JR Motorsports teammates Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier have clear paths to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
For the other 10 drivers in the postseason field, it’s a free-for-all entering Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway (4 p.m. ET on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Denny Hamlin won the Cup race at the World Wide Technology Raceway. Joey Logano of Middletown, CT finished fifth with Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT placing 13th.
Conner Zilisch won the Xfinity event. Anthony Alfredo of Ridgewood, CT came in 13th, and Thomas Annunziata of NJ ended up 20th.
MADISON, Ill. — Denny Hamlin spent much of his post-race press conference relishing the freedom he earned with Sunday’s victory in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
With his ticket already punched for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12, Hamlin can race with abandon next Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, while others are scrambling to keep their title hopes alive.
MADISON, Ill.—In a race that featured a strange brew of divergent strategies, pole winner Denny Hamlin claimed his series-best fifth victory of the season and advanced to the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Despite the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth at the performance of Hendrick Motorsports at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Larson actually helped himself in the Playoff-opening Cook Out Southern 500.
While the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are in full swing at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff field won’t be solidified until after Saturday night’s Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at the 1.25-mile track (7:30 p.m. on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 3, 2025 – The NASCAR Cup Series Round of 16 Playoffs continue this Sunday, Sept. 7, with the Enjoy Illinois 300 from World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, while the SuperMotocross World Championship begins this Saturday, Sept. 6, with Round 1 from zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C., at 2:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Enjoy Illinois 300
The Place: World Wide Technology Raceway
Track Length: 1.25 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, September 7
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $9,797,935
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 300 miles (240 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 140), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 240)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: The Nu Way 200 sauced by Blues Hog BBQ
The Place: World Wide Technology Raceway
Track Length: 1.25 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, September 6
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,651,939
TV: CW, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 200 miles (160 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 160)
The Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setup that awaits NASCAR Cup Series teams at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) this weekend is new to the Illinois track but already familiar to teams, having debuted at Iowa Speedway a month ago.
These new left and right side tires were initially developed with Iowa’s fast cornering speeds in mind and are also the product of a June tire test at WWTR, where drivers Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Larson tested them.
