This weekend the NASCAR Playoff drivers face elimination in the Hollywood Casino 400 race at Kansas Speedway.
Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola have the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series equivalent of a “Blackjack” in the playoffs. Their wins in the first two races of the Round of Twelve have locked them in the next round.
Drivers like Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are far enough above the cut-line that they will just need a decent day to advance.
Drivers like Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. will need to have a good to great day to ensure they keep their championship hopes alive.
Alex Bowman is a driver that will have to go “all-in” for the win if he will advance to the Round of Eight.
Below is a look at the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Leader Board as the teams head to Kansas.
Let’s take a look at the data the drivers will face in this weekend’s elimination race in Kansas.
Kansas Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 17 to 20 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 17 to 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,685 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,207 feet
Hollywood Casino 400 Data
Season Race #: 32 of 36 (10-21-18)
Race Length: 267 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 80 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 laps
When it comes to racing at Kansas Speedway in NASCAR’s top division, here are the top active drivers in the sport.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas
Kevin Harvick……………………… 108.0
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 105.4
Matt Kenseth………………………. 103.1
Martin Truex Jr……………………. 100.0
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 95.9
Kyle Larson………………………….. 91.4
Brad Keselowski……………………. 90.3
Kyle Busch…………………………… 89.8
Kurt Busch…………………………… 88.1
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 87.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (21 total) among active drivers at Kansas Speedway.
Kevin Harvick does not need to win to advance in the post-season. However, he won the first race at the track earlier this season to bring his career wins at the track to three. That’s a tie for most wins by an active driver and the top of the list by a current championship contending driver.
Jimmie Johnson also has three Kansas wins in his cup series career. However, he has already been eliminated from championship contention this season.
Martin Truex Jr. is the first driver above the cut-line for elimination. He has two Kansas wins on his resume including this race in 2017. In fact, both of Martin’s wins at the track came last year when he swept to 2017 races at Kansas. He needs another good performance at the track if he wants to keep his championship fate in his own hands.
Joey Logano also has two Kansas wins to his credit. He is a driver that can control his own post-season destiny by avoiding a disastrous performance this weekend.
Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski are looking to advance in the NASCAR Playoffs this weekend and each has a single win at Kansas previously. Kyle can advance with just a decent day of racing. Brad needs a great day at Kansas to keep his championship hopes alive.
Denny Hamlin has already been eliminated from contention and Ryan Newman missed making the playoffs this season. Both drivers have one previous win at Kansas during their cup series careers.
Find out exactly what the drivers currently in the Round of Twelve need to do in Kansas to advance to the Round of Eight at the official NASCAR website here.
When the green flag waives to start the race the game will unfold with some drivers playing it safe and others getting aggressive. Which drivers will “cash in” and which will “bust”? We will find out at the end of the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway this Sunday, October 21st starting at 1:00 PM central time (2:00 PM eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
