NASCAR Cup Series: 2018 Gander Outdoors 400 (Dover) entry list

The Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway is the first race of the second round of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Here is the entry list for this race.

For the second time in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, the sport’s drivers are set to contest the Gander Outdoors 400. However, this Gander Outdoors 400 is set to take place at Dover International Speedway as opposed to Pocono Raceway, which is where the first one took place in late July.

As opposed to being the third race of the Cup Series playoffs like it had been in each of the last seven seasons and the final race of the first round of the playoffs since the new playoff format was introduced back in the 2014 season, this 400-lap playoff race at the four-turn, 1.0-mile (1.609-kilometer) Dover International Speedway oval in Dover, Delaware is set to kick of the second round of the 10-race playoffs, the round of 12.

A total of 39 drivers are on the entry list for this race, of whom 38 have been named and 37 have been confirmed. All 12 round of 12 drivers are set to compete in this race as are the 17 other drivers who have competed in every race so far this season.

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Of the other 10 drivers who are set to compete in the race, only nine are part-time drivers. Kasey Kahne is the driver who isn’t, as he is considered a full-time driver despite the fact that he has missed the last four races due to dehydration and heat exhaustion issues. He has not officially been cleared to return to competition this weekend, but he is set to take part in a test this week to determine whether or not he will be ready to do so.

If Kahne does not race, Regan Smith will likely drive the #95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet in his place. Smith has replaced Kahne in each of the last four races. The one driver who has not yet been confirmed aside of Kahne is the driver of the #52 Rick Ware Racing Ford.

Assuming that 39 drivers compete in the race, this driver total for this race will be the lowest since only 37 drivers competed in the race at Watkins Glen International, which took place on Sunday, August 5. The last seven races have all featured full fields of 40 drivers.

Here is a list of the nine part-time drivers who are set to compete alongside the 12 round of 12 drivers and 18 other full-time drivers in the Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, October 7.

NOTE: The one part-time car without a confirmed driver for the race are also featured on this list.

NBC Sports Network is set to broadcast the Gander Outdoors 400 live from Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 7, so be sure not to miss it. After this race, just six races will remain on the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule.