NASCAR Dover 2017 live stream: Start time, TV schedule, and how to watch Delaware 400 online

NASCAR heads to Dover International Speedway on Sunday for the Apache Warrior 400 and the first elimination race of the Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs. The third race of this postseason will air on NBCSN beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET, with the green flag waving at 2:15 p.m.

The four lowest-ranked drivers in the 16-driver playoff field without a playoff win will be eliminated following Sunday’s race. The remaining 12 title-eligible drivers will advance to the second round, which begins next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski have already solidified their spots into the second round. Truex won the playoff opener Sept. 17 at Chicagoland Speedway, while Busch won last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to earn automatic advancement to Round 2. Larson and Keselowski are moving on because of their respective points accumulation.

Austin Dillon is tied with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the 12th and final transfer position entering Sunday’s elimination race, but he would lose the tiebreaker as Stenhouse has the best in-round finish between the two with a 15th at New Hampshire. Dillon’s best finish is 16th at Chicagoland.

Also below the cut line is Ryan Newman (-1 point behind Stenhouse and Dillon), Kurt Busch (-17) and Kasey Kahne (-21). Although both Busch and Kahne could theatrically based on points, because of the deficits each is facing a virtual must-win situation Sunday if they want to advance.

Championship co-favorites Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch are not letting up this weekend despite each being secured a spot in the next round:

Amidst a time when nerves can be frayed and any mistake carries potentially negative championship ramifications, Truex and Busch get a welcome one-week reprieve. Regardless of what occurs in the Apache Warrior 400 (2:15 p.m. ET, NBCSN), both know they’ll be among the 12 title-eligible drivers moving on to the second round.

But make no mistake, this isn’t some kind of throwaway weekend.

As opposed to years past when stage wins and accompanying bonus points weren’t available, Truex and Busch don’t lack for incentive to race hard on Sunday with an overall win or any stage win will give them additional points to add their respective tallies in the next round. And those points are a boon in aiding their march to the four-driver championship finale Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Qualifying saw Truex and Busch post the fastest two speeds, with Kyle Larson third, Matt Kenseth fourth and rookie Daniel Suarez fifth:

“We’ve done a good job of just staying focused and getting through all that stuff and continuing to come to the race track and perform, because you never know when it’s going to end or when things could change,” Truex said. “So just try to take advantage of the opportunities right now and it’s certainly been a lot of fun. But, the more you win, the more success you have, the more you want it.”

Kevin Harvick is in excellent position to advance to the next round, while Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch essentially needs a win Sunday to avoid an early playoff elimination:

The moment Kurt Busch slammed into the prone car of Kevin Harvick, Busch knew exactly the impact the collision had on his title hopes. He went from being well-positioned to continue on in the playoffs to not only on the wrong side of the cut line, but in a points deficit difficult to overcome with just a single race remaining in the first round.

Harvick had spun after contact with Austin Dillon during last Sunday’s Monster Energy Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with his tire smoke virtually blinding those behind. So by the time Busch saw Harvick, it was too late. Busch couldn’t take evasive action and barreled into the front right of Harvick’s No. 4 Ford.

The contact was significant enough to end the race for the Stewart-Haas Racing teammates. However, the big picture ramifications for each were dramatically different.

Considering how dominant Truex and Kyle Busch have been through the first two playoff races -- they’ve combined to lead 81 percent of the laps -- it’s hard to think that superiority won’t carry into Dover, a venue both excel at. Truex won this race a year ago, while Busch is a two-time winner at the Delaware track. And not surprisingly, both qualified well on Friday with Truex earning his second pole of the season and Busch posting the second-fastest speed.