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  • Next Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
  • The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
  • The Date: Sunday, October 25
  • The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBCSN, 3 p.m. ET
  • Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
  • Distance: 501 (334 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 105),
  • Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 210), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 334)

Flip the switch on the Big Hoss TV, the Cup Playoffs are headed to Texas

Dust them Cowboy hats off in Victory Lane and fire-up that Big Hoss TV on the backstretch because the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are headed to Texas Motor Speedway this Sunday, Oct. 25, for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs began in 2004 and Texas Motor Speedway was added to the postseason in 2005, replacing Darlington Raceway. Texas Motor Speedway has hosted the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs since being added in 2005.  Only two tracks have hosted the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: Phoenix Raceway in the Playoff’s inaugural season in 2004 and Texas Motor Speedway from 2005-Present.

Six different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Texas Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with five victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015); followed by Carl Edwards (2005, 2008, 2016), Kevin Harvick (2017, 2018, 2019), Tony Stewart (2006, 2011), Denny Hamlin (2010) and Kurt Busch (2009). Seven different drivers have won the

eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, the six winners at Texas Motor Speedway and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Phoenix Raceway in 2004.

Kevin Harvick has won the last three consecutive Texas Playoff races and can tie Jimmie Johnson’s record of four consecutive with a victory this weekend.

Three times the winner of the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the title later that same season – all three at Texas Motor Speedway: 

o   In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the eighth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title later that season (2006, 2007). The Playoff win at Texas was his third of four consecutive victories in the 2007 Playoffs – the only driver to win four straight in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, Phoenix).

o   In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the fifth starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship later that year. The Texas Playoff win was Stewart’s fourth of his record setting five NASCAR Cup Series Playoff wins in a single postseason run in 2011 (Chicago, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Texas, Miami).

o   In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his sixth NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season. The Texas Playoff win was Johnson’s second postseason victory (Dover, Texas) in 2013.

The worst finish in the eighth NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race by a driver that went on to win the title at Texas Motor Speedway was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2009 and at Phoenix Raceway it was 10th by Kurt Busch in 2004. The 2018 series champion, Joey Logano, finished third in the 2018 Texas Playoff race and last season’s champion, Kyle Busch,finished seventh in the 2019 Texas Playoff race. 

Three times a non-Playoff driver has won the Playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway:

  • In 2006, Tony Stewart was ranked 11th in the point standings at the time of the win.
  • In 2014, Jimmie Johnson was 11th in points at the time of the win. Johnson had made the Playoffs in 2014 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
  • In 2015, Jimmie Johnson was 12th in points at the time of the win. Johnson had made the Playoffs in 2015 but was eliminated in the Round of 16.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano is first to lock into the Championship 4

In an impressive performance holding off nine-time 2020 winner and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick, Team Penske’s Joey Logano grabbed the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway and jumped to the top of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings becoming the first to lock himself into the Championship 4. The move has sent ripples through the postseason points as the 2018 series champion, Logano, entered Kansas seeded fifth in the Playoff standings, five markers back from the Championship 4 cutoff. Now, the 30-year-old from Middletown, Connecticut, can hit the cruise control and start to prepare for the season finale championship race at Phoenix Raceway; which Logano just so happens to be the most recent winner at back in March.

Making the Championship 4 round is tough, only 10 drivers have accomplished the feat since the inception of the elimination-style format in 2014. Logano’s win at Kansas last weekend has locked him into the Championship 4 round for the fourth time in his career (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020).

Clinch Scenarios for the Elite Eight in the Lone Star State

Just two races left to decide who will clinch the three remaining spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Championship 4 round. This weekend, Texas Motor Speedway will set the stage for the top series contenders to try and win their way into the Championship 4. Below are this week’s clinch scenarios for Texas, with a reminder that any driver can clinch with a win this weekend:

Already Clinched

With his win at Kansas Speedway last weekend, Team Penske’s Joey Logano has become the first driver to clinch a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round.

