NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Enjoy Illinois 300
The Place: World Wide Technology Raceway
Track Length: 1.25 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, September 7
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $9,797,935
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 300 miles (240 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 140), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 240)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: The Nu Way 200 sauced by Blues Hog BBQ
The Place: World Wide Technology Raceway
Track Length: 1.25 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, September 6
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,651,939
TV: CW, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 200 miles (160 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 160)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics & Busch Beans
The Place: Bristol Motor Speedway
Track Length: 0.533 Mile Concrete Oval
The Date: Thursday, September 11
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Purse: $782,900
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 133.25 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 65),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 130), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
Where To Watch NASCAR This Weekend:
Friday, September 5
NXS Final Practice (CW App at 5 p.m. ET)
Saturday, September 6
NXS Kennametal Pole Qualifying (CW App at 3 p.m. ET)
NCS Practice & Busch Light Pole Qualifying (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM at 4:30 p.m. ET)
NXS Race: The Nu Way 200 sauced by Blues Hog BBQ (CW, MRN, SiriusXM at 7:30 p.m. ET)
Sunday, September 7
NCS Race: Enjoy Illinois 300(USA, MRN, SiriusXM at 3 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Cup Series
World Wide Technology Raceway Storylines and Insights:
· This weekend marks the fourth running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway (2022-2025).
· World Wide Technology, a market-leading technology solution provider, is the title track sponsor (World Wide Technology Raceway or WWTR).
· The track is located in Madison, Illinois, 5 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri.
· The stages at World Wide Technology Raceway: 45/140/240 (Laps = 300 miles).
· The 2025 season marks the first-time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ second race has been hosted by World Wide Technology Raceway.
· World Wide Technology Raceway will be the 19th different track to host a Playoff race, each of the previous three races at WWTR took place in early June.
· World Wide Technology Raceway is the sixth different track to host the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Dover (2004-2010), New Hampshire (2011–2017), Richmond (2018-2021), Kansas (2022-2023) and Watkins Glen (2024).
· The race winner took the lead with two laps to go in two of the three races at WWTR (2022 and 2024).
· The final green flag stretch at World Wide Technology Racewaylast year was 92 laps, the other two races there ended in overtime.
· Toyota’s next win will be their 200th in the NASCAR Cup Series but the make has never won at WWTR.
· Joey Logano finished top-five in all three races at World Wide Technology Raceway; including his win there in 2022, he is the only driver with top-10 finishes in all three races.
· Joey Logano’s average finish of 3.0 at WWTR is his best of all tracks.
· Austin Cindric’s average finish of 8.33 at WWTR is his best of all tracks.
· All three WWTR races were won by different drivers: Joey Logano (2022), Kyle Busch (2023) and Austin Cindric (2024).
· Kyle Busch’s last of 63 Cup wins came at World Wide Technology Raceway in June of 2023, he is now on an 84-race winless streak.
· Two of the three races at WWTR were won from the front-row; including 2024 when Kyle Busch won from pole, all three were won from a top-10 starting position.
· World Wide Technology Raceway is the only track Chase Elliott doesn’t have a top-10 finish.
· World Wide Technology Raceway is one of only three active tracks Alex Bowman doesn’t have a top-10 finish.
· Denny Hamlin finished runner-up in each of the last two races at World Wide Technology Raceway.
· The last seven races of 2025 were each won by a different driver.
· The driver leading the most laps won four of the last five races of 2025.
· Chase Briscoe got his 11th top-five finish of 2025 with his Darlington win last week, tied for the most with Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin.
· Only four Playoff drivers finished inside the top-10 at Darlington, the fewest to ever finish top-10 in a Playoff opener.
· In five of the last eight seasons, the winner of the opening Playoff race went on to the Championship 4 Round.
· The largest point deficit overcome to make the Round of 12 is 21 points – Chase Briscoe in 2024 and Clint Bowyer in 2019 – both after race 1 of the Round of 16.
