota
17. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
18. (21) Paul Menard, Ford
19. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota
20. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet
21. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford
22. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
23. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet
24. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
25. (95) Regan Smith, Chevrolet
26. (38) David Ragan, Ford
27. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
28. (6) Matt Kenseth, Ford
29. (43) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet
30. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
31. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford
32. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
33. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
34. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet
35. (23) JJ Yeley, Toyota
36. (51) BJ McLeod, Ford
37. (96) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Toyota
38. (66) Timmy Hill, Toyota
39. (52) Harrison Rhodes, Chevrolet
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