NASCAR In Las Vegas: Start Time, TV Schedule, Starting Lineup And More

Good morning from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the Kobalt Tools 400 is a few hours away. Here’s a quick viewer’s guide if you’re planning on watching the NASCAR race today.

First of all, the race is scheduled to begin at 3:16 p.m. Eastern time. So if you want to avoid all the pre-race show stuff and just tune in for the race, the expected green-flag time is 3:16 (which is 12:16 p.m. local time).

The race will be televised on FOX, as are all Sprint Cup Series races through May. Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials announced a complete sellout on Saturday afternoon, which marks the 10th straight season the 1.5-mile venue has sold out.

Here are some other quick facts about the race:

– National anthem: Kristen Hertzenberg, who stars in the Vegas version of Phantom of the Opera

– Grand marshal: Gray Abercrombie, from race sponsor Lowe’s (which owns Kobalt Tools)

– Honorary starter: Dennis Knowles, from race sponsor Lowe’s (which owns Kobalt Tools)

– Last year’s winner: Jimmie Johnson

– Pole-sitter: Matt Kenseth (188.884 mph, track record)

– Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps around the 1.5-mile track)

And here’s the starting lineup for the race: