NASCAR Cup Series

Kentucky Up Next...The 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway is the next stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. Michael Annett will wheel his No. 46 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet this weekend, returning to a facility that provided him with a top-20 finish last season.

The driver of the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine joins the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup field at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday to test new rules designed to create less downforce and help produce more side-by-side competition. After an off day on Thursday, preparations for Saturday night’s race at the Sparta, Ky. track begin on Friday.

A late-race wreck in last weekend's Coke Zero 400 put Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Smithfield Ford team back in points. They now have a 24 point deficit to making The Chase. Knowing consistency is what got them this far this season, Almirola will look to get a Top-10 finish at Kentucky Speedway and try to work his way back into The Chase. Of course, a win would solve that problem, too, but the No. 43 team won't take any big risks to make that happen yet.

DAYTONA WIN: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Daytona International Speedway for the fourth time in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career last weekend, tying Tony Stewart for the second-most Cup wins at the track by an active driver. Teammate Jeff Gordon leads with six wins. Earnhardt’s career Cup win total is now at 25 points events. He is tied for 28th on the all-time wins list in his 16th season in the Sprint Cup Series. He now has 10 points-paying wins on restrictor-plate tracks, ranking him third behind Gordon (12) and his father Dale Earnhardt Sr. (11).

As Go Green Racing and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) head to the bluegrass state and Kentucky Speedway, it will mark many firsts. Saturday night's event will feature 27-year-old Will Kimmel behind the wheel of the No.32 Ford Fusion for owner Archie St.Hilaire. Furthermore, this will mark the Sellersburg, IN native's first career NSCS start. Lastly, this weekend's event will feature the new "Aero Package" that all NSCS teams will utilize in Saturday nights race.

Richard Petty Motorsports announced today, Speed Perks, Advance Auto Parts' customer loyalty program, will serve as the primary sponsor for Sam Hornish Jr. and the No. 9 Ford Fusion at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. Speed Perks offers loyal customers the opportunity to earn rebates and special incentives from their in-store purchases.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will unveil a new race package this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, where Ford registered its first victory a year ago with Brad Keselowski taking the checkered flag. Teams will take part in an extended practice session on Wednesday with the race scheduled for Saturday night.

Biffle’s thoughts on the new rules package for Kentucky: “I think it’s a bold move for NASCAR and it’s a statement saying we are listening to the drivers. They’re listening to what we think will create good competition, passing and kind of getting the cars sliding around a bit."

Reed has made two starts at Kentucky Speedway, both in his 2014 rookie season with Roush Fenway Racing. In the June 2014 race, Reed finished 17th after starting 15th and getting caught a lap down on pit road when the caution was displayed. In the September 2014 race, Reed finished 11th after starting 16th.

In seven starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Kentucky, Bayne recorded a best finish of 11th twice in the 2010 and 2011 events at the 1.5-mile oval.