The Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway brings a packed field and critical playoff stakes, with the second Round of 12 events set for Sunday afternoon. Thirty-seven cars have been entered for the 400-mile race, ensuring every team that filed an entry will take the green flag. With championship hopes hanging in the balance, the spotlight will be on the 12 remaining playoff drivers, led by recent New Hampshire winner Ryan Blaney, as they battle on the fast 1.5-mile oval.
Key Highlights
- Thirty-seven drivers entered for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.
- Race is the second of three events in the Round of 12.
- NY Racing fields the No. 44 Chevrolet with JJ Yeley behind the wheel.
- Ryan Blaney enters fresh off his New Hampshire victory for Team Penske.
- All 12 playoff contenders, including Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, are locked into Sunday’s lineup.
Full Entry List Details
Sunday’s field falls three short of the 40-car maximum, meaning no team will head home after qualifying. The race marks the 31st event of the 36-race NASCAR Cup Series season. All 12 championship-eligible drivers are present: Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney. These names represent the heart of the playoff fight and will shape the points picture heading into the final Round of 12 race.
NY Racing adds intrigue with a part-time entry. JJ Yeley will drive the No. 44 Chevrolet for the organization owned by Jay Cohen, making its 13th appearance this year after a best finish of 28th. The lineup also includes six open entries from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports: Noah Gragson, Bubba Wallace, Todd Gilliland, Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, and Tyler Reddick.
| Car | Driver |
| 1 | Ross Chastain (P) |
| 2 | Austin Cindric (P) |
| 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 5 | Kyle Larson (P) |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Justin Haley |
| 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 9 | Chase Elliott (P) |
| 10 | Ty Dillon |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 19 | Chase Briscoe (P) |
| 20 | Christopher Bell (P) |
| 21 | Josh Berry |
| 22 | Joey Logano (P) |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) |
| 24 | William Byron (P) |
| 34 | Todd Gilliland |
| 35 | Riley Herbst |
| 38 | Zane Smith |
| 41 | Cole Custer |
| 42 | |
| 43 | Erik Jones |
| 44* | JJ Yeley |
| 45* | Tyler Reddick (P) |
| 47 | |
| 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 51 | Cody Ware |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 60 | Ryan Preece |
| 71 | |
| 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 88 | |
| 99 | Daniel Suarez |
Spotlight on Blaney and the Playoff Contenders
Ryan Blaney arrives with momentum, piloting the No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske with sponsorship from Menards and Richmond Water Heaters. Last weekend’s victory at New Hampshire gave the 2023 Cup champion his third win of 2025 and an automatic berth in the Round of 8. Blaney’s strong form puts extra pressure on rivals like Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, who continue to chase critical playoff points.
The competition remains tight among the remaining contenders. William Byron, the regular-season champion, aims to rebound after a third-place finish last week. Joey Logano will look to convert his qualifying speed into a Kansas win after leading 147 laps at New Hampshire. Bubba Wallace, backed by the U.S. Air Force on his No. 23 Toyota, carries the hopes of 23XI Racing into his home track environment.
Teams and Sponsors Ready for Kansas
Kansas Speedway’s intermediate layout typically produces long green-flag runs and strategic pit battles, making team preparation vital. Hendrick Motorsports fields four cars with title ambitions: Larson in the No. 5, Elliott in the No. 9, Byron in the No. 24, and Alex Bowman in the No. 48. Joe Gibbs Racing counters with Hamlin, Bell, Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs, each backed by steady sponsorships from Sport Clips, Rheem, Bass Pro Shops, and SAIA LTL Freight. Trackhouse Racing enters Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, along with Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet.
Fan favorites fill out the roster, from veterans like Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch to rising names such as Carson Hocevar and Riley Herbst. With no cutline drama for qualifying, teams can focus solely on race setup and long-run speed.
News in Brief: Kansas Speedway Lineup: All 12 Playoff Contenders Locked In
Thirty-seven drivers will start Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, the second Round of 12 race in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. All 12 championship contenders, including Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin, are entered. JJ Yeley returns with NY Racing’s part-time No. 44 Chevrolet, joining open entries from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Coverage begins September 28 at 3:00 PM ET on USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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