The Cup Series playoffs continue with a Round of 16 race at World Wide Technology Raceway, also known as Gateway Motorsports Park.
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This event is one of two remaining races in the opening round of the playoffs. It provides another opportunity for 15 drivers to join Southern 500 winner Chase Briscoe in the Round of 12.
Cup Series teams have only competed at Gateway three times. This weekend's event marks the first time that the 1.25-mile track has hosted a playoff race for NASCAR's top series.
Playoff race at Gateway information
Weather: The WeatherUnderground forecast calls for sunny skies throughout the day. A high of 74 degrees and no chance of rain at the start of the Cup Series race.
Green flag time: The grand marshal, Bill Murray, will give the command to fire engines at 2:55 p.m. ET. The starter will wave the green flag at 3:05 p.m. ET.
Starting lineup: Denny Hamlin won the pole. Full starting lineup here.
Pre-race: The garage opens at 12 p.m. ET. Driver introductions will take place at 2:25 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage begins with "Countdown to Green" on USA Network at 2:30 p.m. ET. Race coverage continues at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.
The invocation will be at 2:47 p.m. ET. The national anthem will be performed at 2:48 p.m. ET.
Stages: The race will consist of three stages. The first stage ends at Lap 45. The second stage ends at Lap 140. The scheduled end of the race is Lap 240.
Playoff picture: The Cup Series drivers have completed one playoff race, which took place at Darlington Raceway. Chase Briscoe won in dominant fashion.
Denny Hamlin is 43 points above the Round of 12 cutline. He leads Kyle Larson (+38), Tyler Reddick (+35), Bubba Wallace (+25), William Byron (+25), Ryan Blaney (+22), Ross Chastain (+21), Austin Cindric (+12), Christopher Bell (+11), Chase Elliott (+9), and Shane van Gisbergen (+3).
Joey Logano (-3) is the first driver below the cutline. The other three drivers in current danger of elimination are Austin Dillon (-8), Josh Berry (-19), and Alex Bowman (-19).
Past winners: Three Cup Series drivers have won at Gateway Motorsports Park, two of which are in the playoffs. Logano won the inaugural Cup race at the 1.25-mile track in 2022. Kyle Busch then won at 2023. Cindric won last season's race after Blaney ran out of fuel on the final lap.
