Jace Evans USA TODAY It's NASCAR race day at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and we've got some essential information you need to get ready for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race: START TIME: Celebrity chef Robert Irvine will instruct drivers to start their engines at 6:10 p.m. ET, followed by the green flag at 6:18 p.m. ET. RACE DISTANCE: The Coca-Cola 400 is 600 miles and 400 laps around the 1.5-mile oval, making it NASCAR's longest race. RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into stages and handing out points. Here are the segments for tonight's Cup race, which, unlike other races, will be divided into four stages: Stage 1: 100 laps, Stage 2: 100 laps, Stage 3: 100 laps, Stage 4: 100 laps. NATIONAL ANTHEM: U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Skye Martin will perform the national anthem at 6:03 p.m. ET, and there will by a flyover featuring four F-15s from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. COCA-COLA:NASCAR's top dogs will start on opposite ends of field EVOLUTION:NASCAR's longest race tests drivers in different ways ANNIVERSARY:Couple returns to CMS 50 years after honeymoon HARVICK:Home life takes priority for sizzling driver TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: The race will be broadcast on Fox starting at 6 p.m., with a pre-show starting at 5:30 p.m. Radio calls can be found on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio. WEATHER: The Coca-Cola 600 will begin under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 80s, dipping down into the mid 70s after sunset. The Weather Channel is calling for just a 15% chance of precipitation during the race. LAST TIME: A fuel gamble helped Austin Dillon win the 2017 Coca-Cola 600. Martin Truex Jr. has been a dominant force at the track for years though, leading 233 laps last season, a record 392 in 2016's win, and 131 in 2015. Truex also won last fall's playoff race at Charlotte. LINEUP: Kyle Busch will start first in his attempt to win at the one track he has yet to conquer in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points race. Joey Logano will start alongside Busch on the front row. Here's the starting lineup for tonight's Coca-Cola 600 (car number in parentheses): 1. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota 2. (22) Joey Logano, Ford 3. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota 4. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota 5. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford 6. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet 7. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet 8. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford 9. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford 10. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota 11. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet 13. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford 14. (21) Paul Menard, Ford 15. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota 16. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford 17. (6) Matt Kenseth, Ford 18. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet 19. (38) David Ragan, Ford 20. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet 21. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet 22. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet 23. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 24. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet 25. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet 26. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet 27. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet 28. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford 29. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford 30. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet 31. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford 32. (96) Parker Kligerman, Toyota 33. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet 34. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota 35. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet 36. (66) Timmy Hill, Toyota 37. (55) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet 38. (51) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet 39. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford 40. (7) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet<doc-sep>It's race day at Sonoma Raceway, and we’ve got all the information you need to get ready for today’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race: START TIME: Freestyle moguls skiier and 1998 Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley along with an executive from Toyota will instruct drivers to start their engines at 3:01 p.m. ET (12:01 p.m. local) followed by the green flag at 3:13 p.m. ET (12:13 p.m. local). RACE DISTANCE: The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is not 350 miles — it's 350 kilometers. That's 110 laps around the 1.99-mile circuit for a total of 218.9 miles. RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into stages and handing out points. Here are the segments for today's race: Stage 1: 25 laps, Stage 2: 25 laps, Stage 3: 60 laps. NATIONAL ANTHEM: Transcendence Theatre's "Broadway Under the Stars" performer Meggie Cansler will sing the national anthem at 2:55 p.m. ET (11:55 a.m. local) followed by a flyover by two F-15Cs from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field in Southern Oregon. TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: The race will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 starting at 3 p.m. ET (noon local), with a pre-show starting at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. local). Radio calls can be found on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio. LIVE STREAMING: Fox is offering a live stream through its Fox Sports Go app. WEATHER: The Weather Channel is predicting ideal conditions Sunday in wine country with sunny skies, temperatures in the low 80s and light winds out of the southwest. There is no rain in the forecast. LAST TIME: Kevin Harvick led the final 22 laps to record his first career Cup victory at Sonoma Raceway. The race ended under caution after former Sonoma winner Kasey Kahne spun on the frontstretch on the final lap LINEUP: Kyle Larson earned his sixth career pole and second at Sonoma Raceway. Reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. will start alongside on the front row. Here's the starting lineup for today's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (car number in parentheses): 1. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 2. (78) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota 3. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet 4. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet 5. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet 6. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford 7. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 8. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet 9. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota 10. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford 11. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford 12. (22) Joey Logano, Ford 13. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford 14. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet 15. (21) Paul Menard, Ford 16. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota 17. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet 18. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford 19. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford 20. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota 21. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota 22. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford 23. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford 24. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford 25. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet 26. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet 27. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet 28. (38) David Ragan, Ford 29. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota 30. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford 31. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet 32. (72) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet 33. (15) Justin Marks, Chevrolet 34. (96) Parker Kligerman, Toyota 35. (43) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet 36. (51) Chris Cook, Ford 37. (00) Tomy Drissi, Chevrolet 38. (52) Cody Ware, Chevrolet Follow Horrow on Twitter @EllenJHorrow<doc-sep>Mike Hembree USA TODAY JOLIET, Ill. — Because of a stormy forecast for Sunday, series officials plan to start the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race 14 minutes earlier than scheduled. The race green flag at Chicagoland Speedway was moved from 2:46 p.m. ET (1:46 p.m. local) to 2:32 p.m. ET (1:32 p.m. local). Sunday’s forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon with a high of 93 degrees in the southwest Chicago suburbs. Chicagoland Speedway does have lights should the race need to be delayed and contested at night. SUMMER STRETCH:Provides multiple paths on road to NASCAR playoffs SURPRISING SEASON:Victory lane still eludes many top Cup drivers PREVIEW:Hot drivers, hotter weather roll into Chicagoland<doc-sep>It's NASCAR race day at Pocono Raceway, and we’ve got all the information you need to get ready for Sunday's Pocono 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race: START TIME: Lt. General Steven Rudder, Deputy Commandant Aviation USMC; Lt. General Todd Semonite, Commanding General, Army Corp of Engineers; Major General Warren Berry, Deputy Commander Air Force Material Command; Major General Anthony Carrelli, The Adjutant General Pennsylvania National Guard, TAG, will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:01 p.m. ET followed by the green flag at 2:12 p.m. ET. RACE DISTANCE: The Pocono 400 is 400 miles and 160 laps around the 2.5-mile "Tricky Triangle." RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into stages and handing out points. Here are the segments for today's race: Stage 1: 50 laps, Stage 2: 50 laps, Stage 3: 60 laps. NATIONAL ANTHEM: The U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, based on Washington D.C., will perform the national anthem at 1:55 p.m. ET. The U.S. Army Golden Knights skydiver team will parachute into the raceway following the anthem. BLANEY:Looks to reignite winning momentum at Pocono KYLE BUSCH:Explains the one thing missing from stellar accomplishments DEBATE CONTINUES:Will All-Star aero/engine package expand to points races? HALFWAY POINT:Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick setting torrid pace TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: The race will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 starting at 2 p.m., with a pre-show starting at 12:30 p.m. Radio calls can be found on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio. LIVE STREAMING: Fox is offering a live stream through its Fox Sports Go app. WEATHER: The Weather Channel is calling for cool conditions under cloudy skies in the Pocono Mountains, with highs in the low 60s and a 15% chance of rain. LAST TIME: Kyle Busch snapped a 36-race winless streak with his victory in July 2017, beating runner-up Kevin Harvick by more than six seconds to score his first win of the season and the first of his Cup Series career at Pocono. And one year ago last June, Ryan Blaney broke through for his first career victory in the Cup Series, also topping Harvick but by a much smaller 0.139 seconds. LINEUP: Blaney posted the top speed in Friday's qualifying, edging Harvick for the pole. Here's the starting lineup for today's Pocono 400 (car number in parentheses): 1. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford 2. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford 3. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet 4. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota 5. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota 6. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford 7. (22) Joey Logano, Ford 8. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet 9. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford 10. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota 11. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet 12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet 13. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 14. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet 15. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 16. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet 17. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford 18. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota 19. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet 20. (21) Paul Menard, Ford 21. (38) David Ragan, Ford 22. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet 23. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford 24. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet 25. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota, 172.808. 26. (6) Matt Kenseth, Ford 27. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet 28. (51) Cole Custer, Ford 29. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet 30. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford 31. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet 32. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford 33. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet 34. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford 35. (72) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet 36. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota 37. (7) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet 38. (99) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet Follow Horrow on Twitter @EllenJHorrow<doc-sep>
It's NASCAR race day at Michigan International Speedway, and we’ve got all the information you need to get ready for Sunday's FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race: START TIME: Country music star Trace Adkins will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:07 p.m. ET followed by the green flag at 2:16 p.m. ET. RACE DISTANCE: The FireKeepers Casino 400 is 400 miles and 200 laps around the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway. RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into stages and handing out points. Here are the segments for today's race: Stage 1: 60 laps, Stage 2: 60 laps, Stage 3: 80 laps. NATIONAL ANTHEM: Michigan International Speedway's own Lisa Bascom will perform the national anthem a 2:01 p.m. ET, followed by a flyover by a C-130H Hercules aircraft from the 910th Airlift Wing of the Youngstown, Ohio Air Reserve Station. TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: The race will be broadcast on Fox starting at 2 p.m. ET, with a pre-show starting at 1:30 p.m. ET. Radio calls can be found on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio. LIVE STREAMING: Fox is offering a live stream through its Fox Sports Go app. LARSON:Looks to keep riding Michigan mojo after three wins at MIS KESELOWSKI:Michigan win would be my Daytona 500 JONES:Michigan native looks for first Cup win on home turf BIRTHDAY:Michigan International Speedway celebrate 50 years of racing WEATHER: The Weather Channel is calling for mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the high 60s for most of the race. There is a threat of rain although it may hold off until just after the race concludes. A delayed green flag or mid-race delay are possible, however. LAST TIME: Kyle Larson swept both races last season, and now has recorded three of his five career Cup Series wins at Michigan. In August, Larson led only two laps — both in overtime — to edge reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. by .310 second. And one year ago, Larson led a race-high 96 laps and beat Chase Elliott by nearly one second in the June race. LINEUP: Kurt Busch leads a Ford front row and will start first after winning his second pole of the season. Michigan native Brad Keselowski start along side Busch. Here's the starting lineup for today's FireKeepers Casino 400 (car number in parentheses): 1. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford 2. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford 3. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota 4. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford 5. (22) Joey Logano, Ford 6. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford 7. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford 8. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota 9. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford 10. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota 11. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet 12. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford 13. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet 14. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet 15. (21) Paul Menard, Ford 16. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet 17. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota 18. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet 19. (6) Matt Kenseth, Ford 20. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 21. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet 22. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota 23. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford 24. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet 25. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet 26. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 27. (38) David Ragan, Ford 28. (43) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet 29. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet 30. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford 31. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet 32. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet 33. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet 34. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota 35. (51) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet 36. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet 37. (7) DJ Kennington, Chevrolet 38. (66) Timmy Hill, Toyota 39. (99) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet Follow Horrow on Twitter @EllenJHorrow