- AdventHealth 400 headlines a busy NASCAR triple-header at Kansas Speedway.
- IndyCar returns to the iconic 11-turn California street circuit for a 90-lap battle.
- NASCAR faces high risk of rain on Friday in Kansas, while IndyCar expect clear skies.
Unlike previous weekends, this one brings a classic split for motorsports fans, capped with high-speed oval racing under ever-changing Midwest skies and precision street racing under the California sun.
While the NASCAR bandwagon rolls into Kansas Speedway for a packed double-header weekend, North America’s premier open-wheel championship, the IndyCar Series, is returning to the iconic Long Beach Street Circuit for its fifth event of the calendar.
On the stock car side, the ninth race of the Cup Series season heads to Kansas, a track that has quietly built a reputation as one of the sport’s most unpredictable venues. In contrast, out west, Long Beach presents a completely different challenge with tight, technical 11 turns and unforgiving chicanes.
With both championships gathering steam, here’s a complete look at the weekend schedule, including race timings, broadcast details, and everything to follow the action.
NASCAR Kansas weekend schedule detailed
The NASCAR weekend at “The City of Fountains” commences on Friday. ARCA Menards Series cars hit the track first with an open practice session in the morning schedule at 9.30 a.m. ET, followed by combined practice and qualifying later in the day at 5 p.m. ET.
By evening, attention shifts to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with practice and qualifying streamed on the CW App, starting at 7 p.m. ET. However, with temperatures in the 80s and an 80% chance of rain, the rain gods have cast a shadow over the horizon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Skip to the next day, conditions improve significantly on Saturday as the ARCA 100 gets underway early afternoon on FS1 (12:44 p.m. ET). As the day progresses, the Cup Series field takes to the track for their crucial practice and qualifying session at 4 p.m. ET, with Prime taking up the streaming rights.
Following this at 6.30 p.m. ET, the O’Reilly Series begins its CW exclusive prerace coverage before the green flag drops for the Kansas Lottery 300, just after 7 PM ET. As usual, the race itself is split into stages of 45, 45, and 110 laps, with teams managing a limited allocation of five tire sets across the event.
By Sunday, the spotlight falls on the main event: the AdventHealth 400. Coverage begins with NASCAR RaceDay on FOX at 1 p.m. ET, leading into the Cup Series race, which takes the green flag shortly after 2:15 p.m. ET.
Divided into stages of 80, 85, and 102 laps, Cup teams get nine sets of tires. As for the weather, cooler temperatures in the 60s and a minimal chance of rain provide ideal conditions, setting the stage for what has become a track known for late-race drama and daring passes.
Reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson won the Spring event last year. The previous year, he dominated the field with an exhilarating finish by the thinnest of margins (0.001 seconds) in the closest finish in Cup history after starting from the pole.
IndyCar Long Beach weekend schedule
Over in California, the IndyCar weekend at Long Beach follows a more streamlined format. Track action begins Friday evening at 6.05 p.m. with the opening practice session on FS1, giving teams their first feel for the tight street circuit.
Saturday sees one of the most critical sessions of the weekend, with a second practice airing on FS2 at 1.35 p.m. ET, followed by the qualifying sessions at 6.35 p.m. on FS1.
On highly anticipated race day, the Sunday schedule begins with a warm-up session earlier in the day, allowing teams a final opportunity to dial in their cars before the race. Coverage then shifts to FOX for prerace build-up, leading into the 90-lap main event just before 6 PM ET.
That said, unlike Kansas, the weather is unlikely to play any role here, with the NWS predicting stable conditions in the 70s expected throughout the weekend.
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood is the defending winner of the race as the points leader eyes extending his points lead with a third win at the 1.968-mile circuit.
