Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet: Full 2025 Cup Series Entry List

The tension is electric. You can feel it in the air, a low hum of anticipation that settles over the heartland like a heavy Kansas sky before a storm. This isn’t just another Cup Series race weekend. This is playoff time, and it’s down to the wire. Every second counts, and every turn could mean the difference between winning and losing.

The NASCAR Cup Series is thundering back to Kansas Speedway, and the stakes have never been higher. This is where dreams are either turbocharged or sent spinning into the wall. As we gear up for the Hollywood Casino 400, the second race in the Round of 12, every single point is a treasure, and every position on the track is a battleground.

The 1.5-mile intermediate track is a beast in its own right, a place that demands both raw speed and a driver’s cunning. Get it right, and you’re one step closer to glory. Get it wrong, and you’re staring down the barrel of Cup Series elimination. It’s a pressure cooker, and we’re about to see who can handle the heat.

Analyzing the Kansas Speedway Cup Series Entry List

Looking at this Cup Series entry list, you see more than just names and numbers. You see stories. You see rivalries simmering and alliances being tested. This is a field packed with talent, from grizzled veterans who’ve seen it all to young guns eager to make their mark. The drama is baked right into the lineup.

Remember back in May? Kyle Larson put on an absolute clinic here, leading a staggering 221 laps and making that No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy look like it was on rails. He dominated, plain and simple. Now, he’s in a very good spot in the Cup Series playoff standings, with a comfortable 41-point cushion above the cutline. But in NASCAR, “comfortable” is a dangerous word. Complacency can be a killer, and Larson knows he can’t lift for a second.

The Fight for Survival: Drivers on the Bubble

Then you look at the other side of the Cup Series playoff bubble, and that’s where the real desperation kicks in. This is where hearts are broken. Ross Chastain, just 12 points out, is known for his aggressive, no-holds-barred driving. You can bet he’s going to be pushing that Kubota-sponsored Trackhouse machine to its absolute limit. He’s not afraid to trade some paint to get where he needs to be, and Kansas might just be the place for it.

And what about Austin Cindric? He’s 19 points back, a tough spot for the Team Penske driver. He needs a clean race, a strong finish, maybe even a little luck to climb back into contention. The pressure on that young man’s shoulders must be immense. Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in even deeper holes, sitting 23 and 27 points below the cutline, respectively. For them, it’s practically a must-win situation. They have to throw caution to the wind and go for broke.

Expect to see some bold strategies and daring moves from the 23XI Racing camp. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Wallace, in that iconic No. 23, will be fighting with every ounce of his being to keep his championship hopes alive. The raw emotion of that battle is what makes this sport so incredible, particularly in the Cup Series.

Noteworthy Additions to the Entry List

Beyond the Cup Series playoff drama, the complete entry list has some interesting storylines. It’s great to see J.J. Yeley back in the No. 44 for NY Racing Team. He’s a true journeyman of the sport, a guy who races with pure heart. This will be his seventh start of the season, and you know he’ll give it everything he’s got.

The Cup Series field is deep. You’ve got former champions like Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, and Brad Keselowski, all of whom know what it takes to win on a day like this. You have current stars like Ryan Blaney and William Byron, both hungry and capable of stealing the show. And don’t ever count out Denny Hamlin, one of the savviest drivers on the track, who always seems to find a way to be there at the end.

Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet

Cup Series: Entry List

• 1. Ross Chastain, No.1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 3. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 6. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 7. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 9. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
• 10. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 12. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 13. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 14. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 15. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 16. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 17. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 18. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 19. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 20. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 21. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 22. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 23. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 24. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 25. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 26. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 27. J.J. Yeley (i), No. 44 (NY Racing Team)
• 28. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 30. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 31. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 32. Ty Gibbs, No. 45 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 33. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 34. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 35. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 36. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing)
• 37. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)

Expectations for The Kansas Playoff Race

The Cup Series entry list for the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet is more than just a list of drivers. It’s a cast of characters in a high-speed drama unfolding over 400 miles of asphalt. Who will rise to the occasion? Who will falter under the immense pressure? We’re about to find out. The engines will roar, the green flag will drop, and for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, nothing else will matter. This is NASCAR playoff racing at its finest.