The NASCAR Cup Series teams continue the playoff schedule with a Sunday afternoon race at Kansas Speedway.
This race is the first of the Round of 12, and it marks the 38th time Cup teams have competed at the intermediate track since Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race in 2001.
Kyle Larson won this season's spring race at Kansas while Tyler Reddick won last season's playoff race at Kansas.
This race marks the first opportunity for drivers to win and punch their ticket to the Round of 8. Kansas also serves as a crucial points-stacking event that will set drivers up for wild card events at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval.
Kansas Speedway Cup Series race information
Weather: The WeatherUnderground forecast calls for partly cloudy skies. A high of 81 degrees and no chance of rain at the start of the Cup Series playoff race.
Green flag time: The command to fire engines will be at 2:54 p.m. ET. The green flag will wave at 3:05 p.m. ET.
Starting lineup: Kansas Speedway starting lineup
Pre-race: The garage opens at noon ET. Driver introductions will take place at 2:15 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage begins with "Countdown to Green" on USA Network at 2:30 p.m. ET. Race coverage continues on USA Network at 3 p.m. ET.
Stages: The race will consist of three stages. The first stage ends at Lap 80. The second stage ends at Lap 165. The scheduled end of the race is Lap 267.
Playoff picture: The points have reset after the Round of 16. Larson is the points leader once again. He is 39 points above the Round of 8 cutline while Christopher Bell is just behind at +24.
The other drivers above the cutline are Reddick (+20), William Byron (+14), Ryan Blaney (+11), Denny Hamlin (+7), Chase Elliott (+6), and Joey Logano (+4).
Austin Cindric is the first driver below the cutline. He is four points behind Logano. Daniel Suarez is six points below the cutline while Alex Bowman and Chase Briscoe are both seven points below.
Past winners: Several active Cup Series drivers have previous wins at Kansas Speedway. Denny Hamlin leads the series with four wins at Kansas (2023, 2020, 2019, 2012).
Joey Logano (2020, 2015, 2014) and Jimmie Johnson (2015, 2011, 2008) each have three wins. Larson (2024, 2021), Kyle Busch (2021, 2016), Martin Truex Jr. (2017 sweep), and Brad Keselowski (2019, 2011) all have two wins each.
Reddick (2023), Bubba Wallace (2022), and Chase Elliott (2018) are the other three active drivers with wins at Kansas. Each has visited Victory Lane one time.