NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Hollywood Casino 400 Presented By ESPN BET
The Place: Kansas Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, September 29
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $9,222,964
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 165), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 267)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Kansas Lottery 300
The Place: Kansas Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, September 28
The Time: 4 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,777,248
TV: CW, 3:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 300 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Kubota Tractor 200
The Place: Kansas Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Friday, September 27
The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $670,619
TV: FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
NASCAR Cup Series
Kansas Speedway drops the green flag on the Playoffs’ Round of 12
After an eventful NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 16 elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the 16 postseason contenders have been reduced to 12 and now have to turn their attention to the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented By ESPN BET on Sunday, September 29 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Kansas is the first of three tracks in the Round of 12, alongside Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson dominated the race at Bristol last weekend, winning both stages and leading a race-high 462 laps in the event – the most laps led at Bristol since NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough led 495 in 1977. As a result, Larson banked seven more Playoff points and is back atop the point standings following the reseeding for the Round of 12, +15 points up on Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell in second.
Don’t expect Larson’s postseason success to slow this weekend, he returns to Kansas Speedway as the most recent winner at the 1.5-mile track, where he beat RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher in the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history (0.001-second).
At the other end of the Playoff outlook, four drivers find themselves under the Round of 8 cutline heading into Kansas – Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (-4 points), Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (-6 points), Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman (-7 points) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (-7 points). Interestingly, since the introduction of stage racing in the series (2017-2024), only 36% of the drivers ranked below the Playoffs’ Round of 8 cutline entering the Round of 12 have moved on to the next round.
| NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Outlook | |||||||
| Following Bristol Motor Speedway (Race #3 of 10) – September 21, 2024 | |||||||
| Rank | Driver | Vehicle | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Kyle Larson | 5 | 3,047 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 39 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 20 | 3,032 | 3 | 10 | 32 | 24 |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 3,028 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 20 |
| 4 | William Byron | 24 | 3,022 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 14 |
| 5 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | 3,019 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 11 |
| 6 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | 3,015 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 7 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | 9 | 3,014 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 |
| 8 | Joey Logano | 22 | 3,012 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 4 |
| 9 | Austin Cindric | 2 | 3,008 | 1 | 3 | 8 | -4 |
| 10 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | 3,006 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -6 |
| 11 | Alex Bowman | 48 | 3,005 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -7 |
| 12 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | 3,005 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -7 |
| 13 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | 2,074 | 0 | 2 | 4 | Eliminated From The Playoffs |
| 14 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | 2,064 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
| 15 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | 2,048 | 1 | 0 | 8 | |
| 16 | Harrison Burton | 21 | 2,031 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
Playoff Round of 12 Clinch Scenarios: Kansas Speedway
Jump starting the Round of 12 this weekend is the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented By ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and since it is the first race in the round the clinch scenarios are quite simple – win and move on.
Already Clinched
No drivers have clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round.
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe
Kansas Speedway is back to Race No. 4 in the Playoffs
The 2024 season marks the second-time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 has opened at Kansas Speedway (2014, 2024), and it is the fifth-time Kansas Speedway has hosted the fourth race in the 10-race Playoffs (Race No. 30 of the season: 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2024).
Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2024), is one of seven different tracks to host the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, alongside Talladega Superspeedway (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012), Auto Club Speedway (2009, 2010), Charlotte Motor Speedway (2015, 2016, 2017), Dover Motor Speedway (2018, 2019), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2020, 2021) and Texas Motor Speedway (2022-2023).
Kansas Speedway has occupied seven different positions on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff schedule:
- From 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014 and again in 2024 Kansas Speedway has hosted the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
- From 2006-2010 Kansas Speedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
- From 2015-2016 Kansas hosted the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
- Then in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Kansas Speedway hosted the sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
- In 2020, Kansas Speedway hosted the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
- In 2021, Kansas Speedway hosted the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
- From 2022-2023, Kansas Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, Kansas Speedway has participated in the postseason each year – a total of 20 Playoff races (2004-2023). Kansas Speedway is one of four tracks to be scheduled in the Playoffs all previous 20 seasons, along with Martinsville Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway.
Several different drivers have visited Victory Lane in fourth Playoff race
Winning a Playoff race is not an easy task in the NASCAR Cup Series but heading into this weekend’s Round of 12 opener 15 different drivers have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs., led by Jimmie Johnson with three postseason victories (2009, 2011, 2016).
Team Penske’s Joey Logano leads all active Playoff drivers this weekend with two wins (2014, 2015) in the fourth Playoff race.
Six of the 15 drivers that have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are active in the postseason this weekend – William Byron (2023), Tyler Reddick (2022), Denny Hamlin (2021), Kyle Larson (2019), Chase Elliott (2018) and Joey Logano (2014, 2015).
| Fourth Race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – Race Winners | ||
| Track | Playoff Race Winners | Date |
| Kansas | Joe Nemechek | Sunday, October 10, 2004 |
| Kansas | Mark Martin | Sunday, October 9, 2005 |
| Talladega | Brian Vickers | Sunday, October 8, 2006 |
| Talladega | Jeff Gordon | Sunday, October 7, 2007 |
| Talladega | Tony Stewart | Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| Auto Club | Jimmie Johnson | Sunday, October 11, 2009 |
| Auto Club | Tony Stewart | Sunday, October 10, 2010 |
| Kansas | Jimmie Johnson | Sunday, October 9, 2011 |
| Talladega | Matt Kenseth | Sunday, October 7, 2012 |
| Kansas | Kevin Harvick | Sunday, October 6, 2013 |
| Kansas | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 5, 2014 |
| Charlotte | Joey Logano | Sunday, October 11, 2015 |
| Charlotte | Jimmie Johnson | Sunday, October 9, 2016 |
| Charlotte | Martin Truex Jr | Sunday, October 8, 2017 |
| Dover | Chase Elliott | Sunday, October 7, 2018 |
| Dover | Kyle Larson | Sunday, October 6, 2019 |
| Las Vegas | Kurt Busch | Sunday, September 27, 2020 |
| Las Vegas | Denny Hamlin | Sunday, September 26, 2021 |
| Texas | Tyler Reddick | Sunday, September 25, 2022 |
| Texas | William Byron | Sunday, September 24, 2023 |
Winning the fourth Playoff race has been a springboard for some
Gaining momentum at the right time is key to winning a title in the NASCAR Cup Series and some have used the fourth race in the Playoffs as a springboard to their championship campaigns.
Three times the winner of the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the Cup title in the same season: 2009, 2016 and 2017.
- In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Auto Club Speedway and went on to win his fourth-straight series title in the same season. The victory was his second of four wins during his postseason run that season.
- In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won at Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval) and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series title that same season. The win was Johnson’s first of three that postseason.
- In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win the series title the same season. It was his first of three wins that postseason.
Not every champion visited Victory Lane in the fourth race enroute to their title, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t persevere. Since 2004, the worst finish by a driver in the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs that later went on to win the title that same season, was a 28th-place finish by Ryan Blaney last season at Texas Motor Speedway. In total, the eventual champion of the NASCAR Cup Series has finished outside the top-15 four times by four different drivers – Jimmie Johnson (2006 Talladega, 24th), Kyle Busch (2015 Charlotte, 20th), Chase Elliott (2020 Las Vegas, 22nd), Ryan Blaney (2023 Texas, 28th).
| Eventual Champion’s Performance in Playoffs’ Fourth Race | ||||
| Season | Eventual Champion | Track | Date | Finish |
| 2004 | Kurt Busch | Kansas | Sunday, October 10, 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | Tony Stewart | Kansas | Sunday, October 9, 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | Talladega | Sunday, October 8, 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | Jimmie Johnson | Talladega | Sunday, October 7, 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | Jimmie Johnson | Talladega | Sunday, October 5, 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | Jimmie Johnson | Auto Club | Sunday, October 11, 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | Jimmie Johnson | Auto Club | Sunday, October 10, 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | Tony Stewart | Kansas | Sunday, October 9, 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | Brad Keselowski | Talladega | Sunday, October 7, 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | Jimmie Johnson | Kansas | Sunday, October 6, 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Kansas | Sunday, October 5, 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | Kyle Busch | Charlotte | Sunday, October 11, 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | Jimmie Johnson | Charlotte | Sunday, October 9, 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | Martin Truex, Jr. | Charlotte | Sunday, October 8, 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | Joey Logano | Dover | Sunday, October 7, 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | Kyle Busch | Dover | Sunday, October 6, 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | Chase Elliott | Las Vegas | Sunday, September 27, 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Las Vegas | Sunday, September 26, 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | Joey Logano | Texas | Sunday, September 25, 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | Ryan Blaney | Texas | Sunday, September 24, 2023 | 28 |
A little food for thought for the competitors heading into this weekend, the worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014) was a 15th-place finish by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart in 2011. Stewart put up a record five Playoff wins in his 2011 championship run, a feat only since tied by Kyle Larson in 2021.
Which Playoff drivers to watch at Kansas Speedway
A total of 14 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Kansas Speedway, and five of the 14 are active in the postseason this weekend at Kansas – Joey Logano (three wins), Chase Elliott. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick (each have one).
