On Sunday, World Extensive Know-how Raceway at Gateway will play host to the second race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
The 1.25-mile egg-shaped monitor presents many challenges to drivers, and for the 16 drivers chasing a championship, WWTR is the second race within the Spherical of 16.
With the Sept. 13 race at Bristol serving because the elimination race for the primary spherical of the playoffs, a very good displaying at WWTR is essential for each playoff driver within the subject — particularly these near the reduce line.
Listed below are the 4 playoff drivers below probably the most stress going into Sunday’s Take pleasure in Illinois 300 (USA Community, 3 p.m. ET).
Shane van Gisbergen | No. 88 Chevrolet | Trackhouse Racing
In case you blinked, you will have missed van Gisbergen’s 16-point benefit earlier than the Southern 500 disappearing into skinny air. After a disastrous evening at Darlington — the monitor van Gisbergen was most confident about within the Spherical of 16 — his first NASCAR race at WWTR in any division will start with a three-point benefit to the reduce line.
Studying ovals on the fly is tough sufficient, however having to study a brand new monitor in a essential postseason race is de facto tough. For van Gisbergen to have any probability of advancing to the Spherical of 12, nonetheless, he should summon some magic Sunday.
Joey Logano | No. 22 Ford | Staff Penske
Logano enters Sunday’s race in a scenario reverse of van Gisbergen’s. The defending sequence champion is three factors beneath the playoff reduce line going into the weekend, however there is no higher monitor than Gateway for Logano to race.
Logano is below stress for a special purpose than van Gisbergen: He is anticipated to carry out nicely Sunday, and if he would not, he could miss his greatest probability to advance to the Spherical of 12.