· In every season of the stage era (2017+), at least one driver that was below the cut after the first race of the Round of 16 was able to point into the Round of 12.
· The largest gap above the cut to miss out on the Round of 12 after the first Round of 16 race is 26 points by Kurt Busch in 2021.
· Playoff drivers averaged 25.1 points last week at Darlington – the fewest ever in the first playoff race.
· No driver has ever finished worse than 25th multiple times in the Round of 16 and moved on to the Round of 12. Bell, Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, and Berry all finished worse than 25th at Darlington.
· Shane van Gisbergen scored five points at Darlington, his worst points performance in the last 18 races dating back to Bristol (the final race of the Round of 16).
· Chase Briscoe over the last 12 races (since Mexico): 1st in Speed, 1stin average finish (11th), 1st in points per race (34.7), 1st in top fives (6), 1st in stage wins (4), 1st in laps led (536).
· In two of the last three years, the second race of the Playoffs was won by a non-playoff driver (Bubba Wallace at Kansas in 2022 and Chris Buescher at Watkins Glen in 2024).
· Three times the winner of the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the overall championship – 2009, 2010 (Jimmie Johnson), and 2011 (Tony Stewart).
NCS Clinch Scenarios For World Wide Technology Raceway (Playoff Race #2):
Already Clinched
· The following driver has clinched a spot in the 12-driver field of the next round: Chase Briscoe.
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 57 points above the 11th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from Denny Hamlin.
• Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 56 points
• Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
• Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
• Bubba Wallace: Could only clinch with help
• William Byron: Could only clinch with help
• Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
• Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help
• Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
• Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
• Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
· The following drivers could clinch on points with a win by Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Christopher Bell or Chase Elliott:
• Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
• Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
• Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
• Bubba Wallace: Could only clinch with help
• William Byron: Could only clinch with help
• Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
• Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help
• Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
• Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
• Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
· If there is a new winner from Shane Van Gisbergen or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 57 points above the 10th winless driver in the standings.
• Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
• Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
• Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
• Bubba Wallace: Could only clinch with help
• William Byron: Could only clinch with help
• Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
• Ross Chastain: Could only clinch with help
• Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
• Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
• Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
· The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
• Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Shane Van Gisbergen, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Josh Berry
NASCAR Xfinity Series
World Wide Technology Raceway Storylines and Insights:
· This weekend marks the 15th running of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR), but first since 2010.
· On Saturday, it will be 5,432 days since the last Xfinity Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
· World Wide Technology Raceway is the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Regular Season finale.
· Connor Zilisch won his series-leading eighth race of the season at Portland, breaking Christopher Bell’s 2018 record for most wins in a season as a rookie.
· Connor Zilisch won six of the last seven races this season, including two winning streaks of three races.
· Connor Zilisch has more wins in the last seven races than all but five other drivers racing this weekend have in their NXS career.
· Connor Zilisch’s 13 straight top fives since returning from back injury is tied with Carl Edwards for the second-longest top five streak all-time; Zilisch is the youngest driver with more than five straight top fives.
· Connor Zilisch won 32% of his starts, the best all-time among drivers with more than three starts.
· Connor Zilisch leads the regular season standings by 20 points over Justin Allgaier and 50 points over Sam Mayer, no other drivers can mathematically win the Regular Season Championship.
· 17 drivers are fighting for the final three Playoff spots but only four drivers have the opportunity to make the Playoffs on points (does not include Carson Kvapil who clinched a Playoff spot on at least points at Portland)
· Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray can only be passed in points by Harrison Burton; as long as there is no new winner from below the cutoff, both Creed and Gray will make the Playoffs.
· If Harrison Burton doesn’t have issues, the earliest Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray can clinch a Playoff spot on points is the end of Stage 2.
· Jeb Burton is the only driver below the cutoff that can point into the Playoffs. Jeb Burton gained five points on Cousin Harrison at Portland after a seventh-place finish.