Can Clinch via Points

If there is a new winner, the following driver could clinch by being 56 points above the second winless driver in the Playoff standings:

  • Kevin Harvick: Could only clinch with help.

If there is a repeat winner, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the third winless driver in the Playoff standings. They would also clinch if there is a new winner among Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin and being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the Playoff standings:

  • Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help.
  • Next Race: O’Reilly Auto Parts 300
  • The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
  • The Date: Saturday, October 24
  • The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBCSN, 4 p.m. ET
  • Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
  • Distance: 300 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

Briscoe brings home another win, advances to Championship 4

Chase Briscoe was victorious for the ninth time this season last weekend at Kansas Speedway. He swept both stages and led 159 of 200 laps total and punched his ticket to the final round of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

Finishing second to Briscoe was Daniel Hemric in the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, a driver who is fighting for a ride for the 2021 season. Ryan Sieg, another Playoff driver and a considerable “underdog” in the series, finished third.

Playoff driver Justin Haley finished fourth, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series regular and Playoff driver Austin Hill finished fifth. Josh Williams had a career day at Kansas to finish sixth, while Brett Moffitt, another Gander Trucks Playoff driver, finished seventh. Michael Annett was eighth and Playoff drivers Brandon Jones and Justin Allgaier rounded out the top 10.

There were 10 caution flags in the intense battle in the Heartland for 45 laps with 10 lead changes among six different drivers.

Playoff drivers Noah Gragson and Austin Cindric were involved in an early on-track incident, ending Gragson’s day early and resulting in a 28th-place finish for Cindric.

Looking ahead to this weekend, the series will hit Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Cindric took home the win earlier this season at Texas and Christopher Bell won this race last season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

The race will be 300 miles and 200 laps with Stage 1 ending on Lap 45 and Stage 2 ending on Lap 90. Briscoe will lead the field to green on Saturday with Haley joining him on the front row.

Jones, Sieg, Allgaier, Chastain, Cindric, Jeb Burton, Gragson and Annett will start in the top 10.

Howdy, Texas!

There are only two races left to see who will be fighting for a Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Chase Briscoe is the only driver currently locked in with his win last week at Kansas Speedway.

This will be the second time this season that the series takes on Texas Motor Speedway. The track is 1.5-miles with 20 degrees of banking in corners one and two and 24 degrees of banking in corners three and four. The dogleg has five degrees of banking as well as the backstretch. The frontstretch is 2,250 feet and the backstretch is 1,330 feet.

Kyle Busch holds the race record at the track from April 5, 2008 at 151.707 mph. Busch also holds the record for the most wins (9), most poles (4), most top fives (16) and is tied with Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth for the most top 10s (17).

Ford and Toyota are tied for the most wins by a manufacturer with 13. Only six of the 38 Xfinity races run at Texas have been won from the pole.

Earlier this season, Austin Cindric won the race and led 44 laps. Justin Allgaier won both stages and ended up finishing third. Briscoe finished second.

The race had nine cautions for 29 laps and 15 lead changes. The Margin of Victory was .949 seconds.

Clinch Scenarios: Lone Star State edition

Chase Briscoe has clinched a spot in the final four while the other three spots are up for grabs. Here are the clinch scenarios for this weekend’s race at Texas, with a reminder that any driver can clinch a Championship 4 berth with a win:

Can Clinch via Points

If there is a new winner, the following driver could clinch by being 56 points above the second winless driver in the standings.

  • Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help

If there is a repeat winner, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the third winless driver in the standings.  They would also clinch if there was a new winner among Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones and being 56 points above the second winless driver in the standings.

  • Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
  • Brandon Jones: Could only clinch with help

Haley back in the No. 11

Justin Haley and Kaulig Racing announced that Haley will be back in the No. 11 Chevrolet for the 2021 season. He will be the first driver to return for a third season with the team. Haley has earned three wins, 38 top 10s and 13 top fives with Kaulig Racing. He also added his name to an elite list with Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a driver to win three superspeedway races in a row. Haley, 21, became one of 34 drivers, and the second youngest, to record a win in all three NASCAR national series.

