Cup Series: Larson dominates proceedings in Kansas

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Despite nearly losing the lead with a shredding tyre on the last lap, Kyle Larson took his third victory of the season in Kansas. It was his second win at the track and his first in the NextGen.

As it unfolded

After snatching another top spot from Chris Buescher in qualifying, Kyle Larson led the field away from pole.

Lap 7 saw the first caution and subsequent DNF of the race in AJ Allmendinger, with his engine letting go off of Turn 4. 

A number of drivers came down pit road under this break. Of this group included Alex Bowman and Ryan Preece.

Despite challenges from Christopher Bell, Larson retained his lead on the Lap 11 restart.

Green flag pit stops began on Lap 36 with Ross Chastain and Michael McDowell. Of this bunch, Bubba Wallace served a penalty for equipment interference, Jesse Love served one for driving through too many pit boxes and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. served one for a pit crew over the wall too soon. 

Larson kept his lead, but William Byron moved into second over Bell. Ty Dillon and Riley Herbst decided to stay out until stage’s end.

Byron’s top-five day did not last long, as the Daytona 500 champion suffered a left-rear tyre failure on Turn 4. He went for a spin, but since it was coming into the pit lane, the caution did not come out. 

Larson held on to win stage one. Chase Elliott and Christopber Bell followed behind.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

2. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

3. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

5. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

6. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

7. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

8. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

9. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

10. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

Everyone came down pit road. The top two remained the same with Ryan Blaney in third. Carson Hocevar served a penalty in this cycle for equipment interference.

After multiple laps of battling teammate Elliott and Bell, Larson continued to lead after the Lap 88 restart.

Green flag pit stops began on Lap 121 with Austin Cindric and Zane Smith. The top three remained unchanged as they began by Lap 132.

Larson remained unchallenged to win the second stage too. Elliott and Blaney followed suit.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

2. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

3. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

4. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)

5. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

6. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

7. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

8. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

9. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

10. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

Everyone came down pit road during the break. Elliott managed to take the lead from Larson on pit road.

Elliott controlled the restart on Lap 174 and retained the lead. Behind, Brad Keselowski snuck into second.

However, Keselowski blew a tyre in Turn 1 and slammed the outside wall in Lap 195. This put him out of the race, continuing a 12-race streak without a top-ten.

Everyone again took to the pits under this caution. Denny Hamlin – having run top-ten all day – completely stalled via a broken clutch, subsequently retiring from the race. Meanwhile, a slow stop by Elliott allowed Christopher Bell to take the lead for the first time today. Elliott fell outside of the top ten.

Bell led the way on Lap 201, but Joey Logano made it three-wide for the lead. Just as this happened, a multi-car crash involving Daniel Suarez, Ty Dillon and Cody Ware brought out the caution in Turn 2. Larson was scored as the leader.

Larson got a great jump on Lap 207, but another caution came back out for a spin by Kyle Busch on the backstretch. He sustained no damage.

Larson led again on Lap 213 and faced a challenge from Bell. However, a crash from Justin Haley, Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace further back saw another caution come back out. 

Larson again got a great jump on the Lap 219 restart with help from teammate Bowman behind. He held onto this lead until the race's end, taking yet another dominant victory this season.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [FL]

2. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

4. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

5. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

6. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)

7. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

8. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

9. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

10. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)

11. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

12. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

13. No. 67 - Corey Heim (23XI Racing)

14. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports)

15. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

16. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

17. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

18. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

19. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

20. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

21. No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)

22. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

23. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

24. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

25. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)

26. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

27. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

28. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

29. No. 33 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

30. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)

31. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)

32. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club) [DNF]

33. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing) [DNF]

34. No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing) [DNF]

35. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

36. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing) [DNF]

38. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]