NASCAR makes its seventh appearance at the 1.5-mile, tri-oval track. In addition to the stories developing during the race, here are five to watch as the drivers prepare for the 267-lap, 400.5-mile race around Kentucky Speedway:
Final reunion for Junior Nation
The Quaker Sate 400 is Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s last ride at Kentucky Speedway. The driver voted NASCAR’s most popular 14 times plans to pull into the pits for good after this season.
»RELATED: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Miami Valley made memories together
Ticket sales at tracks around NASCAR have spiked for fans wanting to see Junior one last time, and Kentucky is no exception. Off the track he’s the favorite. On the track – especially at Kentucky – it’s a different story. He has a pair of top-5 finishes, but he’s ended up outside the top 10 four other times. He called racing on last season’s repaved speedway “not fun.”
Turning the corner
The bumps and rough spots that made Kentucky Speedway one of the toughest tracks to drive are gone following the repaving prior to the 2016 race. But Kentucky Speedway isn’t a pushover.
»RELATED: Driving at Kentucky requires true skill
Turn 3 is the newest challenge as drivers discovered last year. Increased banking in Turn 2 has cars carrying more speed into a narrower and flatter Turn 3. Going three wide is not recommended. The drivers that can figure out Turn 3 increase their chances to park it in Victory Lane. The drivers that can’t figure it out increase their chances of parking it in the garage.
“I think it’s a good challenge,” said three-time race winner Brad Keselowski. “We’re professinal race car drivers. It shouldn’t be easy. It was very, very difficult and you had to certainly be very smart.”
Crashing Victory Lane
Two drivers have dominated at Kentucky Speedway through six races. There have been 1,602 laps in the six Quaker State 400 races and Brad Keselowski (483) and Kyle Busch (437) have led 920 of them. Matt Kenseth scored a victory in 2013 to break up the monopoly. Will a new name be added Saturday? A driver to watch is Ryan Newman. Along with those past three Kentucky Speedway winners, Newman is the only other active driver with three or more top-5 finishes at Kentucky
Sweet 16?
Eleven different drivers have won races through the first 17 NASCAR races. With nine races remaining it’s possible for 16 different drivers to claim victories in the 26-race regular season. If that happens it will tie the modern era record for most different drivers to win in a 26-race schedule. Jimmie Johnson leads the way with three wins this season.
»RELATED: Busch trying to block youth movement at Kentucky
Four drivers have two wins and six drivers have a win each. Kyle Busch has the most top-5 finishes without a win (6) and Chase Elliott (5) is right behind.
Toyota out front at Kentucky
Toyota has a race-high three wins in six races at Kentucky Speedway with Busch (2011 & 2015) and Kenseth (2013), so the manufacturer is looking forward to returning. Toyota has just two wins this season. Chevrolet has seven wins this season, but it’s next win at Kentucky will be its first. Chevy has been shut out from Kentucky’s Victory Lane.
NASCAR points leader Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott (6th), Jimmie Johnson (7th) and Jamie McMurray (8th) are among the Chevy drivers looking to snap that streak. Ford, which has a season-high eight wins, has two Kentucky victories with Keselowski (2016 & 2014). Keselowski won driving a Dodge in 2012.
Quaker State 400
Track: Kentucky Speedway
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)
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