  • Next Race: Speedycash.com 400
  • The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
  • The Date: Sunday, October 25
  • The Time: 12 p.m. ET
  • TV: FS1, 11 a.m. ET
  • Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
  • Distance: 220.5 miles (147 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 147)

Truckin’ in Texas

The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for some Sunday afternoon action in the Lone Star State.

The Gander Trucks will be the first of two races on Sunday, opening for the Cup Series later in the afternoon.

Last weekend, the series took on Kansas Speedway, where Brett Moffitt was victorious for the first time this season and punched his ticket to the Championship 4 in Phoenix.

Moffitt’s GMS Racing teammate and fellow Playoff driver Sheldon Creed finished in second and Austin Hill, another Playoff driver, finished in third. Grant Enfinger finished fourth and Chandler Smith rounded out the top five.

Creed swept both stages and led 61 laps, but Moffitt was able to hold on for the most important ones at the end.

The race had four cautions for 24 laps and 13 lead changes among nine different drivers.

This weekend, the Speedycash.com 400 will be at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and is one of two chances left for the Playoff drivers to secure their place in the Championship 4. With only three spaces left, more and more is at stake.

Kyle Busch won the Gander Trucks race earlier this season at Texas. Christian Eckes, who was eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs, finished second and Playoff driver Matt Crafton finished third, the highest-finishing driver still fighting for the championship.

The race at Texas in July had five cautions for 26 laps and 15 lead changes. The Margin of Victory was .777 seconds.

Crafton is the only current Playoff driver with a previous win at the track. Crafton and his ThorSport Racing teammate and veteran Johnny Sauter are the only two active drivers with any win at the track.

Sunday’s race will be 220.5 miles and 147 laps. Stage 1 will end on Lap 35 and Stage 2 will end on Lap 70.

Creed will start on the pole on Sunday with Moffitt joining him on the front row. Hill, Enfinger, Chandler Smith, Zane Smith, Crafton, Rhodes, Ankrum and Eckes will start in the top 10.

Clinch Scenarios: Lone Star State edition

Brett Moffitt has clinched a spot in the final four while the other three spots are up for grabs. Here are the clinch scenarios for this weekend’s race at Texas, knowing that any driver could clinch a shot at the championship with a win:

Can Clinch via Points

If there is a new winner, the following driver could clinch by being 56 points above the second winless driver in the standings.

  • Sheldon Creed: Could only clinch with help

If there is a repeat winner, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the third winless driver in the standings.  They would also clinch if there was a new winner among Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill and being 56 points above the second winless driver in the standings.

  • Sheldon Creed: Could only clinch with help
  • Austin Hill: Could only clinch with help

James Buescher returns

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series champion James Buescher will make his Gander Trucks return at Texas Motor Speedway for Niece Motorsports. Buescher, who is from Texas, has 10 starts at the track with five top 10s and has never finished outside of the top 20 in those starts. Buescher will race with support from FHE, a manufacturer of FracLock. Buescher won the championship in 2012 and has 119 Gander Trucks starts, most recently in 2015. In total, he has six career wins, five poles, and 31 top-five finishes.

Hailie Deegan moving to full-time Gander Trucks in 2021

Hailie Deegan made her NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series debut last weekend at Kansas Speedway in the No. 17 Ford for DGR-Crosley. She took home a 16th-place finish in her debut. During the race, it was announced that she will transition to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2021 with DGR-Crosley full-time. Deegan joined the Ford Performance family in December 2019 and was also named the 2020 ARCA Menards Series Bounty Rookie of the Year. She finished third in the ARCA Championship standings and made her debut in a Ford at Daytona, finishing runner-up. She accumulated 17 top 10s and four top-fives in 20 races this season. All other details on her 2021 season will be announced at a later date.

source – NASCAR communications

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