Heads up: Charlotte weekend

Here are the hot topics, trending news and key story lines to get you ready for this weekend's races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

WEATHER

Hurricane Matthew could make this weekend very soggy. Or, Matthew could take a turn and not affect Charlotte weather much at all. Right now, the National Weather Service says a high of 73 and partly sunny Thursday, with Sprint Cup Coors Light Pole Qualifying scheduled for that evening at 7:20 p.m. ET. Rain is expected to roll in Friday afternoon after 3 p.m. ET, with a 60-percent chance of rain. The chance of rain rises to 70 percent Friday evening -- the XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC is scheduled for 8 p.m. -- and settles at 60 percent Saturday.

All of this is subject to rapid changes, however, with Matthew's path uncertain.

KEY TIMES



Sprint Cup Series: The Sprint Cup Series holds its first practice Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App), with Coors Light Pole qualifying at 7:20 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App).

 The Bank of America 500 is at 7 p.m. ET Saturday (NBC/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

XFINITY Series: The XFINITY Series opens practice Thursday at 3 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App) and qualifies Friday at 4:45 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App). The Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC is Friday at 8 p.m. ET (NBCSN/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).



CATCH DRIVERS LIVE



We'll stream every driver press conference in the Charlotte media center at NASCAR.com/presspass. Click here for a full schedule. Click here to tune into the live stream.

LAST TIME

The Bank of America 500 in 2015 was rained out and postponed until Sunday, but Joey Logano didn't suffer any ill effects from the delay. Logano led 227 of 334 laps en route to the first victory of his dominating Round of 12 in which he won all three races (Charlotte, Kansas and Talladega). 

YOU SHOULD KNOW


• Joey Logano returns to the race where his (shortlived) 2015 postseason dominance began. Logano swept the Round of 12 a year ago, but hasn't been nearly as triumphant this season, with just one win at Michigan in June. Still, in Logano's last eight races this season, he's had only one finish outside the top 10, and that was a near miss (11th). Is he on the verge of rediscovering last year's magic?

• Martin Truex Jr. has won three of the last five races (Darlington, Chicago and Dover), which now gives him more wins this season (four) than in the rest of his career, combined. And who can forget how Truex Jr. led all but eight laps at this track in May at the Coca-Cola 600? He's en fuego.

• This is a cut-off race for the inaugural XFINITY Series Chase, with only Elliott Sadler and Daniel Suarez guaranteed trips to the Round of 8 by virtue of their first-round victories. Early title favorites Ty Dillon (ninth) and Erik Jones (10th) currently are on the outside looking in, and a Charlotte win would guarantee a spot in the next round.

THE FAVORITE

Martin Truex Jr. Is there anyone hotter right now? Truex Jr. won at both Chicago and Dover in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's opening round. Now, he's returning to the track where he had one of the most dominating performances in NASCAR history when he led 392 of 400 laps at the Coca-Cola 600 in May. It's hard to bet against him right now.

Others to consider: Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson.

THE SLEEPER

Austin Dillon. When Dillon needed a clutch performance last week in Dover, he came through with an eighth-place finish that pushed him through to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's Round of 12. Charlotte is Dillon's second-best track, with a 12.8 average finish. Is he ready for a breakthrough?


Others to consider: Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin.

STAFF PICKS

Martin Truex Jr.: 3
Jimmie Johnson: 2
Kevin Harvick: 2
Brad Keselowski: 1
Kyle Busch: 1