The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway is shaping up as a popular date on the calendar.
Forty-nine drivers were entered Tuesday for Saturday's Quaker State 400 at Sparta.
Ultimately, 43 drivers will take part in the race.
Qualifying for the Quaker State 400 will be held Friday, beginning at 5:10 p.m.
The race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Most of NASCAR's biggest names will be on hand, including the current top 10 in the Sprint Cup points standings: Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman.
Also entered is Kentucky native Michael Waltrip.
Notable among those not entered is 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne. Bayne will race in Friday's NASCAR Nationwide Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
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