NASCAR Cup Series

Welcome to the Eeyore edition of the Hot 20. Last week, it was Daytona. That was the Happy Snoopy Dance version. This Saturday night, it is Kentucky. My level of excitement is slightly subdued.

The  Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series all travel to Kentucky Speedway this week. The on-track activity begins Wednesday with Truck Series Practice. Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

Michael McDowell and Leavine Family Racing (LFR) are heading to Kentucky Speedway for the first time as a team, fresh off their best finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) at Daytona International Speedway.

Roush Fenway Racing heads to the home of the Louisville Slugger this weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) hits the Kentucky Speedway for some Saturday night racing. A Roush Fenway Ford has earned three victories at the 1.5-mile oval across NASCAR’s three major touring series.

Bayne makes his third career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) start at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night. Bayne’s best finish at the 1.5-mile oval is 11th in this event last season.

Daytona Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 24th in Saturday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota after being slammed in the side by another car, spinning through the infield grass with two laps to go in the race won by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. has received a 2017 ESPY nomination in the Best Driver category. The Furniture Row Racing Toyota driver has won five NASCAR Cup Series races since September and is a current contender for the 2017 championship.

Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. is hot off his first Top-15 finish last weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Filling in for the injured Aric Almirola, Wallace will make his fourth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend in the No. 43 Smithfield Ford. Kentucky Speedway, newly repaved, should garner positive results for the rookie who has scored top finishes in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series.

“The track will take some time to get better, even with what they did with the pavement to try to make it age quicker last year. The track was very slick and just had one groove, which made passing a challenge, but that should improve with time. We also had a super conservative tire and I think we need the tires to wear out before the fuel runs out. I’m looking forward to getting back there and to going to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I’m excited for some of my guys to be able to see the hospital for the first time.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. on racing at Kentucky

The two-time XFINITY champion and last week’s Daytona winner has four career MENCS starts at Kentucky with an average starting position of 18.0 and average finishing position of 23.2.