NASCAR at Chicago 2015: Start Time, Ticket Info, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup begins Sunday with the challenger round in the MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
There, the best of the best will go for 267 laps of action in a Chase opener that has provided some thrilling results over the years. Even better, the drivers are now one year deep into the revised format, meaning we can expect an improved approach and strategy by all drivers and teams.
In other words, expect this year's Chase to exceed expectations, beginning right in Chicago. With a trio of four-win drivers at the top of the leaderboard and sleepers scattered throughout, there doesn't seem to be a better way to begin the Chase.
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Here's a look at everything to know about the race.
Viewing Details
Where: Chicagoland Speedway
When: Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. ET
Watch: NBCSN
Live Stream: NBC Live Extra
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Sprint Cup Standings
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 2012 | 4 |
| 2 | Kyle Busch | 2012 | 4 |
| 3 | Matt Kenseth | 2012 | 4 |
| 4 | Joey Logano | 2009 | 3 |
| 5 | Kevin Harvick | 2006 | 2 |
| 6 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2006 | 2 |
| 7 | Kurt Busch | 2006 | 2 |
| 8 | Carl Edwards | 2006 | 2 |
| 9 | Brad Keselowski | 2003 | 1 |
| 10 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2003 | 1 |
NASCAR at Chicago Lineup
| 1 | Jamie McMurray |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne |
| 6 | Trevor Bayne |
| 7 | Alex Bowman |
| 9 | Sam Hornish Jr |
| 10 | Danica Patrick |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 13 | Casey Mears |
| 14 | Tony Stewart |
| 15 | Clint Bowyer |
| 16 | Greg Biffle |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr |
| 18 | Kyle Busch |
| 19 | Carl Edwards |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth |
| 21 | Ryan Blaney |
| 22 | Joey Logano |
| 23 | Jeb Burton |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon |
| 26 | J.J. Yeley |
| 27 | Paul Menard |
| 30 | Travis Kvapil |
| 31 | Ryan Newman |
| 32 | Josh Wise |
| 33 | Brian Scott |
| 34 | Brett Moffitt |
| 35 | Cole Whitt |
| 38 | David Gilliland |
| 40 | Landon Cassill |
| 41 | Kurt Busch |
| 42 | Kyle Larson |
| 43 | Aric Almirola |
| 46 | Michael Annett |
| 47 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 51 | Justin Allgaier |
| 55 | David Ragan |
| 62 | Timmy Hill |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr |
| 83 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr |
| 95 | Michael McDowell |
| 98 | Reed Sorenson |
Drivers to Watch
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick has a bit of a problem.
The series leader in 24 of the first 26 weeks, he now sits behind four names on the leaderboard with everything factored in thanks to his two wins. He's one of the most consistent drivers in the Chase, but in an odd spot given a season of leaderboard dominance.
Still, Harvick doesn't seem rattled by the situation. Just look at a shot recorded by NBC Sports:
Can Harvick turn it on and get over the proverbial hump?
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver last won in March. He touts 10 runner-up finishes, but in Richmond last time out wound up in 14th place. It's not the end of the world by any means for a guy who knows how to turn it on when the Chase rolls around, but it's something to keep an eye on with things getting serious.
What a story Kyle Busch's journey so far is.
A season almost ruined by a scary leg injury in Daytona has morphed into the best story of the season thanks to dominant performances resulting in four wins after NASCAR dished out a medical exemption and Busch hit all the requirements—and then some.
Busch spoke with ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass about the journey so far: "That's probably the longest I've ever been out of the race car in my life and the most time I spent laying on my butt, too. ... That was a tough lick. But we made it back and we made it into the Chase."
There's a chance it all turns out for naught, of course. Getting to the Chase is one thing, keeping the performance level high is another beast on its own.
This year, though, it would be silly to doubt Busch regardless of scenario. It has seemed like his season so far, which may continue Sunday afternoon.
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski may sit ninth on the leaderboard, but this would not exactly be the time to doubt his Chase prospects.
For one reason or another, Keselowski knows all about the first race of the Chase in Chicago—he's captured the checkered flag there in two of the past three seasons.
Keselowski didn't make many friends last year in the Chase thanks to scuffles with the most popular names in the sport, but it's something Dale Earnhardt Jr. said any driver could pull off given the magnitude of the event.
“I know Brad Keselowski is going to be wild and he’s always up on the wheel,” Earnhardt said, per USA Today's Jeff Gluck. “If he’s got a great car, he’s going to aggravate some people with it. But we’ve all got that in us; he just had the car to do it at that particular time.”
While he's been rather quiet this season with just one win, Keselowski is a veteran riding six consecutive top-10 finishes into a race he's won twice in three years. When the Chase starts, Keselowski seems to kick things up a notch. Keep a close eye on No. 2 Sunday.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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