· Thirteen drivers below Jeb Burton must win at the World Wide Technology Raceway to make Playoffs.
· Rookies swept the top-four finishing positions at Portland setting a new NXS record for rookies sweeping the top-four spots.
· JR Motorsports won 10 of the last 12 races with four different drivers.
· JR Motorsports won 15 races this season with a series-record six different drivers, all six drivers won in the last 15 races (does not include Parker Kligerman who won in relief role at Daytona).
· JR Motorsports had at least one car finish inside the top-five in a record 27 straight races.
· No past World Wide Technology RacewayXfinity Series winner is racing this weekend.
· Only two past WWTR Xfinity Series winners are still full-time in NASCAR: Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski.
· Only three active drivers made Xfinity Series starts at St. Louis: Justin Allgaier – 3, Jeremy Clements – 3, Matt DiBenedetto – 2.
· Sheldon Creed is the only driver in the field with a win at World Wide Technology Raceway: 2 Truck Series, 1 ARCA.
· Christian Eckes has made nine combined WWTR starts, the most of any driver on the entry list: 7 Trucks, 2 ARCA.
· The pass for the win occurred with two to go in each of the last two World Wide Technology Racewayraces.
· Late Model and ARCA driver Kole Raz will attempt to make his Xfinity Series debut in the #76, a second AM Racing entry.
· Connor Zilisch leads the series with eight wins, 14 top fives, an 8.8 average finish and six poles this season.
· Justin Allgaier leads the series with 695 laps led and 9 stage wins this season.
· Jesse Love leads the series with 17 top 10s this season.
· Justin Allgaier won the Fastest Lap Award five times this season, no other driver has more than three.
· Justin Allgaier’s 28 career wins are ninth on the all-time wins list and one away from tying Matt Kenseth.
· Justin Allgaier is three top 10s away from becoming the first driver to reach 300 NXS top-10 finishes.
· Justin Allgaier will make his 497th career start at WWTR, tying Mike Wallace for fifth-most all-time.
· Chevrolet led 2,946 of 3,841 laps this season (77%).
· Chevrolet won 22 of 25 races, the most all time by a manufacturer through 25 races in series history.
· Toyota is winless in the last 17 races, their longest winless streak since the first NXS win in 2007.
· Five crew chiefs got their first NXS win in 2025: Chad Haney at Atlanta, Sam McAulay at Darlington, Adam Wall at Bristol, Cory Shea at Mexico City & Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono.
· The last two races went to overtime after the previous ten races ended in regulation.
· Five races this year ended with a last lap pass.
· O’Reilly Auto Parts will replace Xfinity as title sponsor starting in 2026 becoming the fifth different title sponsor of the series: Budweiser, Busch, Nationwide, Xfinity & O’Reilly.
World Wide Technology Raceway is the Regular Season Finale
· Nine drivers are locked in – 8 winners and Carson Kvapil on points.
· 17 drivers are eligible to make Playoffs by winning at WWTR.
· Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray can only be passed in points by Harrison Burton; as long as there is no winner from below the cut, they will make the Playoffs on points.
· Earliest in St. Louis race that Creed or Gray can clinch is the end of Stage 2 without an issue by Harrison Burton early.
· Jeb Burton is the only driver below the cut who can point in.
· Every driver below the cut, except Jeb Burton, must win to make Playoffs.
NXS Clinch Scenarios For World Wide Technology Raceway:
Already Clinched
· The following 9 drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, Austin Hill, Carson Kvapil, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Nicholas Sanchez.
Can Clinch Via Points
· If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 5th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Carson Kvapil, Sheldon Creed or Taylor Gray.
• Sheldon Creed: Would clinch regardless of finish
• Taylor Gray: Would clinch regardless of finish
• Harrison Burton: Would clinch with 26 points
• Jeb Burton: Could only clinch with help
· The following drivers could clinch on points with a win by Harrison Burton:
• Sheldon Creed: Would clinch regardless of finish
• Taylor Gray: Would clinch regardless of finish
· If there is a new winner from Jeb Burton or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 4th winless driver in the standings.
• Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 22 points
• Taylor Gray: Would clinch with 27 points
• Harrison Burton: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
· The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
• Sheldon Creed, Taylor Gray, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Ryan Sieg, Christian Eckes, Dean Thompson, Daniel Dye, Brennan Poole, William Sawalich, Jeremy Clements, Matt DiBenedetto, Blaine Perkins, Anthony Alfredo, Parker Retzlaff, Kyle Sieg, Ryan Ellis
Can Clinch Regular Season Championship
· Additionally, the Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:
• Connor Zilisch: Would clinch with 41 points
• Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
• Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Looking Ahead: Bristol Motor Speedway Storylines and Insights:
· Next week marks the 30th running of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the track has hosted at least one race every season since joining the schedule in 1995.
· 2025 is the 10th season of Playoffs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2016-2025).
· Bristol serves as the second track of the seven-race NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs and the second race of the Round of 10: Darlington, Bristol and New Hampshire, two drivers will be eliminated after New Hampshire.
· The NCTS Playoff Outlook following Darlington: Corey Heim (Advances next Round on Darlington win), Layne Riggs (+38 up on cutline), Daniel Hemric (+33), Grant Enfinger (+30), Tyler Ankrum (+22), Ty Majeski (+16), Rajah Caruth (+4), Jake Garcia (+2), Chandler Smith (-2 back from the cutline) and Kaden Honeycutt (-7).
· Corey Heim’s eight wins in 2025 are the most through 19 races all-time, the first driver to accomplish the feat.
· Corey Heim’s 19 career wins passes Dennis Setzer for seventh most all-time in the Truck Series.
· Heim at 83 starts is the fastest driver to reach 19 NCTS wins since August 2010 (Kyle Busch – Bristol: 77 starts).
· Heim is the youngest driver to reach 19 NCTS wins (previous record: Kyle Busch – Bristol 08/10: 25 y: 03 m: 16 d.)
· Heim is the fifth driver to win eight or more NCTS races in a single season, first since 2010 (Kyle Busch).
· Corey Heim is the fifth driver to win at 17 or more NCTS tracks.
· Heim is the first driver to lead in each of the first 19 races of a NCTS season.
· Current Playoff drivers have won five of the last six Bristol races – Chandler Smith (2021, 2025), Ty Majeski (2022), Corey Heim (2023) and Layne Riggs (2024).
· Grant Enfinger moved up +3 spots in the Playoff standings – the largest positive move in the points following Darlington (from 7th to 4th).
· Chandler Smith moved down -6 spots in the Playoff standings – the largest negative move in the points following Darlington (from 3rd to 9th).
· All four drivers straddling the Playoffs’ Round of 8 cutline – Caruth (+4), Garcia (+2), Smith (-2), Honeycutt (-7) –finished inside the top-10 at Bristol earlier this season – Smith (1st), Garcia (6th), Honeycutt (8th) and Caruth (9th).
· TRICON Garage leads the series in wins this season with eight victories – all by Corey Heim.
· The NCTS has produced 218 lead changes through the first 19 races of the season – third-most all-time.
NCTS Clinch Scenarios For Bristol Motor Speedway (Playoff Race #2):
Already Clinched
· The following driver has clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round: Corey Heim.
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 57 points above the 7th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Ty Majeski or Rajah Caruth.
• Layne Riggs: Could only clinch with help
• Daniel Hemric: Could only clinch with help
• Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
• Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
• Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help
• Rajah Caruth: Could only clinch with help
· If there is a new winner from Jake Garcia or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 57 points above the 6th winless driver in the standings.
• Layne Riggs: Could only clinch with help
• Daniel Hemric: Could only clinch with help
• Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
• Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
• Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
· The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
• Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Jake Garcia, Chandler Smith, Kaden Honeycutt
NASCAR & World Wide Technology Raceway, Etc.
