The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rolls into Kansas Speedway this Mother’s Day weekend for the Go Bowling.com 400, race No. 11 on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour. With 40 drivers on the original entry list, there will be no eliminations during this afternoon’s qualifying session. The grid for the 267-lap race will be set this afternoon by utilizing the group-qualifying format, which will consist of three rounds. The top 24 will advance to round two and the top 12 to round three.
Kansas native Clint Bowyer is scheduled to run double-duty, racing his No. 15 5-Hour Energy Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup series race and piloting the No. 24 for Maurice Gallagher Jr. in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as well. 5-Hour Energy, Georgia Boot and Visine will sponsor this Chevrolet ride.
Jimmie Johnson is the defending race winner. With two wins already under his belt, including a win on another 1.5-mile track, Atlanta Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 48 Lowes’ Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports is on pace to get his third trip to Victory Lane this season. In last year’s race, he led the final 10 laps enroute to the win.
Johnson currently has the series-best driver rating on the Midwest track of 112.00 as well as the best average running position of 9.383. His record on the intermediate tracks is nothing to sneeze at either. He’s earned 25 victories at Atlanta, Charlotte, Kansas, Las Vegas and Texas. Johnson also holds a tie with his former teammate Jeff Gordon for the most all-time wins in the Land Of Oz.
The current leader in the Sprint Cup Series is Kevin Harvick. The driver of the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing already has one win at Phoenix this year. The last time Harvick visited Victory Lane in Kansas was back in October of 2013. Driving for Richard Childress Racing, he led 138 of 267 laps. He has a 9.8 average-finish and including Johnson at 112.00 and Matt Kenseth at 106.8, he is one of three drivers with an average-rating of 102.5.
Harvick also holds the current qualifying record at Kansas in the Cup series. In May of 2014, he posted a lap of 27.799 seconds, 194.658 mph. In fact, he boasts three consecutive Cup pole-starting positions in the Heartland.
Harvick believes that running on the 1.5-mile speedways is very benefical. “The 1.5-mile racetracks dominate the schedule, especially when you get into the Chase and end the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which is another 1.5-mile track,” he said in an SHR advance. “That’s a little bit different but, if you’re going to get to that point, you’re going to have to be successful on that style of racetrack. Kansas, Charlotte, Chicago – those types of racetracks are really where you need to make hay, I guess you could say, and get the results to be successful.”
Here are some others to watch out for this weekend:
- Martin Truex Jr. has proven to be a contender on the 1.5 mile tracks but luck has not been on his side so far this year. The No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Toyota would love to get a win for Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing. For this single-car team, Kansas Speedway is typically a home track.
- Oddly enough, Kyle Busch has never won at Kansas. However, the driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Red Nose Toyota does have four top-10 finishes in his last five starts. He’s also earned two top fives in during the last two fall races. With already two wins this season, can this Joe Gibbs Racing driver finally get the Midwest monkey off his back?
- Kasey Kahne will be another driver to watch out for this weekend. The No. 5 Farmer’s Insurance Chevrolet driver has led 102 total laps in just 17 starts. Kahne also ranks third in the quality-passes category, which is determined by the number of times a driver passes another car that is running in the top 15 while under green flag conditions. As far as ratings go, the Washington native has an average of 93.1.
Where To Watch, Where To Listen – Times CDT (track time)
TV: FS1 6:30 PM
Radio: MRN/SiriusXM: 6:30 PM
I didn’t decide I wanted to pursue a career in NASCAR until the summer of 2012. I’m not a wrench head or strong enough for a pit crew so media was the next best thing. At the beginning of 2013, I started going to races and making connections within the sport. I also studied Motorsports Management at Sports Management Worldwide. Although I love what happens on the track, I’ve always been interested in what goes on behind the scenes and I’ve gotten to know many people throughout the radio, TV and digital media world.
While I’m a long time writer, 2015 was my first year actually covering the sport with www.nascarfemale.com . I also became a media correspondent for Raceline. I’ve been able to help the TV show gain recognition on social media. My current goal is to acquire more experience in covering NASCAR and move up the media ladder. Outside of motorsports, I have been an equine-sports statistician for 16 years.
I currently reside in Gillette, WY where I’m still involved with horses. I enjoy riding them, rodeo, swimming, traveling and meeting people.
Email Me
- NXS: Hamlin Handles the Field in Irish Hills 250 - June 17, 2017
- NXS: Busch Scores Irish Hills 250 Pole - June 17, 2017
- NXS: Irish Hills 250 Preview - June 16, 2017