Team Penske’s Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff wins at Kansas Speedway with three postseason victories (2014, 2015, 2020); followed by four other drivers with multiple Kansas Playoff wins – Tony Stewart (2006, 2009), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2011), Greg Biffle (2007, 2010) and Kevin Harvick (2013, 2016).
| NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race Winners – Kansas Speedway (2004-2023) | |||
| Date | Track | Race Winners | Race No. |
| Sunday, October 10, 2004 | Kansas | Joe Nemechek | 30 |
| Sunday, October 9, 2005 | Kansas | Mark Martin | 30 |
| Sunday, October 1, 2006 | Kansas | Tony Stewart | 29 |
| Sunday, September 30, 2007 | Kansas | Greg Biffle | 29 |
| Sunday, September 28, 2008 | Kansas | Jimmie Johnson | 29 |
| Sunday, October 4, 2009 | Kansas | Tony Stewart | 29 |
| Sunday, October 3, 2010 | Kansas | Greg Biffle | 29 |
| Sunday, October 9, 2011 | Kansas | Jimmie Johnson | 30 |
| Sunday, October 21, 2012 | Kansas | Matt Kenseth | 32 |
| Sunday, October 6, 2013 | Kansas | Kevin Harvick | 30 |
| Sunday, October 5, 2014 | Kansas | Joey Logano | 30 |
| Sunday, October 18, 2015 | Kansas | Joey Logano | 31 |
| Sunday, October 16, 2016 | Kansas | Kevin Harvick | 31 |
| Sunday, October 22, 2017 | Kansas | Martin Truex Jr | 32 |
| Sunday, October 21, 2018 | Kansas | Chase Elliott | 32 |
| Sunday, October 20, 2019 | Kansas | Denny Hamlin | 32 |
| Sunday, October 18, 2020 | Kansas | Joey Logano | 33 |
| Sunday, October 24, 2021 | Kansas | Kyle Larson | 34 |
| Sunday, September 11, 2022 | Kansas | Bubba Wallace | 28 |
| Sunday, September 10, 2023 | Kansas | Tyler Reddick | 28 |
23XI Racing drivers have won the last two Kansas Speedway Playoff races. Tyler Reddick, who is currently ranked third in the Playoff standings 20 points above the Round of 8 cut line, is the most recent Playoff race winner at Kansas Speedway (2023), and his teammate Bubba Wallace, currently not in the Playoffs, also won in 2022.
All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity at Kansas Speedway gets rolling with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, September 28 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Spoiler Alert: NASCAR Playoff spoilers have happened before
With only 12 of the 38 entries in this weekend’s Hollywood Casino 400 Presented By ESPN BET still participating in the Playoffs, that means 26 of the remaining drivers competing this Sunday are potential spoilers in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12 opener.
Three times a non-Playoff driver has won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004, 2006, 2022):
- In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the victory.
- In 2006, Brian Vickers won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 16th in points at the time of the victory.
- In 2022, Tyler Reddick won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway. Reddick had qualified for the postseason but was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 16, he was ranked 13th in points at the time of the victory.
Four times a non-Playoff driver has won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway (2004, 2006, 2007, 2022):
- In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the win.
- In 2006, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was ranked 11th in point standings at the time of the victory.
- In 2007, Greg Biffle won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was 14th in points at the time of the win.
- In 2022, Bubba Wallace won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was 20th in points at the time of the win.
Playoff Bubble: Three races to make the Round of 8
With the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12 getting underway this weekend, four drivers find themselves in a point standings hole that they must climb out of to make it into the next round of the postseason.
The four drivers outside the Playoffs Round of 8 cutoff and chasing Team Penske’s Joey Logano in the eighth and final transfer position to the next round is Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (-4 points), Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (-6 points), Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman (-7 points) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (-7 points).
Here is how the bottom four drivers in the Playoff standings have performed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
| Rank | Driver | Races | Poles | Wins | Top Fives | Top 10s | DNFs | Average Finish | Driver Rating | ||
| 9 | Austin Cindric | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24.0 | 64.0 | ||
| 10 | Daniel Suárez | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20.9 | 64.9 | ||
| 11 | Alex Bowman | 17 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 15.2 | 79.1 | ||
| 12 | Chase Briscoe | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.1 | 52.0 |
Of the four drivers below the Round of 8 cut line heading into this weekend (Cindric, Suarez, Bowman and Briscoe), Alex Bowman has had the best start to the 2024 Playoffs. In the first three races he leads all Playoff drivers in stages points earned with 41 and is the only driver to finish inside the top-10 in all six stages. Looking to Kansas, Bowman is the only driver of the four below the Round of 8 cutline that has posted top-five finishes (three) at Kansas and has the best average finish of the four with a 15.2.
The Rundown: NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway
A staple in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason since the inception of the Playoffs in 2004, Kansas Speedway has provided some great side-by-side racing and earlier this season the closest finish in series history (0.001-second). Now the NASCAR cup Series fires-up the engines for the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented By ESPN BET on Sunday, September 29 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for the Round of 12 opener.