Historical & Significant Events at World Wide Technology Raceway:
- Wayne Meinert first developed the original St. Louis Raceway Park in 1967 as a 1/8 mile drag strip.
- In 1971, a quarter mile track was added, and the facility was renamed to St. Louis International Raceway.
- In 1985, a 2.6 mile road course was added with only a few small elevation changes, and incorporated parts of the drag strip, the new track hosted Trans Am Series, Can-Am and a variety of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) regional and national events. A 1/20 mile dirt oval opened the same year.
- In 1995, the track was purchased by promoter Chris Pook who immediately began a demolition project of all the existing tracks, which had been renamed Gateway International Raceway in 1988.
- Pook, who had previously promoted the Formula 1 and CART races of the Long Beach Grand Prix, began construction of a new oval, an infield road course and NHRA sanctioned drag strip.
- The first major event held at the facility was a CART Series race on May 24, 1997. The event was held amid the controversy of open wheel racing’s split with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League. The race was won by Paul Tracy.
- The first NASCAR event at the track was held on July 26, 1997, a Xfinity Series race won by Elliott Sadler.
- The first CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race was on September 19, 1998, and was won by Rick Carelli.
- At the beginning of 1998, Dover Motorsports, Inc. purchased the track from Chris Pook.
- In 2010 Dover Motorsports, Inc., officially announced that Gateway was closing and ceasing operations on November 3, 2010.
- In 2011, retired race car driver and real estate developer Curtis Francois, announced the purchase and re-opening of the 160-acre facility for the 2012 season. The track was renamed Gateway Motorsports Park.
- In November 2013, Gateway MSP and NASCAR announced the return of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the 2014 season.
- Gateway MSP increased to more than 200 acres and is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region, encompassing a ¼ mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip, 1.25 mile NASCAR oval track, 1.6 mile road course, a world class karting facility, improved grandstands and fan pavilion.
- Gateway Kartplex, a purpose built karting facility, is located inside turns one and two of Gateway Motorsports Park.
- The 1.25 mile oval was repaved in the Summer of 2017 after the Truck race. The IndyCar series was the first to compete on the new pavement in August 2017.
- In early 2019, Gateway Motorsports Park and World Wide Technology, a market-leading technology solution provider, formed a long-term naming rights commitment, renaming the motorsports facility “World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.” The multi-faceted racing venue serves as home to NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region, where WWT was founded and is headquartered. WWT also becomes the official technology partner of the track and will use the venue to advance development programs for the company and its community outreach initiatives. The track plans to utilize the many advanced assets and knowledge that WWT and their partners are developing in an ever-evolving marketplace. Whether it’s STEAM initiatives, technological enhancements for fan experience, or community outreach and diversity, the raceway will serve as a cutting-edge proving ground.
- September 2021 NASCAR announced that the Cup Series would race at WWTR for the first time in June 2022.
Latest News & Events at World Wide Technology Raceway:
- Country star Jon Pardi and rising country star Ella Langley will headline the fourth annual Confluence Music Festival when it returns to the St. Louis region Sept. 6-7 as part of NASCAR Weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway.
- Pardi and Langley join Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers for the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 7. They will be joined on multiple stages by more than 30 national and local acts including Saturday, Sept. 6, headliners Adam Wainwright and Tim Dugger, who will perform after the NASCAR Xfinity Series 200 mile event.
- The Confluence Music Festival is a showcase of innovation, talent and live entertainment. The festival attracts fans from across the country in welcoming NASCAR, the premiere form of motorsports in the United States, to WWTR.
- The Confluence Music Festival concerts are free with admission to the daily NASCAR racing activities.
- In addition to the racing and music, the event weekend features interactive entertainment displays, a STEM education showcase, car displays, autograph sessions, and live interviews with NASCAR drivers and St. Louis-area sports legends.
