The Chase field is cut from 16 to 12 today at Dover International Speedway. Last year, Jimmie Johnson seemed to be comfortably set to advance to the second round when a mechanical issue sidelined him in this race and ended his title hopes.
Today, four drivers will find out that their championship hopes are over.
Here’s all the important info for today’s race.
(All times are Eastern)
START: Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Joe Walsh will give the command to start engines at 2:07 p.m. The green flag is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is scheduled for 400 laps (400 miles) around the 1-mile track.
PRERACE SCHEDULE: The Xfinity garage opens at 8 a.m. The driver/crew chief meeting is at 12:15 p.m. Driver introductions are at 1:30 p.m.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: Easton Corbin will perform the National Anthem at 2:02 p.m., followed by a flyover by two F-16s of the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard.
TV/RADIO: NBCSN will broadcast the race with its coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. with Countdown to Green, followed by the race at 2 p.m. Motor Racing Network’s radio broadcast begins at 1 p.m. and also can be heard at mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will have MRN’s broadcast.
FORECAST: The wunderground.com site predicts a temperature of 75 degrees at race time with a 24 percent chance of rain at the start of the race.
LAST TIME: Matt Kenseth held off Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott late to win in May. Larson finished second; Elliott third. In this race a year ago, Kevin Harvick had to win to advance to the next round. He did. Kyle Busch placed second; Dale Earnhardt Jr. third.
STARTING LINEUP: Qualifying was canceled due to weather, and the field has been set by points. Click here for Sprint Cup starting lineup