With the new Chase format putting Denny Hamlin and three others at risk of being dropped from contention after Sunday, third-place qualifier Hamlin is hoping to have the run of his life this Sunday at Dover International Speedway for the AAA 400 in what he told the Associated Press was "the most important race" of his career.
How to follow AAA 400 online, TV schedule, radio and more
Denny Hamlin and 12 others will try to catch up with pole winner Kevin Harvick for one of the 10 spots that will be remaining in the Chase following Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway.
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The race does have nearly unprecedented importance, as the revamped playoff system for NASCAR now requires four drivers to be excised from competition as the Chase enters what it calls the “Challenger” round. But some are taking it better -- or at least less dramatically -- than Hamlin is. As Carl Edwards, who qualified 18th, told AP, “I do understand the consequences of this race are higher than any of the other ones we’ve run this year, but that’s kind of fun.”
Joining in on the fun will be Kevin Harvick, who grabbed his seventh pole position of the year, and Kyle Busch, the only other member of the Chase to qualify higher than Hamlin. But, other than Brad Keselowski -- starting fourth -- and his Penske teammate Joey Logano (16th), who have both already qualified for the next leg with wins in the Chase’s first two races, all 14 of the remaining drivers are frantically trying to fill just 10 more of the 12 spots.
Outside of Harvick, Busch and Hamlin, those in prime (if not pole) positions to do so will be Jeff Gordon in sixth and Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson in eighth. Kasey Kahne (12th), Matt Kenseth (14th), Logano (16th), Carl Edwards (18th) and Ryan Newman (20th) will round out the top 20. Trailing behind the rest of the pack will be Aric Almirola (21st), Kurt Busch (22nd), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (25th), Greg Biffle (27th), and AJ Allmendinger (28th). Biffle, Kurt Busch and Almirola are the other three drivers who would be eliminated if the cutoff had been last week in New Hampshire.
Pre-race coverage begins at 1 p.m ET on NASCAR Countdown featuring Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace. Live race coverage will begin at 2 p.m. with Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree in the booth. The green flag is tentatively scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
In addition to the television coverage, viewers with a subscription to RaceView will be able to follow the race online. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90 will provide radio coverage.
AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway coverage (all times Eastern):
TV: ESPN -- 1 p.m.
Green flag: Approximately 2:15 p.m.
Online: NASCAR.com RaceView (subscription required)
Radio: Motor Racing Network -- SiriusXM channel 90
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