Racing is on the calendar for Friday and Saturday at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and officials are hoping the predicted rain subsides long enough to get the races in.
In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 is planned for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9.
For the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the Toyota Tundra 250 race is scheduled at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, at the Kansas Speedway.
“It’s going to be a busy week,” said Bridgette Jobe, executive director of the Kansas City, Kan., Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I think our biggest concern is the weather. Let’s keep the rain out of the forecast so they can keep the races in. Fans are arriving. Our hotels are full this weekend. It’s going to be a great weekend.”
Sprint Cup Series race
Among the NASCAR race drivers to compete in the Sprint Cup Series race will be Jeff Gordon, who has done well at Kansas Speedway over the years. His numbers include three wins here, along with 10 top five places in 18 starts.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is coming off a win last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. He is winless at Kansas Speedway through the years, but he has finished in the top 10 eight times in 17 starts.
Racing close to home on Saturday will be Clint Bowyer, Emporia, Kan.; Jamie McMurray, Joplin, Mo.; and Carl Edwards, Columbia, Mo. However, none of the regional favorites has won a Sprint Cup Series race at the Kansas Speedway previously.
Kevin Harvick is the leader in the standings and Martin Truex Jr. is in second place.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
In the Camping World Truck Series race Friday, two-time champion Matt Crafton will be one of the favorites. He has placed in the top five three times at the Kansas Speedway.
James Buescher won the truck series race at the Kansas Speedway in 2012, is currently in fifth place in the standings, and is expected to be another favorite.
Ryan Newman will return to truck racing at the Kansas Speedway, after a break of almost two years.
Jennifer Jo Cobb, a native of Kansas City, Kan., will return home to race on Friday night.
Cobb holds the record for most career starts by a female driver in the Camping World Truck Series. She is 17th in the standings this year and is the only female owner and driver in a NASCAR national series.
The Kansas Speedway is near I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kan.
For ticket information, visit www.kansasspeedway.com or call 866-460-7223.