My Guide to Kentucky Speedway’s Quaker State 400 weekend

A view of Kentucky Speedway during the June 1st Goodyear tire test

I’ve done this before, but I’ve never done this before. I’ve been to ten Brickyard 400 weekends, and that is the pinnacle of the year for me. It’s like Christmas for me, but as I’ve said, this year is like having two Christmases.

I’ve had all access pit passes for the past two years down at Kentucky Speedway for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. It’s a pretty big deal, but nothing like what will happen on Saturday night when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes to Kentucky for the first time.

Here’s a guide to some of the events this weekend, and what I suggest you take in. For Kentucky Speedway’s full schedule from their website, check this page: http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/fans/fan-guide.aspx

Wednesday

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice 4-5 p.m.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice 6-7 p.m.

Mark Martin driving through turn three during the Goodyear tire test that was closed to the public. Kentucky Speedway opened up a viewing area in turn three for the test. No word if they'll do the same for the Wednesday evening Truck practices.

Both of these practices are closed to the public. So, there’s not a whole lot you can do. The June 1st Goodyear tire test was also closed to the public but the Speedway opened up a section of grass outside the track’s offices in turn three. Maybe that’s the option for you to get your fill of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice.

Also on Wednesday, around 7 p.m., the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers will begin to arrive at Kentucky, according to a preliminary schedule I saw a week ago. If you want to see history, check out the hauler parade for the first-time in Kentucky Speedway’s history.

Thursday

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice 10:00 a.m.

This is the only chance for fans to see the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in action from the stands before the Thursday night race.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Testing 11:05 a.m.

History is made when one driver pulls out onto the pavement at Kentucky Speedway and turns the first practice lap for the Sprint Cup Series. Drivers like five-time defending Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Columbus, Ind. native Tony Stewart, Owensboro, Kentucky’s Michael Waltrip, and my personal favorite Mark Martin should all turn laps in this practice session.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying 3:05 p.m.

The trucks will turn laps one at a time to set the field for the UNOH 225. Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress, sits fourth in Truck Series points, and Parker Kilgerman, who won the 2009 ARCA race at Kentucky, is eighth in Truck Series points.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Testing 4:00 p.m.

After a break to break down the data from the morning practice session the big boys will be out on the track again. Jeff Burton said these testing sessions are important for the teams who have no data on the track. “Kentucky is a race that might help us get jump started because it’s going to be our first opportunity to sit down and analyze data, really sit down and understand what our car is doing and what I’m doing different as a driver, to really help us improve. I think it’s going to be very beneficial,” Burton said in a teleconference on Wednesday.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice 6:10 p.m.

Nationwide Series regulars like Aric Almirola and Elliott Sadler will practice against Cup Series drivers like Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne and three-time defending race winner Joey Logano, trying to dial their cars in to bring Logano’s dominance at Kentucky to a halt.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Introductions 7:35 p.m.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race "UNOH 225" 8:00 p.m.

Kentucky Speedway image

It’s the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series getting the weekend of speed at Kentucky started with the 150-lap, 225-mile UNOH 225, sponsored by the University of Northwestern Ohio. Johnny Sauter leads the Truck Series points, but lurking in third is Ron Hornaday, who won the 2009 Truck Series race at Kentucky.

Friday

NASCAR Nationwide Final Practice 9:00 a.m.

One last chance for the Nationwide Series guys and possibly gals (I have yet to see an entry list, but I believe Jennifer Jo Cobb will attempt to run—Danica is not, to my knowledge) to get their cars in tune for the Friday evening race. Look for Joey Logano and Kyle Busch to top the speed charts in this session.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice 11:30 a.m.

The third of four Sprint Cup Series practices. Somewhere in this two-day set of practice sessions, Sprint cup teams will be testing the new fuel-injection systems that NASCAR wants to use next season.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice 1:30 p.m.

Final practice, aka “Happy Hour” will be the final chance to see the Sprint Cup cars drive around the track in Sparta en masse before the Quaker State 400. By this time fans will be able to see who is handling well and which drivers are going to be the ones to watch come Saturday night.

Mark Martin will drive the No. 5 Quaker State Chevy at Kentucky (Photo from Kentucky Speedway)

NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying 3:40p.m.

Joey Logano has won three consecutive poles for the Nationwide Series race in Kentucky. It would surprise no one to see Logano’s No. 20 Toyota turn the fastest lap in this qualifying session.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying 5:10 p.m.

The record books will be written and rewritten all weekend. Who will ink his name as the first polesitter in Kentucky Speedway’s Sprint Cup history? One by one the Cup guys will head out onto the track to decide who gets the inaugural pole for the inaugural Quaker State 400.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Introduction 7:00 p.m.

Image from Kentucky Speedway

NASCAR Nationwide Series Race "Feed The Children 300" 8:00 p.m.

Can anyone stop Joey Logano at Kentucky in the Nationwide Series? In the 200-lap Feed the Children 300, we will all find out. If I was a betting man, though, it would be tough to bet against the youngster, who, by the way, won on Friday night in Daytona.

And could more history be made at Kentucky in the Nationwide Series? If Mark Martin wins in the No. 32 Turner Motorsports car he will extend his Series career wins lead over Kyle Busch. It will also be Martin’s 50th win in the Series formerly known as the Busch Series. If Busch wins, he’ll tie Martin for the most wins all time in the second-tier Series.

Saturday

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Introductions 7:00 p.m.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race "Quaker State 400" 8:00 p.m.

This is it. “History Starts Now,” has been the campaign for Kentucky Speedway, and history comes to fruition on Saturday night.

The Quaker State 400 image (from Kentucky Speedway)

“When 43 cars start up and every one of them has over 800 horsepower and they’re going around there reaching top speeds of over 200 miles per hour, it’s just something you can’t describe unless you’ve seen it, heard it and felt it,” said Jeff Burton last week.

Let’s get it started.

“There’s only one first race and you can only win it once,” said Tony Stewart.

Who will win and how will it affect the Chase standings? Will Joey Logano’s Nationwide success carry over to the Cup Series? We’ll find out in six days.

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Remember, if you’re going to Kentucky, this is just a short preview. Also, if you’re coming on down to Kentucky, let me know! Tweet at me (@adamniemeyer) or leave me a comment here (which in turn e-mails me). I’d love to meet up with some readers and get their thoughts on the first-ever Cup Series weekend at Kentucky.

Markaholics reading this, feel free to PM me on the message board, or leave a comment in the threads I have created.