Groundbreaking for Kansas Speedway was held on May 25, 1999 and the official opening of the 1.5-mile paved four-turn track was in 2001 with the first events being an ARCA Menards Series race and an ARCA Menards Series West race on the same day – June 2. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was on September 30, 2001 and the race was won by Hendrick Motorsport’s driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon.
For the most part Kansas Speedway has remained unchanged since it was built, but did undergo a repave during the 2012 season, between the April and October events, adding variable banking in the corners (17 to 20 degrees).
In total there have been 37 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011. The 37 Cup races have produced 19 different pole winners and 19 different race winners.
Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with five poles (fall 2013, 2014 sweep, spring 2018 and spring 2019).
Jimmie Johnson (2003, 2007, 2008) and Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Kansas Speedway with three each.
A total of 10 of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.
| Active Kansas Pole Winners (10) | Poles | Seasons |
| Jimmie Johnson | 3 | 2008, 2007, 2003 |
| Christopher Bell | 3 | 2024, 2023, 2022 |
| Joey Logano | 2 | 2018, 2015 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 2 | 2017, 2016 |
| William Byron | 1 | 2023 |
| Tyler Reddick | 1 | 2022 |
| Daniel Hemric | 1 | 2019 |
| Ryan Blaney | 1 | 2017 |
| Brad Keselowski | 1 | 2015 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 1 | 2012 |
A total of 19 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 12 of the 19 Kansas winners have won multiple Cup Series races at the 1.5-mile track. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin leads the series in wins at Kansas Speedway with four (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023).
This weekend, 10 of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway race winners are entered in Sunday’s event.
| Active Kansas Race Winners (10) | Wins | Seasons |
| Denny Hamlin | 4 | 2023, 2020, 2019, 2012 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2020, 2015, 2014 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 3 | 2015, 2011, 2008 |
| Kyle Larson | 2 | 2024, 2021 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2021, 2016 |
| Brad Keselowski | 2 | 2019, 2011 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 2 | 2017 sweep |
| Tyler Reddick | 1 | 2023 |
| Bubba Wallace | 1 | 2022 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 | 2018 |
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Kyle Busch’s winless streak reaches 50 races, longest of his career – Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch hasn’t visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series in 50 races, the longest winless streak of his career (his previous longest was 36 races). Busch last won a Cup race at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 6, 2023.
Busch is also starring down a career-long streak of winning at least one race per season the last 19 consecutive seasons – a series record. But the Las Vegas native only has seven races left in the season to find his way to Victory Lane once more.
Kansas is certainly a place Busch has shown he knows how to run well. In 33 series starts, he has two wins (2016, 2021), 10 top fives and 16 top 10s.
Crew Member Spotlight: Kansas Speedway – This weekend at Kansas Speedway we wanted to highlight several of the team’s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in Kansas and Missouri.
| KANSAS | ||||
| CREW MEMBER | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | ROLE | HOMETOWN |
| Ben Weber | Kaulig Racing | 31 | Front Tire Changer | Hanston, KS |
| MISSOURI | ||||
| CREW MEMBER | ORGANIZATION | TEAM | ROLE | HOMETOWN |
| TJ Semke | Hendrick Motorsports | 9 | Jackman | Lee’s Summit, MO |
| Jon Phillips | Stewart-Haas Racing | 14 | Engine Tuner | Jefferson City, MO |
| Chris Hall | Legacy Motor Club | 42, 43 | Director of Pit Crew Operations | Springfield, MO |
Milestone Watch: Kansas Speedway – Below are the possible milestones that can be achieved this weekend at Kansas Speedway or in coming weeks in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Starts
- Bubba Wallace is expected to make his 250th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Talladega Superspeedway.
- William Byron is expected to make his 250th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Poles
- Kyle Busch currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett for 21st on the all-time pole winners list with 35 poles each.
- Joey Logano currently has 31 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Kevin Harvick), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Fireball Roberts and Fred Lorenzen for 24th on the all-time pole winners list with 32 poles each.
- Martin Truex Jr. currently has 23 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Ken Schrader and Jack Smith), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki for 33rd on the all-time pole winners list with 24 poles each.
Wins
- Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.
- Brad Keselowski currently has 36 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time wins list with 37 victories each.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Following the Yellow Brick Road all the way to Kansas Speedway
The NASCAR Xfinity Series wrapped up the regular season last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway and will now be kicking off the 2024 Playoffs at Kansas Speedway with the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday, September 28 at 4 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio – the Round of 12 opener.
Kansas Speedway, located just outside of Kansas City, Kansas, is a 1.5-mile track with variable banking in the turns (17 to 20 degrees). It has hosted 24 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, producing 18 different race winners and 17 different pole winners.
