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AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Riley Herbst, driver of the #35 Monster Energy Toyota, Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Fry's/Artesano/Kraft Ford, Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Wendy's Chevrolet, and AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will run with 37 cars this weekend at Kansas Speedway, falling short of the standard 38-car grid. Motorsports journalist Joseph Srigley shared the preliminary entry list on April 13 for the Kansas Lottery 300. The number confirms that every entered car will make the race, with no teams sent home after qualifying.

The event marks the third time in the post-COVID era that the series has failed to reach a full field. Despite the smaller grid, the race still includes experienced drivers, full-time contenders, and select one-off entries.

The Kansas weekend remains a key stop on the 2026 schedule, with multiple series competing over three days. The entry list also includes a mix of returning drivers and developing talent across several teams this season.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Entry List Features Mix of Veterans and Young Drivers

The 37-car list includes several notable names from across NASCAR’s national series. Cole Custer will drive the No. 0 Chevrolet for SS-GreenLight Racing as part of a limited five-race schedule. Rajah Caruth returns in the No. 32 Chevrolet for Jordan Anderson Racing. William Byron is set for a one-off appearance in the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

Other entries include Joey Gase in the No. 55, Mason Maggio in the No. 91, and Nick Leitz in the No. 42. The list also shows two cars listed as TBA for the No. 35 and No. 74.

Full-time championship contenders remain part of the field. Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, and Carson Kvapil are all entered as they continue their 2026 campaigns. Rookie drivers and part-time entries add depth to the grid and increase competition across the field for Saturday’s race at NASCAR Kansas Speedway.

NASCAR Kansas Speedway marks the third short field since the 38-car format

NASCAR set the 38-car starting grid after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that change, the series has rarely fallen below the limit. The NASCAR Kansas Speedway race will mark the third instance of a short field in that period.

The previous two cases came at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the fall of 2024 and at Portland International Raceway in 2025. Both races also featured 37 cars. The Kansas entry list matches those numbers and continues a rare pattern under the current format.

Srigley confirmed the count while responding to questions on social media. The entry list shows that all teams entered for the event will compete in the race without qualifying eliminations. This means every driver listed will take the green flag on race day, with no pressure from a cut line during qualifying sessions.

Weekend Schedule Set Across Three National Series

The Kansas weekend includes events from three NASCAR national series. On Saturday, April 18, the ARCA Menards Series will run the Tide 150 at 11:30 a.m. CDT. Later that day, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will race in the Kansas Lottery 300 at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

The race serves as the second Dash 4 Cash event of the 2026 season, offering a $100,000 bonus to eligible drivers. Practice and qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday, April 17, setting the starting order for the race.

On Sunday, April 19, the NASCAR Cup Series will close the weekend with the AdventHealth 400. The race weekend will be broadcast on The CW, with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The 37-car field confirms that all entered teams will start the race at NASCAR Kansas Speedway.