LAS VEGAS — Round eight of the Cup Series begins this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Sunday’s race marks the first chance for one of the eight remaining playoff drivers to secure a spot in next month’s championship race in Phoenix.
The eight remaining playoff drivers are reigning Cup champion Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin.
Details for Sunday’s Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
(All times East)
START: The command to start the engines is given by UNLV football coach Barry Odom at 2:38 p.m. … The green flag is expected to wave at 2:49 p.m
PRE-RACE: The garage opens at 11:30 a.m.… Drivers meeting is at 1:30 p.m.… Driver introduction is at 1:55 p.m.… The invocation will be delivered by PRN broadcaster Doug Rice at 2:30 p.m. … The National Anthem will be performed by Elizabeth Wetzel, US Navy Band Northwest Passage at 2:31 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race lasts 267 laps (400.5 miles) on the 1.5 mile circuit.
PHASES: Stage 1 ends on lap 80. Stage 2 ends on lap 165.
STARTING LAYOUT: Cup qualifying starts on Saturday at 5:20 PM.
TV/RADIO: NBC will air the race at 2:30 p.m. Coverage begins at 2pm on NBC. … Performance Racing Network coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. … SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will air the PRN broadcast.
PREDICTION: The Weather Underground Forecast calls for sunny skies with a high of 70 degrees and no chance of rain at the start of the Cup race.
LAST TIME: Kyle Larson led 181 of the 267 laps, completed both stages and won the race in March, scoring his second straight win at the track. Tyler Reddick came in second. Ryan Blaney finished third.