Only two of the Kansas Xfinity races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Kyle Busch in 2016. Not only is Busch the last driver to win from the pole, but he also holds the record for most wins (four), top fives (eight), laps led (544), and is tied with Justin Allgaier for most top 10s at 10 each.
This will be the first time that Kansas Speedway kicks off the Xfinity Series Playoffs. From 2016 to 2020, the track played host to the fourth Xfinity Series Playoff race (the first race in the Round of 8). In 2021, Kansas was the fifth race in the Xfinity Series Playoffs and in 2022 and 2023, Kansas Speedway was not a Playoffs track.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will have an action-packed Saturday, kicking off with practice at 11:05 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 11:35 a.m. ET on the NBC Sports App.
Spotlighting the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff Field
This season marks the ninth running of the Playoffs in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and this season’s postseason 12-driver field is one to remember.
Drivers from six different organizations have qualified for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, led by JR Motorsports with three contenders (Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith), followed by Joe Gibbs Racing (Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed), Richard Childress Racing (Austin Hill and Jesse Love), Kaulig Racing (Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger) and Stewart-Haas Racing (Cole Custer and Riley Herbst) with two each and Big Machine Racing (Parker Kligerman) with one.
All three official engine manufacturers have earned spots in the 2024 Xfinity Series Playoffs, led by Chevrolet with eight cars in the postseason, followed by Toyota and Ford with two each.
Below is a quick look at the 12 Playoff drivers heading into Bristol this weekend:
(Note: Drivers are listed in Playoff standings order)
Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)
Justin Allgaier currently leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff point standings as he heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend, up +27 points on the Round of 8 cutline. Allgaier leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Playoff appearances with nine. He has participated in every postseason since its inception into the series in 2016 (2024, ‘23, ’22, ’21, ’20, ’19, ’18, ’17, ’16) – the only driver to accomplish the feat.
In the first 26 races, Allgaier has posted two wins (Darlington, Michigan), seven top fives,15 top 10s and has led 649 laps.
At Kansas, Allgaier has made 14 Xfinity Series starts amassing four top fives, 10 top 10s and has led 57 laps.
Cole Custer (No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford)
Back to defend his 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series title is Cole Custer who currently ranks second in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff point standings, up +21 points on the Round of 8 cutline. This season marks the fifth time Custer has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs (2024 ‘23, ’19, ’18, ’17).
This year, Custer has collected two wins (Pocono, Bristol), three poles, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s and has led 609 laps in the first 26 races of the season.
Custer has made five Xfinity Series starts at Kansas with 88 laps led and a best finish of 11th.
Austin Hill (No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
Austin Hill currently ranks third in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff point standings as he heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend, up +18 points on the Round of 8 cutline. This season marks the third time Hill has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs (2024, ‘23, ’22).
This year, Hill has collected three wins (Daytona, Atlanta 1, Atlanta 2), one pole, nine top fives, 15 top 10s and has led 151 laps.
Hill has made three starts at the Kansas track, posting two top-five and two top-10 finishes.
Chandler Smith (No. 81 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
Heading into the first Playoff race of the season, Chandler Smith currently ranks fourth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs point standings, up +17 points on the Round of 8 cutline. This will be Smith’s second Playoff appearance (2024, 2023).
This season, Smith has collected two wins (Phoenix, Richmond), two poles, 11 top fives, 16 top 10s and has led 475 laps.
Smith made his Xfinity Series debut last year at Kansas Speedway, posting a 32nd-place finish.
Shane van Gisbergen (No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet)
As the series kicks off the Playoffs, Shane van Gisbergen currently ranks fifth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs point standings, up +10 points on the Round of 8 cutline. This will be the New Zealander’s first Playoff appearance.
Van Gisbergen has had an impressive rookie season thus far, posting three wins (Portland, Sonoma, Chicago), two poles, six top fives, eight top 10s and has led 93 laps.
He will be making his series debut at Kansas Speedway this weekend.
Jesse Love (No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
Heading to Kansas this weekend, Jesse Love currently ranks sixth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs point standings, up six points on the Round of 8 cutline. This will be the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender’s first Playoff appearance.
Love has had a great debut season in the Xfinity Series, posting one win (Talladega), four poles, six top fives, 13 top 10s and has led 304 laps.
He will be making his series debut at Kansas Speedway this weekend.
Sam Mayer (No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)
Rolling into Kansas Speedway this weekend, Sam Mayer currently ranks seventh in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs point standings, up four points on the Round of 8 cutline. This season marks the third time
Mayer has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs (2024, ‘23, ‘22).
This year, Mayer has posted two wins (Texas, Iowa), one pole, seven top fives, 11 top 10s, and has led 192 laps.
