Alex Gordon, Neil Smith among KC celebs who take in NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway

Alex Gordon knows all about fastballs.

The Kansas City Royals outfielder got his introduction to fast cars on Sunday as the honorary pace car driver for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

“They asked me toward the end of the season” Gordon said. “They wanted someone who stuck around Kansas City in the offseason to be a part of this. I live here full time. Being a Kansas City native, I was honored to do it.

“I’ve never been to a NASCAR race, so I figured my first time I’m going, why not do the pace car? It’s a pretty cool experience, and I’m excited to be here.”

Gordon got a couple practice laps in on Sunday morning at pace car speed — 45 mph. Then he switched seats with NASCAR’s full-time pace car driver and experienced a couple of laps at more than 100 mph.

Gordon was also warned that he might receive a little love tap when he’s out there for real.

“That’s the first thing they told me. Once you get in the pace car you need to look behind you, because there’s like 40 cars that are angry and ready to go right on your bumper,” Gordon said. “So I’m sure I’m going to take a peek and see that and get a little nervous, but it should be good.”

“Since the award began, it’s been a very humbling experience and a lot of pleasure attached to it, to discover stories like these four that touch so many lives,” Mike Helton, vice chairman of NASCAR, said. “To be enlightened by those is so rewarding.”

NASCAR announces fan award finalists

The NASCAR Foundation announced four finalists for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award on Sunday.

Carl Dakes, Sarah Kersey, Cliff Preston and Rex Reynolds were selected from hundreds of applications for their work with children in their respective communities.

Each finalist will receive a $25,000 donation to their charity from NASCAR. The winner receives a $100,000 donation.

Kansas City native Don Post won the award in 2013 for his work with the March of Dimes. Overland Park artist Jeff Hanson won in 2015, and the donation benefited the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

Fans can vote at NASCARfoundation.org/award through Nov. 19 to determine this year’s winner.

Bowyer ready to get to Arrowhead

Nobody at Kansas Speedway was more excited about Sunday night’s Chiefs-Bengals game than Emporia native Clint Bowyer.

Bowyer read game promos for NBC earlier in the weekend and told anyone who would listen that he was going to the game after Sunday’s race. In the aftermath of Sunday’s race, he knew he had to leave soon for Arrowhead.

“I better get my (rear) going, huh?,” Bowyer said with a laugh. “I think we’ve got a little bit of help getting there. I’ve been looking forward to getting over there and watching them boys do work.”

Points race stays status quo

None of the four drivers who entered Sunday’s Monster Energy elimination race below the cutline were able to advance to the Round of 8.

Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman were all eliminated.

Bowman started the race 12th in points, and early car trouble sealed his fate. Blaney and Keselowski each led the race twice, but neither was able to make up the deficit.

Larson needed a win to advance. He was forced to start at the back of the field after wrecking his primary car in practice and switching to a backup.

Larson had a good run, but his third-place finish wasn’t enough.

This story was originally published October 21, 2018 at 5:53 PM.