The Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR race will take place on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. As the 31st race of the NASCAR Cup Series season and the fifth race in the playoffs, this event will feature the Next Gen car competing on the 1.5-mile oval track, with coverage airing on NBC Sports and USA Network starting at 3 p.m. ET.
Details of the 2025 Hollywood Casino 400 Race
The Hollywood Casino 400 marks the second event in the Round of 12 for the NASCAR playoffs. The race spans 267 laps across the Kansas Speedway, where 37 drivers will battle through 400.5 miles. The race is divided into three stages: the first stage ends after 80 laps, the second stage also covers 80 laps, and the final stage consists of 107 laps. This will be the eighth time that the Next Gen car appears at Kansas, a track renowned for its challenging progressive banking — with 17 to 20 degrees through the turns, 9 to 11 degrees on the frontstretch, and 5 degrees on the backstretch.
Kansas Speedway hosted its inaugural Hollywood Casino 400 in 2001, where Jeff Gordon claimed the first victory. Now entering the 25th annual running of this event, the 2025 race includes all full-time Cup Series drivers except for JJ Yeley of the #44 NY Racing Team, who enters as an open driver this weekend.
Schedule for the NASCAR Playoff Weekend at Kansas Speedway
The action begins on Friday, September 26, leading into a busy race weekend packed with sessions for multiple series. Below is the full schedule for the weekend:
Friday, September 26, 2025
4:30 p.m. ET – ARCA Menards Series practice
5:30 p.m. ET – ARCA Menards Series qualifying
8:00 p.m. ET – ARCA Reese’s 150 race
Saturday, September 27, 2025
10:30 a.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series practice
11:35 a.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying
1:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series practice
2:10 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series qualifying to set the race lineup
4:00 p.m. ET – Kansas Lottery 300 (Xfinity Series race)
Sunday, September 28, 2025
3:00 p.m. ET – Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET (NASCAR Cup Series)
Fans can experience an intense weekend of racing, featuring both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series at Kansas Speedway from September 26 through 28, showcasing top-tier motorsport competition as the playoffs advance.
Ross Chastain Defends Title Amidst High Stakes
Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain enters the event as the defending champion, having won last year’s fall race at Kansas Speedway in a dramatic finish. With the pressure mounting as the playoffs continue, Chastain aims to repeat his success on the demanding Kansas oval.
The competition also involves key drivers such as Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and others from Hendrick Motorsports, all in pursuit of crucial points to advance further into the playoff rounds. This dynamic makes the Hollywood Casino 400 a pivotal race that could shape the championship landscape.
Significance of the Hollywood Casino 400 in the NASCAR Playoffs
The Hollywood Casino 400 serves as a critical battleground in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff structure. As the second race in the Round of 12, performances here carry significant implications for drivers’ championship hopes. The challenging track layout and the evolving capabilities of the Next Gen car add layers of complexity, increasing uncertainty and intensity among competitors.
With the mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents on the grid, the event could influence which drivers will advance to the next playoff rounds. Moreover, with comprehensive broadcast coverage and a stacked weekend of racing events, the Hollywood Casino 400 holds a prominent place in the 2025 NASCAR season calendar.
“Ross Chastain will look to reclaim his title this weekend.” – Yash Soni, Journalist
“Fans can catch the adrenaline-fueled NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series weekend at Kansas Speedway from September 26 to 28.” – Yash Soni, Journalist
Kansas
ETFri
4:30-ARCA p&q
8-FS1-ARCA 100Sat
10:30-CW App-Xfin p&q
1-TruTv-Cup p&q
3:30-CW-Prerace
4-CW-Xfin 45-45-110Sun
2:30-USA-Prerace
3-USA-Cup 80-85-102— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 22, 2025
