The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads under the lights of Kentucky Speedway this Saturday night for the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart.

Counting this weekend’s race there are only eight races left for drivers to secure their spot in NASCAR’s post-season. The 16 drivers that make the Chase Grid will have a chance to win the championship during the final ten races of the year. The rest will be simply racing to set themselves up for next year. That means these next eight races will be full of pressure for many drivers and teams.

Some drivers have locked themselves in the playoffs and just want to accumulate more playoff points to aid their run for a championship. Other drivers are above the cutoff line for the playoffs based on points, but need more points to stay there. Many drivers are below that cutoff line and may need either more points or a win to get in the playoffs. The different needs will lead to different approaches to the Kentucky race. That can make for some exciting racing for the fans.

Here is a look at the track and race data that is the same for every driver and team.

Kentucky Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 17 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 8 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  1,662 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,600 feet

Quaker State 400 Data
Season Race #: 19 of 36 (07-13-19)
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 80 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 laps

Here are the top active drivers over-all at Kentucky Speedway.

Top 10 Driver Rating at Kentucky
Kyle Busch ………………………. 124.4
Brad Keselowski …….………….. 109.6
Martin Truex Jr. …………………. 105.7
Kevin Harvick …………………… 105.5
Erik Jones ………..……….……… 99.2
Jimmie Johnson ………….………. 95.1
Ryan Blaney ………….…..………. 94.7
Joey Logano ……………………… 91.2
Chase Elliott ………………………. 90.5
Kurt Busch ………………………… 89.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (eight total) among active drivers at Kentucky Speedway.

When you see the list of active drivers that have won at Kentucky Speedway in NASCAR’s top division you might think it is an elite group because there are so few. However, realize this year will be only the ninth cup series race held at the track. There have not been that many chances for drivers to win a race at the track. Three active drivers have won seven of the eight races held at Kentucky Speedway to date.

Brad Keselowski has the most trips to Victory Lane in Kentucky with three wins (2012, 2014, 2016).

Kyle Busch has two Kentucky wins on his resume (2011, 2015).

Martin Truex Jr. has won the last two times NASCAR has raced at Kentucky (2017, 2018).

Can Martin Truex Jr. make it a three-peat? Will Brad or Kyle add to their win total at Kentucky? The last two races of the season have seen drivers get their first ever cup series win … will that trend continue?

We will find out the answer to all the questions starting at 6:30 PM central time (7:30 PM eastern time) when the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races in the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway.

By: Buck Stevens