This weekend, the NASCAR Kansas TV schedule brings fans a packed lineup of playoff racing as the season pushes towards its climax at Kansas Speedway. With critical races set across multiple series and key events unfolding at tracks from Kansas to California and Japan, teams and viewers are gearing up for a high-stakes motorsports weekend.
Key Weekend Racing Events in the NASCAR Kansas TV Schedule
NASCAR fans can expect a dynamic weekend, with Kansas Speedway hosting the pivotal playoff races and a comprehensive TV schedule to ensure fans catch all the action. The ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 is set to open the weekend on Friday evening at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1. Saturday’s events see the NASCAR Xfinity Series returning for practice and qualifying sessions starting at 10:30 a.m. ET and 11:35 a.m. ET, respectively, both available through The CW App. Saturday also features NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying at 1 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. ET on TruTV and HBO Max.
The climax of Saturday’s schedule is the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300, with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET on The CW. Meanwhile, the ARCA Menards Series West moves west to California for the Madera 150 at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FLORacing. Sunday’s headline event is the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400, starting at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, with pre-race coverage kicking off at 2:30 p.m. ET.
This wide coverage ensures that whether fans are following playoff drama or tracking support series, every hour offers compelling content. The event draws in multiple key organizations such as the ARCA Menards Series, teams from the Xfinity and Cup Series, and even a highlight visit from the FIA World Endurance Championship in Japan, making this a truly global racing weekend.
Kansas Speedway Readies for the Second Playoff Stop
This weekend’s visit to Kansas Speedway marks the second trip this year for the NASCAR Cup Series, placing even more importance on the event as the playoffs intensify. The Hollywood Casino 400 serves as the fifth playoff race and the second contest in the Round of 12, with Cup teams preparing to hit the garage by Friday afternoon.
Officially, practice for Cup teams is on the schedule for 1 p.m. ET Saturday with live coverage, followed directly by qualifying at 2:10 p.m. ET. All eyes will be on teams as they lock in starting positions, with the race itself commencing Sunday at 3 p.m. ET following pre-race programming.
Kansas Speedway has a long reputation for exciting fall racing, and with the playoff format in full swing, anticipation is high among fans and key figures such as Jeff Gluck and Phil Allaway, both well-known in racing media circles.
Detailed Entry Lists and Schedule for Key Races
The NASCAR Xfinity Series is back for its own playoff battle, providing primary support to the Cup Series action in Kansas. After a brief pause in action, the Xfinity teams are set to participate solely on Saturday, with their on-track time starting with a practice session at 10:30 a.m. ET, streamed live via The CW App. Qualifying follows at 11:35 a.m. ET, with select CW affiliates also carrying live coverage. The feature race, the Kansas Lottery 300, begins at 4 p.m. ET; the green flag is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET.
Supplementing the main series are the ARCA Menards Series teams, who will be running the penultimate race of their season as part of the Kansas event. This series continues its established Cup weekend routine: a single-day program with practice at 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, followed by qualifying after a short break. As in previous rounds, neither of these sessions will be televised, but race coverage for the Reese’s 150 begins at 8 p.m. ET Friday on FS1, with the green flag at 8:14 p.m. ET.
Out on the West Coast, ARCA Menards Series West teams will take to Madera Speedway in California. After arrival and an initial open practice session on Friday night, official practice is at 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday, leading into qualifying at 7:30 p.m. ET. These sessions will not be aired, but the Madera 150 goes live at 10:15 p.m. ET Saturday on FLORacing, with racing set to start at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Kansas Speedway’s Weather: History and Weekend Outlook
Weather interruptions have been a rare occurrence for NASCAR Cup races at Kansas Speedway, a noteworthy record given the track’s 25-year tenure on the series calendar. Only once in history has a Cup race been cut short — the 2007 LifeLock 400, where early rain and darkness brought the event down to 210 laps. This concern was eliminated in the following years when the track management installed lights, mitigating future rain-induced delays.
As for this weekend, forecasters are predicting largely favorable conditions: temperatures peaking around 85 degrees, consistently sunny skies, and a minimal chance of rain, with slight humidity. This should offer teams and fans alike an ideal environment for racing, promising uninterrupted competition.
How Recent TV Ratings Impact the Weekend
NASCAR has faced recent challenges with television ratings. The recent playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway saw low viewership, recording a .70 rating and 1.290 million viewers on USA Network, which is a significant drop—about 30% lower than last year’s equivalent event. Factors contributing to this decline include head-to-head broadcasts competing with other major programming, notably a memorial service for Charlie Kirk, which saw substantial viewership on Fox News.
“I saw one report that said Fox News alone averaged 5.2 million viewers during the Charlie Kirk memorial service, so I would certainly think that had some impact on NASCAR’s viewership for New Hampshire. https://t.co/VlRhByZcej”
— Jeff Gluck, Reporter
With these figures in mind, network and NASCAR leaders will be closely watching this weekend’s numbers to assess fan engagement with the Kansas events. There is still no official update on the TV audience for Saturday’s Team EJP 175 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The Broader Significance and What’s Next
This weekend’s action in Kansas is a crucial chapter in the NASCAR playoffs, where every result tightens or broadens the points battles for teams and drivers. With robust television coverage and near-flawless weather forecasts, the stage is set for memorable showdowns and heightened interest from viewers nationwide. As attention shifts to future playoff rounds, the lessons and outcomes from this weekend will likely shape strategies for both competitors and broadcasters, underscoring the importance of every race as the season rushes to its conclusion.
The NASCAR Kansas TV Schedule not only keeps fans informed but also connects major motorsports entities, including racers and broadcasters such as Jeff Gluck and Phil Allaway, establishing Kansas Speedway as a focal point for high-stakes competition and fan excitement this fall.
I saw one report that said Fox News alone averaged 5.2 million viewers during the Charlie Kirk memorial service, so I would certainly think that had some impact on NASCAR’s viewership for New Hampshire. https://t.co/VlRhByZcej
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 24, 2025
