No. 5 Kyle Larson Dominates at Kansas Speedway

Kyle Larson took his second win in NASCAR’s Chase competition in a race that left no confusion.

The No. 5 car won both Stage 1 and 2, leading 235 out of 267 laps of the Hollywood Casino 400. Despite being passed by Chase Briscoe late in the final phase, Larson reclaimed his lead with seven laps left. The win extends Larson’s points lead in the Chase by 26 points.

As it Unfolded

A rained out qualifying session led to Joey Logano sitting at pole. Kyle Larson, who just recently took the points lead for the Nascar Cup Championship title, sat in third. Denny Hamlin, who is running second in the championship by just one point, started sixth. Both Larson and Hamlin, who appear the likeliest to win the championship so far, have been historically strong at this track. Hamlin has won four races in Kansas, the most races of any driver on track. Larson has finished in the top 10 in nine of his last 10 appearances at this speedway.

Larson dominated the majority of Stage 1, leading the large majority of the 80 laps, ultimately taking the first place spot and 10 more points. 

Tyler Reddick, who won in Kansas back in April, surprisingly dropped from 15th to 30th. Lap 13 was highlighted by Hamlin’s pass on Logano to second place, mirroring the Chase standings. Larson was yet to be stopped, stretching his gap to the No.11 car to five seconds. Austin Cindric moved up nine positions to pass Hamlin for second on Lap 28.

A caution on Lap 35 briefly slowed down the grid, however a restart on Lap 42 gave Hamlin the opportunity to claim second again, while Larson remained comfortably at the lead. Cindric lost several places during the restart, dropping to fourth, but was also able to regain position, passing Carson Hocevar for third by Lap 56.

Stage 1 ended with Larson at the front and exclusively Chase drivers in the top-ten. 

Stage 1 Results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. No. 9 - Chase Elliot (Hendrick Motorsports)

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

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

Stage 2 began under the second caution of the competition, but quickly returned to a green flag. 

With 172 laps remaining in the race, Larson remained clearly at the front, leading 93 out of 95 laps and sitting ahead of Hamlin by 1.483 seconds. Behind Hamlin, who remained at second in 74 out of 95 laps, led Cindric by 2.507 seconds. 

On Lap 115, Noah Gragson lost his engine and spun in Turn 2, causing a caution flag. During the restart, Hocevar made contact with Ty Gibbs, which led to a multi-car accident impacting Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Zane Smith, Erik Jones, Gibbs and Hocevar. 

Larson and Hamlin led the restart on Lap 128, with Larson naturally taking the lead once again. Cindric took the opportunity to pass Hamlin, reclaiming second. Larson once again took first in Stage 2, leading by 2.467 seconds and followed by Cindric, Hamlin, and Briscoe. Briscoe started the race 23rd. 

Stage 2 Results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. No. 10 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

Stage 3 also began under caution on Lap 166. After all the lead lap cars pit, Larson maintained his spot but was followed by Briscoe and Hamlin. The race restarted on Lap 172. A battle between Cindric and Briscoe for second ended with Briscoe ahead. Hamlin fought with William Byron for fourth place. Reddick also took the restart opportunity to surge up the field, working his way up to an impressive sixth place throughout the race.

After slight competition between Cindric, Briscoe and Larson and a round of pit stops, Larson remained ahead out of the pit box.

In the first serious challenge for the No. 5 car since the first green flag, Briscoe overtook Larson in Lap 238.

The Hendrick Motorsport driver refused to let up, overtaking and reclaiming his lead with just seven laps to go. From there, the race was over.

Earning max points, taking the fastest lap and leading over 200 laps, Larson drove past the checkered flag 0.565 seconds ahead of Cindric, who made a late game pass on Briscoe when the No. 19 car hit the wall.

Provisional Results

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson

2. No. 2 - Austin Cindric

3. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin

4. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe

5. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney

6. No. 20 - Christopher Bell

7. No. 24 - William Byron

8. No. 9 - Chase Elliot

9. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace

10. No. 60 - Ryan Preece

11. No.45 - Tyler Reddick

12. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski

13. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek

14. No. 7 - Daniel Suarez

15. No. 1 - Ross Chastain

16. No. 43 - Erik Jones

17. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs

18. No. 48 - Alex Bowman

19. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland

20. No. 22 - Joey Logano

21. No. 2 - Austin Dillon

22. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger

23. No. 17 - Chris Buescher

24. No. 97 - Shane van Gisbergen

25. No. 35 - Riley Herbst

26. No. 33 - Austin Hill

27. No. 71 - Michael McDowell

28. No. 10 - Ty Dillon

29. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch

30. No. 41 - Cole Cluster

31. No. 38 - Zane Smith

32. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

33. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar

34. No. 51 - Cody Ware

35. No. 21 - Josh Berry

36. No. 4 - Noah Gragson