This is the last chance for the drivers on the bubble to fight their way into the playoffs.
After Erik Jones' victory at Darlington last week, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer are fighting for what appears to be two spots at this weekend's Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This 2.5-mile track favors big horsepower and while these drivers might not appear to be at the top of the list when it comes to that, all of them have had some form of success at this venue.
MORE: Watch the Brickyard 400 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Johnson has four career wins and a third-place finish in 2016, Newman has a win and a third in 2017, Bowyer has never won but finishes in the top 10 about 40 percent of the time here (11 of 28 races) and Suarez earned a top 10 in his first race in the Cup Series at the track (2017 — seventh).
Bowyer has the leg up going into the weekend as he leads Suarez and Newman by eight points apiece and it would appear Johnson would have to win to get in as he sits 18 points back of the two tied for 16th.
If any of these drivers win, they're in but none has taken home a victory this season. Yet if it comes to the highest finish, Bowyer needs to make sure he finishes eight spots above Newman and Suarez and those two will be fighting hard for position.
What time does the Brickyard 400 start?
The Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard will take place Sunday, Sept. 8. Live coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET.
What channel is NASCAR's Brickyard 400 on?
The Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard will be broadcast nationally on NBC. The race also can be live-streamed on the NBC Sports App or by subscribing to fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
NASCAR at Indianapolis TV schedule, how to watch
Here's a daily schedule of events leading up to the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard.
(All times Eastern)
Friday, Sept. 6
Time | Event | Channel |
1:05 p.m. | Xfinty Series first practice (tape delay at 2 p.m.) | NBC Sports App |
3:05 p.m. | Xfinity Series final practice (tape delay at 4 p.m.) | NBC Sports App |
Saturday, Sept. 7
Time | Event | Channel |
11:05 a.m. | Cup Series first practice | NBCSN/NBC Sports App |
12:05 p.m. | Xfinity Series qualifying | NBCSN/NBC Sports App |
1:30 p.m. | Cup Series final practice | NBCSN/NBC Sports App |
3 p.m. | Xfinity Series Indiana 250 | NBCSN/NBC Sports App/PRN |
Sunday, September 8
Time | Event | Channel |
10:35 a.m. | Cup Series qualifying | NBCSN/NBC Sports App/PRN |
2 p.m. | Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard | NBC/NBC Sports App/PRN |
Brickyard 400 starting lineup
Below is the entry list for the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard.
Starting | Driver | Number |
TBD | Landon Cassill | 00 |
TBD | Kurt Busch | 1 |
TBD | Brad Keselowski | 2 |
TBD | Austin Dillon | 3 |
TBD | Kevin Harvick | 4 |
TBD | Ryan Newman | 6 |
TBD | Daniel Hemric | 8 |
TBD | Chase Elliott | 9 |
TBD | Aric Almirola | 10 |
TBD | Denny Hamlin | 11 |
TBD | Ryan Blaney | 12 |
TBD | Ty Dillon | 13 |
TBD | Clint Bowyer | 14 |
TBD | Ross Chastain | 15 |
TBD | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 17 |
TBD | Kyle Busch | 18 |
TBD | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 |
TBD | Erik Jones | 20 |
TBD | Paul Menard | 21 |
TBD | Joey Logano | 22 |
TBD | William Byron | 24 |
TBD | Ryan Sieg | 27 |
TBD | Corey Lajoie | 32 |
TBD | Michael McDowell | 34 |
TBD | Matt Tifft | 36 |
TBD | Chris Buescher | 37 |
TBD | David Ragan | 38 |
TBD | Daniel Suarez | 41 |
TBD | Kyle Larson | 42 |
TBD | Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. | 43 |
TBD | Ryan Preece | 47 |
TBD | Jimmie Johnson | 48 |
TBD | BJ McLeod | 51 |
TBD | Garrett Smithley | 52 |
TBD | Josh Bilicki | 53 |
TBD | JJ Yeley | 54 |
TBD | Reed Sorenson | 77 |
TBD | Alex Bowman | 88 |
TBD | Matt DiBenedetto | 95 |
TBD | Parker Kligerman | 96 |