NASCAR at Charlotte 2016: Start Time, Ticket Info, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series shed four drivers last weekend, leaving 12 in the Chase going into Saturday's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a must-win affair if there ever was one.
Though the round of 12 features three races, those who are left standing could join the eliminated (Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray and Chris Buescher) with a bad performance in Charlotte. The trek to a title only gets more difficult in Kansas a week later before the toughest of them all, Talladega.
Right now, Martin Truex Jr. might as well own the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the way he has tackled the Chase thus far. But an army of Toyotas, one flying-under-the-radar Ford and Charlotte Motor Speedway have much to say about the leaderboard Saturday.
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Viewing Details
Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway
When: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Watch: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Sprint Cup Standings
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3,000 | 4 |
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | 3,000 | 3 |
| 3 | Kyle Busch | 3,000 | 4 |
| 4 | Matt Kenseth | 3,000 | 2 |
| 5 | Joey Logano | 3,000 | 1 |
| 6 | Chase Elliott | 3,000 | 0 |
| 7 | Brad Keselowski | 3,000 | 4 |
| 8 | Kurt Busch | 3,000 | 1 |
| 9 | Denny Hamlin | 3,000 | 3 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | 3,000 | 2 |
| 11 | Jimmie Johnson | 3,000 | 2 |
| 12 | Austin Dillon | 3,000 | 0 |
NASCAR at Charlotte Lineup
| 4 | Kevin Harvick |
| 88 | Alex Bowman |
| 24 | Chase Elliott |
| 18 | Kyle Busch |
| 14 | Tony Stewart |
| 47 | A.J. Allmendinger |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 19 | Carl Edwards |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 22 | Joey Logano |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne |
| 10 | Danica Patrick |
| 16 | Greg Biffle |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 1 | Jamie McMurray |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth |
| 21 | Ryan Blaney |
| 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| 31 | Ryan Newman |
| 95 | Michael McDowell |
| 41 | Kurt Busch |
| 83 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 42 | Kyle Larson |
| 34 | Chris Buescher |
| 6 | Trevor Bayne |
| 27 | Paul Menard |
| 13 | Casey Mears |
| 44 | Brian Scott |
| 15 | Clint Bowyer |
| 38 | Landon Cassill |
| 43 | Aric Almirola |
| 23 | David Ragan |
| 7 | Regan Smith |
| 98 | Cole Whitt |
| 46 | Michael Annett |
| 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| 55 | Reed Sorenson |
| 30 | Josh Wise |
Drivers to Watch
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski would be the Ford mentioned above.
He has been nothing short of great this season, though fans would be hard-pressed to find much in the way of information or hype about his status in the Chase.
Despite posting four wins on the season and finishing in the top five in every Chase race so far, Keselowski sits seventh in the standings in terms of best average finish.
His reaction on social media said it all:
Keselowski probably doesn't mind being the underdog. He's easily one of the most talented drivers remaining in the field, if not the most talented, and it is a matter of biding his time before striking it big.
In Charlotte earlier this year, Keselowski finished fifth. Oh, and in the dreaded Talladega back in May? He stole the checkered flag. That doesn't mean he wants to go into the final race of this round with his back against the wall, but he's not in full-blown panic mode either. He'll enter Talladega comfortable.
Joey Logano
Joey Logano is another guy who is not receiving much hype.
For shame—he has only one win on the season, but he took home the checkered flag at the All-Star race in Charlotte before finishing ninth at the track one week later.
More importantly, Logano won this event last year while leading 227 laps, which capped off three victories in a row for him.
He recently told the media the importance of placing well in Charlotte, according to Paddock Talk:
"It’s definitely a race that everyone wants to win. I remember the first time I came to Charlotte to race. I was standing on pit road watching the cars go by and I remember thinking, ‘Holy moly, these guys are hauling the mail.’ This is a really fast race track and the track’s gotten a lot better in the time since it was paved … It’s important to run well here.
"
Logano hasn't been the most consistent driver to start this year's Chase. He placed second in Chicago, fell to 11th in New Hampshire and then rebounded last week in Dover, placing sixth.
But Logano knows how to make it happen in Charlotte, and if there is a track to get behind him as a potential winner, it's this one.
Martin Truex Jr.
From the looks of it, this Chase is Truex's to lose.
Few logical reasons to disagree exist. He took the checkered flag in Chicago to start the Chase off hot and then downright bullied the competition in Dover last weekend to win again. At the latter race, only five cars didn't fall a lap down once Truex pulled away.
He's been so dominant that he joked about receiving a bye, as USA Today's Jeff Gluck captured:
Don't let a little joke suggest Truex won't enter Charlotte gunning for his third win of the Chase.
Remember Truex's first win of the season? It came back in May at Charlotte, where he led a silly 392 of 400 laps. Few could touch him that day, and if he keeps his current form, something close to a repeat performance wouldn't come as much of a shocker.
Right now, Truex is the driver everyone pays attention to. He's earned his status as the runaway favorite, especially entering a track he has taken a liking to over the years.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
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