NASCAR playoffs 2019: Schedule, lineup, TV and more for 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega
It’s race day at Talladega Superspeedway, and we've got all the information you need to get ready for Sunday's 1000Bulbs.com 500, the fifth of 10 playoff races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series:
START TIME: 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local). GREEN FLAG: 2:18 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local).
Edward Graham, assistant vice president of operation for Christmas Child for Samaritan’s Purse, will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:03 p.m ET (1:03 p.m. local).
TV: NBC. Pre-race broadcast begins at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local)
RADIO: Motor Racing Network. STREAMING: For those who sign in with their cable/satellite provider's credentials, you can watch at stream.nbcsports.com.
RACE DISTANCE: 188 laps around the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway for a total of 500.08 miles.
STAGE LENGTHS (laps per stage): Stage 1: 55, Stage 2: 55, Stage 3: 78.
STANDINGS (heading into fifth playoff race; bold=clinched berth in next round with win at Dover): 1. Martin Truex Jr., 2. Denny Hamlin, 3. Kyle Busch, 4. Kevin Harvick, 5. Kyle Larson, 6. Brad Keselowski, 7. Alex Bowman, 8. William Byron, 9. Joey Logano, 10. Clint Bowyer, 11. Chase Elliott, 12. Ryan Blaney,
NATIONAL ANTHEM: The 313th United States Army Band from Birmingham, Ala., will perform the anthem at 1:57 p.m. ET (12:57 p.m. local), followed by a flyover by four F-18s from VFA-37, also known as the "Ragin’ Bulls," from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va.
TRIUMPHANT RETURN: Inspiring Harvick tire changer back for final stretch
LARSON: Has no plans to take foot off gas after Dover win
TALLADEGA: Track plans tribute to Dale Earnhardt Sr.
WEATHER: Iffy. The Weather Channel is calling for showers in the morning and afternoon, including a 35-60% chance of precipitation during the race. Temperatures are projected to the be in the high 60s.
LAST TIME: Chase Elliott led 45 laps in April, including the final four after taking the lead on a restart on lap 185 of 188, to win the first superspeedway race in his Cup career. And one year ago in the playoff race, Aric Almirola led just one lap, in overtime, taking the lead and the checkered flag from then-Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch after Busch ran out of fuel.
LINEUP: Chase Elliott took the pole and will be joined on the front line by Alex Bowman.
Here is the lineup for the 1000Bulbs.com 500 (car number in parentheses):
1. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet.
2. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet.
3. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet.
4. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet.
5. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford.
6. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford.
7. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford.
8. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford.
9. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford.
10. (22) Joey Logano, Ford.
11. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota.
12. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet.
13. (6) Ryan Newman, Ford.
14. (21) Paul Menard, Ford.
15. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford.
16. (36) Matt Tifft, Ford.
17. (38) David Ragan, Ford.
18. (19) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota.
19. (41) Daniel Suarez, Ford.
20. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet.
21. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet.
22. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford.
23. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet.
24. (1) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet.
25. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet.
26. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota.
27. (43) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet.
28. (62) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet.
29. (8) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet.
30. (47) Ryan Preece, Chevrolet.
31. (95) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota.
32. (96) Parker Kligerman, Toyota.
33. (32) Corey LaJoie, Ford.
34. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet.
35. (77) Blake Jones, Chevrolet.
36. (66) Joey Gase, Toyota.
37. (51) Austin Theriault, Ford.
38. (27) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet.
39. (52) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet.
40. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota.
Follow Horrow on Twitter @EllenJHorrow.