He’s made three starts at Kansas Speedway, posting two top-10 finishes.
Riley Herbst (No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford)
Riley Herbst currently ranks eighth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs point standings as he heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend, up three points on the Round of 8 cutline. This season marks the fourth time Herbst has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs (2024, ’22, ’21, ‘20).
This year, Herbst has posted one win (Indianapolis), five top fives, 10 top 10s, and has led 80 laps.
At Kansas, Herbst has made five Xfinity Series starts posting one top 10 finish.
Sheldon Creed (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
Heading into Kansas Speedway this weekend, Sheldon Creed ranks ninth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff point standings, just three points outside the Round of 8 cutline. This will be his second Playoff appearance (2024, 2023).
This season, Creed has collected two poles, 13 top fives, 17 top 10s, and has led 108 laps.
He has made two starts at Kansas, finishing 11th and third, respectively.
A.J. Allmendinger (No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet)
A.J. Allmendinger ranks 10th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff point standings, four points outside the Round of 8 cutline. This will be his third Playoff appearance (2024, ’23, ‘22).
Allmendinger has posted five top fives, 14 top 10s and has led 116 laps this season thus far.
He has made three starts at Kansas Speedway, posting one top five, two top 10s, and has led a total of 10 laps.
Sammy Smith (No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)
Arriving at Kansas Speedway this weekend, Sammy Smith ranks 11th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff point standings, nine points back on the Round of 8 cutline. This will be his second appearance in the Xfinity Series Playoffs (2024, 2023).
This season, Smith has five top fives, 13 top 10s and has led 55 laps in 26 starts.
He has made two starts at Kansas Speedway, posting one top 10 finish.
Parker Kligerman (No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet)
Parker Kligerman rolls into the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs point standings as the No. 12 seed, 12 points behind Riley Herbst in eighth. Kligerman earned the final spot in the Playoffs in the regular season finale last week at Bristol, and this week enters postseason for the second-time in his career (2024, 2023).
This season, Kligerman has collected four top fives, 12 top 10s and has led 24 laps in 26 starts.
At Kansas, Kligerman has made four Xfinity Series starts, posting one top five and two top 10s.
For more information, click here for complete NXS Playoff bios
Xfinity Clinch Scenarios: Kansas Speedway
When it comes to the clinch scenarios in the first race of a round in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, the math can be pretty easy – just win. However, there is only one driver entered in this weekend’s Kansas Lottery 300 who has won at the Kansas track, and it isn’t one of the 12 Playoff drivers – it’s JR Motorsports’ Brandon Jones (2019, 2020).
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Projection Following Bristol Motor Speedway – 9/20/24 | |||||||
| Rank | Driver | Vehicle | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Justin Allgaier | 7 | 2,034 | 2 | 14 | 34 | 27 |
| 2 | Cole Custer | 00 | 2,028 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 21 |
| 3 | Austin Hill | 21 | 2,025 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 18 |
| 4 | Chandler Smith | 81 | 2,024 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 17 |
| 5 | Shane Van Gisbergen # | 97 | 2,017 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 10 |
| 6 | Jesse Love # | 2 | 2,013 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 6 |
| 7 | Sam Mayer | 1 | 2,011 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 |
| 8 | Riley Herbst | 98 | 2,010 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
| 9 | Sheldon Creed | 18 | 2,007 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -3 |
| 10 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | 2,006 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -4 |
| 11 | Sammy Smith | 8 | 2,001 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -9 |
| 12 | Parker Kligerman | 48 | 1,998 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -12 |
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Toyota and Kansas Speedway go hand in hand – Although we’ve seen multiple winners in Victory Lane at Kansas Speedway, there is one manufacturer who has dominated at the 1.5-mile Kansas track – Toyota.
A Toyota car has taken the checkered flag in nine of the last 12 races (Chevrolet – 2, Ford -1).
Fans can expect all Toyota drivers in the field to fight to add another win to the OEM’s resume but only two who are in the Playoff field – Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed. The JGR duo surely have luck on their side as 12 of the last 17 races have been won by a JGR driver at Kansas Speedway.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update – The 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year class has officially completed its first fulltime regular season, and two drivers were able to lock themselves into the Playoffs – Jesse Love and Shane van Gisbergen
Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love (2,013 points), who currently sits sixth in the Playoffs standings, was leading the rookie class all season long but is now second to Kaulig Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen (2,017 points), who is currently the fifth seed in the Playoffs.
Sliding into third is Young’s Motorsports’ Leland Honeyman Jr with 391 points and rounding out the competition is Hailie Deegan with 174 points.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs’ Round of 10 finale headed to Kansas
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to Kansas Speedway this weekend, and this time it’s to decide which eight postseason contenders will move on to the next round in the Playoffs’ Round of 10 finale – the Kubota Tractor 200 (Friday, September 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio).
