Familiarity key at Kentucky

Sparta, Ky. The Kentucky Speedway winners’ club is exclusive — just five drivers have combined to win the first nine NASCAR Cup races.

All have championships, with the 400-mile race providing a springboard to the title for Kyle Busch (2015), Brad Keselowski (2012) and Martin Truex

Jr. (2017). That trio also has multiple Kentucky wins, which speaks volumes of their mastery of the 1.5-mile oval.

Sunday’s event provides different hurdles, running in daylight for just the second time with drivers having to adjust on the fly without practice and qualifying because of concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. How well they adapt could determine whether club membership expands or remains the same. Plenty of drivers have been on the cusp of getting in.

Hamlin is fifth in the standings but holds a one-point playoff edge over first-place Kevin Harvick, who’s coming off Sunday’s Brickyard 400 triumph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that matched Hamlin’s series-best four wins this season. Harvick now carries momentum to a venue where he has six top-10s in his past seven starts.

Jimmie Johnson is giddy just to race the No. 48 Chevy again after missing his first career race last week in Indianapolis following a positive COVID-19 test. Johnson was cleared this week after two negative tests.

Indycar: Scott Dixon raced to his third straight victory Saturday with an improbable triumph in the opener of a weekend doubleheader at Road America, as Indycar welcomed fans to its races for the first time this season.

Trucks: Sheldon Creed won the series race Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway when rain washed out the final stage.