The Kansas Speedway kicks off the fourth stop of the ten-race The Chase this weekend, with the Hollywood Casino 400 slated for Sunday. After three intense rounds, every stage point matters, making the Saturday qualifying session a decisive factor in the championship battle.
Forecasters have issued a rain notice for both Friday and Saturday, a scenario that could force officials to scrap on-track practice and qualifying for the second week in a row. If the weather holds the line, NASCAR will revert to its metric score formula to set the starting grid, a system that heavily weighs recent performance, especially at Bristol.
Qualifying order and the metric’s impact on The Chase drivers
The metric-driven lineup places a mix of non-chase and chase contenders in unexpected positions. At the top of the list, Ty Dillon leads with a 35.400 score, followed closely by Cody Ware and Riley Herbst both posted at 32.800. Notably, the chase-eligible cars—such as Ryan Blaney (24.900) and Chase Briscoe (21.600)—appear well down the order because their recent runs at Bristol lowered their metric values.
Should rain cancel qualifying, the metric will lock in these positions, meaning Blaney and Briscoe could start near the rear of the field on Sunday. This scenario underscores the importance of the metric score as a contingency tool, effectively rewarding consistency while punishing recent struggles.
Weekend schedule, rain contingency and broadcast details
Under normal conditions, the schedule runs practice at 10:00 AM ET, followed by qualifying at 11:10 AM ET on Saturday. Both sessions will be aired on truTV giving fans a single-channel experience for the entire weekend. However, the looming precipitation may force a shift to the metric grid, in which case the announced times remain, but the on-track action could be limited to a brief warm-up.
Sunday’s main event, the Hollywood Casino 400 will commence in the early afternoon, with stage breaks and pit-stop windows that could become pivotal if the field is bunched up from a rain-adjusted start. Television coverage for the race will also be on truTV, ensuring continuity for viewers who have been following the practice and qualifying sessions.
Fans planning to attend should keep an eye on local alerts, as rain may affect parking and concession opening hours. Meanwhile, those tuning in from home can rely on truTV’s streaming platform for live updates, timing screens and any last-minute schedule revisions.
Key takeaways for teams and spectators
- Metric scores will dictate the grid if qualifying is cancelled, potentially pushing strong chase contenders to the back.
- Rain threatens to eliminate both practice and qualifying, making the metric the primary tool for fairness.
- All on-site and broadcast activity will be carried on truTV with practice at 10:00 AM ET and qualifying at 11:10 AM ET on Saturday.
With the championship narrative tightening and weather playing a wild card, Kansas Speedway promises an unpredictable showdown. Whether drivers earn their spots on speed or metric, the race will undeniably shape the final stretch of The Chase.
