The NASCAR playoffs Chase for the Sprint Cup is live from Chicago as the Chicagoland Speedway takes center stage and the race starts up on ESPN and WatchESPN past 2 pm ET for the green flag and Kyle Busch comes in after winning the pole and the standings has Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson all near the top and this race is the first in the Chase.

Keselowski won the title a couple years ago and he has the chance to keep things going and he has a lead over Jeff Gordon and Dale Jr. and Johnson is also lurking and could be a favorite on Sunday. The top 10 is very competitive this season and Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick are in the mix along with Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. The Chase field has been set and now Busch is in first for this race and he will be there with Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards and now the 10 race Chase opens up with this race in Chicago and this will be a good start for the playoffs.

The cuts will come at the race later in the month at Dover and the format this year is different than last year and it should make things more exciting. The schedule is on ESPN and they have this race and have been giving coverage all week and both Johnson and Gordon will be starting in the top 10. The rules are different and there will be 16 drivers this year all looking to get past the first round and the winner of the race will advance to the next round.

The race schedule has New Hampshire next and then it will be at Dover and the schedule continues with tough tracks and races with Kansas and Charlotte coming after that. The next race after that will be Talladega and then it will be Martinsville and Texas before Phoenix and Miami. The Chase should be very good this year with the new format and the players said they were excited to see how things could be this year with the new rules.

Check here for the NASCAR playoffs Chase for the Sprint Cup live coverage.