Venue: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 N Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada (approx. 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip in Clark County).
Date & Time: Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Green flag scheduled for approximately 2:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 p.m. ET (some sources note ~5:15–5:30 p.m. ET green).
Gates open ~10:00 a.m. PT.
Broadcast on USA Network (with HBO Max in-car cameras); radio on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Race Distance: 267 laps / 400.5 miles on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) asphalt intermediate oval.
Stages: Stage 1 ends Lap 80; Stage 2 ends Lap 165; Final Stage runs to Lap 267 (102-lap final stage).
Series Context: Race 31 of 36 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and Race 5 of 10 in the Chase (playoffs). Under the 2026 format, 16 drivers compete throughout the 10-race Chase with no mid-round eliminations; a win awards significant points (including stage and bonus opportunities). Purse is listed around $11.2 million.
Track Details
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile D-shaped/tri-oval asphalt intermediate track.
Banking: 20 degrees in Turns 1–2 and Turns 3–4; 9 degrees on the frontstretch and backstretch.
Straightaways: Frontstretch approximately 2,275 feet; backstretch approximately 1,572 feet.
Characteristics: High-speed intermediate that rewards long-run speed, tire management, and clean air. Multiple groove options exist, especially as the race progresses and temperatures change. Side-by-side racing is common, with aero push and track position critical in the final stage. The Neon Garage and Fan Zone enhance the fan experience.
Weather Conditions
Forecast for race day (as of early October data): Sunny and hot. High temperatures expected in the mid-to-upper 90s°F (around 95–98°F / ~35–37°C), with lows near 73°F overnight. Northeast or light winds (around 5–10 mph). Near-zero chance of precipitation. The race starts in full afternoon heat and transitions toward evening cooler conditions, which can affect tire wear, grip, and setup choices as ambient and track temperatures drop.
Chase Standings Snapshot
After Kyle Larson’s dominant win at Kansas (Hollywood Casino 400), approximate top standings:
Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet) – 2,282 points
Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota) – 26 points back
Christopher Bell (JGR No. 20 Toyota) – ~50 points back
Joey Logano (Team Penske No. 22 Ford) – ~67 points back
Followed by Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Bubba Wallace, and others among the 16 Chase drivers. Larson has strong recent form (including max points at Kansas); Hamlin remains the closest challenger with excellent intermediate-track consistency.
Key Driver Matchups & Recent Forms
Denny Hamlin vs. Kyle Larson: The clearest headliner. Hamlin has won the last two Cup races at Las Vegas (2025 South Point 400 and 2026 spring Pennzoil 400) and brings elite 1.5-mile form (strong average finishes and top-five streaks on intermediates). Larson, the points leader and three-time Las Vegas winner, just dominated Kansas (led ~235 laps, swept stages). A Hamlin win would make him only the second driver (after Jimmie Johnson) to win three consecutive Cup races at the track.
Christopher Bell & Joe Gibbs Racing: Bell is consistent at the track and sits third in points. JGR’s depth (Hamlin, Bell, Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe) is a major factor.
Hendrick Motorsports: Larson leads the charge; William Byron and Chase Elliott also bring speed potential.
Team Penske: Joey Logano (four-time Las Vegas winner overall) and Ryan Blaney remain threats for wins and stage points. Austin Cindric showed strong recent form (runner-up at Kansas).
Others to watch: Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, and veterans like Brad Keselowski (multiple Las Vegas wins historically). The full field includes 36 chartered entries.
Hamlin enters with back-to-back Las Vegas wins and strong intermediate momentum. Larson carries championship-leading form and recent dominance. Intermediate specialists and teams with strong long-run speed/tire management should thrive.
Race History at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The track has hosted Cup races since 1998 (spring Pennzoil 400 and fall South Point 400 since 2018). Active multi-time winners include Joey Logano (4), Denny Hamlin (3, including recent consecutive), Kyle Larson (3), and Brad Keselowski (3). Recent fall winners: Hamlin (2025), Logano (2024), Larson (2023). The track produces competitive racing with frequent lead changes and strategy-driven finishes. Second starting position has historically been strong; wins from deeper in the field are possible but less common.
Betting Trends
Trends favoring favorites: Hamlin’s recent dominance at the track and intermediate consistency; Larson’s points lead and Kansas form. Intermediate tracks often reward the strongest cars rather than pure underdogs. Stage points and a win carry high value in the Chase format. Heat and temperature drop late in the race can introduce strategy variance (tire wear, fuel, adjustments).
DRIVER ODDS
Kyle Larson + 350
Denny Hamlin + 400
Christopher Bell + 550
Chase Briscoe + 800
Tyler Reddick + 900
William Byron + 1000
Ryan Blaney + 1000
Ty Gibbs + 1400
Joey Logano + 1400
Carson Hocevar + 1500
Chase Elliott + 2000
Bubba Wallace + 2000
Austin Cindric + 3000
Ross Chastain + 4000
Chris Buescher + 4000
Brad Keselowski + 4000
Josh Berry + 6000
Daniel Suarez + 6000
Alex Bowman + 6000
Ryan Preece + 6500
Shane Van Gisbergen + 15000
Zane Smith + 15000
Erik Jones + 20000
Riley Herbst + 25000
Michael McDowell + 25000
Connor Zilisch + 25000
Austin Dillon + 25000
Austin Hill + 30000
AJ Allmendinger + 30000
Noah Gragson + 35000
John Hunter Nemechek + 35000
Todd Gilliland + 50000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 50000
Cole Custer + 70000
Ty Dillon + 100000
Cody Ware + 100000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, October 3, 2026
