Quaker State 400 2013: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More

After a road-course stop in Sonoma, NASCAR's Sprint Cup drivers will get back to the familiar left-only turns on the 1.5-mile oval at the Kentucky Speedway for the Quaker State 400. 

Apparently, this was a welcomed sight to Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Hendrick racer claimed his first pole of the year and did so in record fashion. 

ESPN tweeted the news: 

It will be interesting to see if the typically conservative Earnhardt can turn that fast car into a victory. However, no matter what happens with him, it should be an interesting day of racing. 

The Quaker State 400 is the 10th race before the chase. So, this is the time that drivers must start solidifying their standing in their quest to make the Chase. 

Also, not to take anything away from Earnhardt's qualifying run, but his record is not as impressive as it would be at other tracks. After all, this will be just the third Sprint Cup race at the Kentucky Speedway. 

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch took the checkered in 2011, and Penske's Brad Keselowski won this event last year. 

Check out the vitals for this race, and then I'll highlight three drivers who warrant extra attention. 

Where: Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky. 

When: Saturday, June 30, 6:30 p.m. ET

Watch: TNT

Listen: Performance Racing Network (PRN) radio and Sirius XM 90

Starting Grid

*Grid via ESPN

Pos.	Driver	Manufacturer	No.	Speed
1	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	88	183.636 mph
2	Carl Edwards	Ford	99	183.306 mph
3	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	48	183.144 mph
4	Kyle Busch	Toyota	18	182.593 mph
5	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	9	182.587 mph
6	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	11	182.340 mph
7	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	39	182.254 mph
8	Brad Keselowski	Ford	2	182.192 mph
9	Brian Vickers	Toyota	55	181.922 mph
10	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet	42	181.720 mph
11	Joey Logano	Ford	22	181.708 mph
12	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	24	181.653 mph
13	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Ford	17	181.391 mph
14	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	31	181.360 mph
15	Clint Bowyer	Toyota	15	181.159 mph
16	Matt Kenseth	Toyota	20	181.111 mph
17	AJ Allmendinger	Toyota	47	180.892 mph
18	Aric Almirola	Ford	43	180.868 mph
19	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	56	180.832 mph
20	Greg Biffle	Ford	16	180.765 mph
21	Kasey Kahne	Chevrolet	5	180.638 mph
22	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	29	180.578 mph
23	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	1	180.445 mph
24	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	27	179.970 mph
25	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	14	179.964 mph
26	Austin Dillon	Chevrolet	51	179.802 mph
27	Kurt Busch	Chevrolet	78	179.390 mph
28	David Stremme	Toyota	30	179.075 mph
29	Danica Patrick	Chevrolet	10	178.944 mph
30	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	33	178.265 mph
31	Casey Mears	Ford	13	178.235 mph
32	Dave Blaney	Chevrolet	7	177.983 mph
33	Michael McDowell	Ford	98	177.713 mph
34	David Gilliland	Ford	38	177.486 mph
35	J.J. Yeley	Chevrolet	36	176.638 mph
36	David Reutimann	Toyota	83	176.488 mph
37	Josh Wise	Ford	35	176.384 mph
38	David Ragan	Ford	34	176.344 mph
39	Mike Bliss	Toyota	19	175.816 mph
40	Travis Kvapil	Toyota	93	175.707 mph
41	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	87	175.234 mph
42	Scott Riggs	Ford	44	175.143 mph
43	Ken Schrader	Ford	32	172.988 mph

Drivers to Watch

Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

The pole-sitter always merits a little extra attention, and when that driver is Earnhardt, that is especially true. 

This, according to Jeff Gluck of USA Today, is actually just the 12th pole in Earnhardt's 14-year career.

Sitting seventh in the points chase, Earnhardt doesn't have to take undo risks to capture the checkered here, but there is no doubt he is anxious for a strong performance. After starting his year with five straight top-10 finishes, he's had just four since. 

It is time for Earnhardt to reestablish some momentum for the Chase. 

Danica Patrick

I've largely grown tired of discussing Danica Patrick. I have nothing against her. It's just, at this point, she is just another middling driver trying to improve in the standings. 

However, thanks to Kyle Petty, it is hard not to talk about her this week. 

Appearing on Speed TV's NASCAR Race Hub, with the quote provided by ESPN's Terry Blount, Petty said: 

"

Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs. She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver. And I don't think she's ever going to be a race car driver.

"

As with anything concerning Patrick, this has picked up a lot of attention.

On Saturday, it will be Danica's chance to silence critics with her racing. Starting in 29th, if she is going to run with the leaders, she will definitely have to do some racing. 

Jeff Gordon

Sitting in 13th place in the points standings, Jeff Gordon needs to start stringing together some solid finishes. 

Gordon is coming off of his highest finish of the season, a second-place finish at Sonoma. However, it's hard to ascertain what that means for him going forward. Gordon is almost always a factor on road courses. 

This has been an inconsistent season for Gordon, and if he is going to make any noise in the Chase, it is time for him and his Hendrick team to start finding some consistency. 

Starting in 12th, this is a great opportunity for him to do just that.