To date, the 1.5-mile track has hosted 28 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, producing 24 different winners and 18 different pole winners. The winningest driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Kyle Busch, and veteran Matt Crafton hold the most wins in the heartland with three apiece.
Four races have been won from the pole, most recently by John Hunter Nemechek in 2022.
Here’s a closer look at the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series veterans who have carved their name in the Kansas Speedway record books:
- Race record: Matt Crafton 139.857 mph (05/08/2015)
- Qualifying record: Erik Jones 179.396 mph (05/08/2015)
- Most races: Matt Crafton (28)
- Most poles: Ron Hornaday Jr. (3)
- Most wins: Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch (3)
- Most top fives: Matt Crafton (7)
- Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (15)
- Laps led: Kyle Busch (277)
In total, this will be the fourth time Kansas has hosted a CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race (2020, 2022-2024). This season marks the third time that the 1.5-mile track will host the Round of 10 finale. Previously, Kansas served as the opening race in the Round of 8 in 2020.
Eight different drivers have won the elimination race of the first round of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs – including current postseason contenders Grant Enfinger (2016) and Christian Eckes (2023).
| NCTS Playoffs First Round Elimination Race Winners (2016-2023) | ||||
| Date | Track | Playoff Race Winner | Season | Race No. |
| Saturday, October 22, 2016 | Talladega | Grant Enfinger | 2016 | 19 |
| Saturday, October 14, 2017 | Talladega | Parker Kligerman | 2017 | 19 |
| Saturday, October 13, 2018 | Talladega | Timothy Peters | 2018 | 19 |
| Friday, September 13, 2019 | Las Vegas | Austin Hill | 2019 | 19 |
| Saturday, October 3, 2020 | Talladega | Raphael Lessard | 2020 | 19 |
| Thursday, September 16, 2021 | Bristol | Chandler Smith | 2021 | 18 |
| Friday, September 9, 2022 | Kansas | John H. Nemechek | 2022 | 19 |
| Friday, September 8, 2023 | Kansas | Christian Eckes | 2023 | 19 |
Practice for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Kansas Speedway kicks off at 3:30 p.m. EST on FS2, Friday, September 27, followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 4 p.m. EST.
Chevrolet continues dominance in 2024 season, but Toyotas rule the Heartland
Chevrolet has won nine of the 18 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race this season. The last non-Chevrolet to win was the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford driven by Layne Riggs at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend.
Chevrolet may be dominating the 2024 season, but Toyotas typically reign at Kansas Speedway, winning 12 of the last 28 races.
| Season | Manufacturer | Race Winners |
| 2005 | Toyota | Todd Bodine |
| 2009 | Toyota | Mike Skinner |
| 2013 | Toyota | Matt Crafton |
| 2014 | Toyota | Kyle Busch |
| 2015 | Toyota | Matt Crafton |
| 2016 | Toyota | William Byron |
| 2017 | Toyota | Kyle Busch |
| 2018 | Toyota | Noah Gragson |
| 2020 | Toyota | Austin Hill |
| 2021 | Toyota | Kyle Busch |
| 2022 | Toyota | John H. Nemechek |
| 2024 (spring) | Toyota | Corey Heim |
Chevrolet follows closely behind with 10 and Ford with six.
The Toyota drivers will look to power the manufacturer to its sixth victory of the season in the Kubota Tractor 200.
Make It or Break It: Dye, Rhodes need to dig deep
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Daniel Dye and ThorSport Racing veteran Ben Rhodes find themselves below the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 8 cutline as the series heads to the Round of 10 finale at Kansas Speedway.
2021 and 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes finished 27th at Bristol Motor Speedway and left the 0.533-mile paved oval 12 points back from the Round of 8 cutline.
Unlike the vast Playoff experience Rhodes has, Daniel Dye is in his first appearance in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs. The 20-year-old has found a way to race his way into the top 10 – he’s recorded seven top-10 finishes so far this season, the most in his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career.
The driver of the No. 43 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevrolet had a disappointing day at the Milwaukee Mile, finishing 32nd, but is only seven points back from the Round of 8 cutline and the final transfer position.
Currently, CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger is in the eighth and final position to transfer to the next round in the Playoffs on points. Just ahead of Enfinger in seventh is TRICON Garage driver Taylor Gray, up 23 points on the Round of 8 cutline.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Bristol Motor Speedway (September 19, 2024)
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Christian Eckes (P) | 2,140 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 39 | |
| 2 | Corey Heim (P) | 2,125 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 42 | In On Points |
| 3 | Nick Sanchez (P) | 2,108 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 18 | |
| 4 | Ty Majeski (P) | 2,103 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 58 |
| 5 | Rajah Caruth (P) | 2,080 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 35 |
| 6 | Tyler Ankrum (P) | 2,070 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 25 |
| 7 | Taylor Gray (P) | 2,068 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| 8 | Grant Enfinger (P) | 2,052 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 9 | Daniel Dye (P) | 2,045 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -7 |
| 10 | Ben Rhodes (P) | 2,040 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -12 |
Approaching Kansas: Playoffs Contender’s Career Performances
Just one race is left to decide who will survive and advance to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 8. A win at Kansas this weekend by a Playoff contender would guarantee their spot in the next round.
