And then there were 8. But will these stellar drivers be able to maneuver the desert race track in Sin City? Las Vegas Motor Speedway presents 20-degree banking turns and a “bumpy” asphalt surface. The racetrack also causes high fall-off, so lap times will begin to drop as it takes on more rubber over the weekend. NASCAR’s Next Gen cars reach nearly 200 mph here, with clean air attaining utmost importance. So the South Point 400 presents a high-tension scenario for playoff drivers.

However, as drivers rack their brains about running the tri-oval, fans can immerse themselves in the Sin City experience. Nine of the 37 drivers in the field have been past winners, so the competition will be intense. Gearheads can take a load of that action via various facilities available for the race, whose information is provided below.

South Point 400: Details about NASCAR’s Round of 8 opener

This particular race debuted in 2018 when Brad Keselowski emerged as the winner. However, the NASCAR Cup Series’ first venture into Las Vegas was back in 1998, when Mark Martin captured the flag. Jimmie Johnson holds the record for most wins – 4. The 7-time Cup Series champion will be taking the wheel during the 2024 South Point 400, so do not miss this action! Diehard NASCAR fans can purchase tickets to the race on Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s official website. Prices range from $16 to $211, with a special $10 for children below 12 years of age. An educational ticket offer of $19 is available for students.

Practice and qualifying sessions will be held on Saturday. The 37 drivers will be split into two groups, with each group getting 20 minutes of free practice and then competing in two-round qualifying. The final action will take place on Sunday, October 20th at 2:30 p.m. ET. Prior to the Cup race, the NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be flagged off on October 19th at 7:00 p.m. ET. If you happen to be a couch potato, NASCAR has you covered. The practice qualifying will be televised live on the USA Network. The NBC Sports app will offer fans a live-streaming option for Sunday’s broadcast. Audio options include tuning into PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The entry list for the South Point 400 includes, as mentioned before, 37 drivers, including the 8 playoff contenders. They include 34 full-timers and 3 part-timers. The headliner in the latter group is Jimmie Johnson, attempting the eighth of nine starts this season. He will drive the Legacy Motor Club No. 84 Toyota, with a sponsorship from Dollar Tree. Then Shane van Gisbergen and Cody Ware will continue their part-time schedules for Kaulig Racing and Rick Ware Racing, respectively. However, the limelight will be on one time that seems to have an overwhelming advantage in Las Vegas.

It is Mr. Hendrick’s playground

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Granted, last weekend featured a heartbreak for the Hendrick Motorsports fold. After posting consistently good finishes in the postseason, Alex Bowman found his way out of the playoffs. A post-race weight inspection failed for the No. 48, and Bowman had to see Team Penske’s Joey Logano occupy his seat. Bowman will not enhance the likelihood of a Hendrick championship. However, this might increase the probability of having an unprecedented three title-eligible cars in the Nov. 10 season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Since the four-round playoff format’s debut in 2017, only twice have Cup teams advanced four cars to the Round of 8.

None of them have won a championship – Joe Gibbs Racing in 2016 and Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018. And Hendrick Motorsports’ case is stronger given its five wins, 10 top-fives, 15 top-10s, and 878 laps led since 2021. Kyle Larson, the playoff leader, owns three wins in Sin City. Last year’s South Point 400 catapulted him into the Championship 4 round. During the March Las Vegas race, Larson led 181 of 267 laps and fended off a hard-charging Tyler Reddick to win. His four runner-up finishes since 2017 paint a clear picture of victory for Yung Money.

Evidently, NASCAR’s Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is bound to be a thriller for racers and fans. With the Cup Series’ best team at the front, other teams will be hard-pressed to drive in their best form on Sunday.