Here’s a look at how our 10 Playoff drivers have performed in the sunflower state previously.
| Rank | Driver | Races | Poles | Wins | Top Fives | Top 10s | DNFs | Average Finish | |
| 1 | Christian Eckes | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 8.2 | |
| 2 | Corey Heim | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 9.4 | |
| 3 | Nick Sanchez | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | |
| 4 | Ty Majeski | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18.1 | |
| 5 | Rajah Caruth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19.7 | |
| 6 | Tyler Ankrum | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19.0 | |
| 7 | Taylor Gray | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12.7 | |
| 8 | Grant Enfinger | 12 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 7.6 | |
| 9 | Daniel Dye | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15.0 | |
| 10 | Ben Rhodes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 14.1 |
Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, and Grant Enfinger are the only previous winners entered this weekend.
Last Chance Race: Clinch Scenarios for Kansas Speedway
One last chance to move on to the Round of 8 this weekend at Kansas, here are the clinch scenarios for Friday.
Already Clinched
The following 3 drivers have clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round: Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Nicholas Sanchez.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 9th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Nicholas Sanchez, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray or Grant Enfinger.
- Ty Majeski: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Rajah Caruth: Would clinch with 21 points
- Tyler Ankrum: Would clinch with 31 points
- Taylor Gray: Would clinch with 33 points
- Grant Enfinger: Would clinch with 49 points
- Daniel Dye: Could only clinch with help
- Ben Rhodes: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Daniel Dye or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 8th winless driver in the standings.
- Ty Majeski: Would clinch with 4 points
- Rajah Caruth: Would clinch with 28 points
- Tyler Ankrum: Would clinch with 38 points
- Taylor Gray: Would clinch with 40 points
- Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Dye: Could only clinch with help
- Ben Rhodes: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray, Grant Enfinger, Daniel Dye, Ben Rhodes
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Dawson Sutton assume primary driving role for Rackley W.A.R. – Dawson Sutton will assume the primary driving duties for the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series beginning at Kansas Speedway this weekend.
Rackley W.A.R. and Ty Dillon mutually agreed to switch roles for the remainder of the season. As Dillon focuses on his future plans, the veteran racer will remain with the team as a driver coach and mentor to Dawson with the rookie driver navigating his transition from the Pro and Super Late Model circuits to a potential full-time opportunity in the Truck Series.
The 18-year-old from Lebanon, Tennessee has made two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts this season at North Wilkesboro Speedway (May 18) and Nashville Superspeedway (June 28).
“We are super-thankful for the job Ty has done for us this year as our primary driver,” said team co-owner, Willie Allen. “We appreciate his willingness to take on an additional role and help Dawson grow and develop as a young driver for the remainder of the NASCAR Truck Series season. We look forward to Ty’s continued valuable input and support in the ongoing development of our race program.”
Matt Mills returns to Niece Motorsports for full-time season in 2025 – Matt Mills will return for a full-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season in 2025 with Niece Motorsports. Mills has been re-signed for a second year behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST.
The 2024 season was viewed as a transitional year for the driver who spent much of his career competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Now having a full season of Truck Series racing under his belt, Mills looks to make a run for the Playoffs.
In May, the 27-year-old secured his best-career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series finish with a fourth-place showing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He quickly followed up the result with an eighth place run at Nashville Superspeedway, and to-date has accounted for a total of four top 15 finishes.
“It’s been a really fun time with everyone at Niece Motorsports with what we’ve been able to build on throughout the year,” Mills said. “I’m hoping to carry that on through the next few races and into the 2025 season. Every opportunity I get, I’m very fortunate, and that wouldn’t be possible without my partners. I appreciate Niece Motorsports for believing in me; it’s a dream come true to race for an operation like theirs and race for Al Niece. I’m excited to finish off the year strong and ready to keep working into next year.”
“Matt has been a great add to our team this year,” said Efaw. “Even though he’s been racing in NASCAR for a long time, he entered this season with a fresh mindset. The Truck Series is a completely different animal compared to what he’s been used to racing, and he’ll be the first to tell you how much he’s learned. He knows the feel he needs out of his truck now, and I think we’ll have a chance to go out there and have a great year with him.”
