NASCAR took to the tri-oval at Kansas Speedway this weekend and delivered maybe the best race of the season. With plenty of action, caution flags, and a hard race to the finish, it had everything that NASCAR is known for in its best moments.
I gave you a preview earlier this week of who I thought would perform here at Kansas. So, per usual, we’ll recap this race, and then take a look at how those drivers panned out. Let’s go stage by stage and deliver the highlights from the AdventHealth 400!
STAGE 1
The front line of this race began with some of the favorites from this season. #24 William Byron and #5 Kyle Larson led the way, with #1 Ross Chastain, #19 Martin Truex Jr, and #45 Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five.
Reddick was chasing history as the first car ever to win the same track three times in a row with different drivers. Between Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace last year delivering the #45 to victory lane back-to-back. Meanwhile #7 Corey Lajoie, #47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and #78 Josh Blicki had to start from the back due to various inspection issues during qualifying.
Another look as Larson goes around after contact from Tyler Reddick. pic.twitter.com/12BeBwD900
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
The first caution would come early at lap four when Reddick got into Larson trying to fit in between the #5 and Chastain, and just didn’t have enough room. Sending Larson into the field and continuing his bad stretch of luck in recent races. At the restart six laps later, Reddick led the way with Chastain, Byron, Truex, and #22 Joey Logano right behind.
#14 Chase Briscoe would have issues on pit road at lap 57 when a tire came off his front driver’s side, costing him multiple laps and keeping him out of the lead lap for the entirety of the race. But otherwise, a clean finish for the first stage, with Hamlin taking the first of three. Truex, #54 Ty Gibbs, Reddick, and #99 Daniel Suarez also took home valuable stage points.
STAGE 2
At the start of stage 2 at Kansas Speedway, the order remained the same only with Bubba Wallace at the fifth spot and Reddick out of the picture. #8 Kyle Busch would catch another speeding penalty exiting pit road and start from the back.
Another wheel on the run today. https://t.co/GDTrKr1zPs pic.twitter.com/JvrsAl8Rr2
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
Kyle Larson was making a comeback though, after starting at 28th with the caution he got caught up in, he was suddenly storming up all the way to 8th place come lap 109. Where another caution came, with #2 Austin Cindric losing a tire and having his wheel go racing down the track. Hamlin, Truex, Wallace, Chastain, and #20 Christopher Bell made up the top five at this point.
Aric Almirola goes around. https://t.co/HgrD999GFj pic.twitter.com/LOeu0WZYJF
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
At the restart on lap 113, we saw a shakeup with Wallace taking command. Chastain, Truex, Gibbs, and the aforementioned rocket ship of Larson finish out the leaders at the green flag. We’d go 25 laps before the next caution when #10 Aric Almirola went spinning. Truex had become the leader at this point, with Larson, Hamlin, Wallace, and Chastain right behind him. At the restart five laps later coming off pit road Larson took the lead.
Christopher Bell is done for the day at Kansas. pic.twitter.com/EySItLZdA7
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
Six laps following that restart, #43 Erik Jones and #48 Josh Berry both had issues on the track that drew the yellow flag. Shortly after that, #20 Christopher Bell would go into the wall at lap 159 effectively ending his day. The stage would end with a yellow flag. When Kyle Busch on the restart would be riding high on the track inside the top five and just make little contact and get dumped all the way to the bottom and into the wall off the track. Ending his day.
Here's the crash that ended Kyle Busch's day at the end of Stage 2 in Kansas. https://t.co/gehGmiv0GD pic.twitter.com/H4fGd0AxZz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
After several trips through pit road on these restarts, we saw an obscure stage two finish. #22 Joey Logano would take the win. Following him would be #34 Michael McDowell, #42 Noah Gragson, who had issues with #1 Ross Chastain all throughout this race, and #16 A.J. Allmendinger rounding out the top five.
STAGE 3
At the start of stage three, Kyle Larson found his way to the top again. Fighting from the bottom after getting spun early, he’s back competing again. Hamlin followed with Wallace, #9 Chase Elliott, and Truex behind him.
A looooong slide and a shredded tire sends Ty Gibbs to the garage early in Stage 3 at Kansas. pic.twitter.com/w6E7LlZa43
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
The first yellow of this stage comes at lap 178 when #54 Ty Gibbs makes contact with Truex and spins himself out. He gives a valiant effort to save it, but it was too late. Driving on two flat front tires with significant damage he tries to get the car to the pit. But it ends up on the lawn outside of it. Which ended his day early.
Harrison Burton goes around. pic.twitter.com/Pa9lkuqKfz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
13 laps later #21 Harrison Burton gets spun around himself coming into turn two and draws the yellow flag. After four yellow laps and pits, the top five had established itself in another obscure way. #19 of Martin Truex led the pack, with #3 Austin Dillon, Logano, Gragson, and #38 Todd Gilliand closing the head of the line. It would take all but a couple of laps for Kyle Larson to get around them before lap 207 had a yellow. Gragson would go spinning. Eight laps after that, so would Erik Jones.
Noah Gragson Spins. Caution. pic.twitter.com/cPR862CrmO
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) May 7, 2023
At lap 221 after the chaos had settled down. #24 William Byron overcame his struggles and led the way, as he did at the start of this race. Larson continued his dominance at second, with Hamlin, Truex, and Logano behind them.
THE FINISH
Larson and Byron would touch and go with the lead for a handful of laps while Hamlin would make up ground. With 12 laps to go, it was now a two-car race. Hamlin got around Byron and was now chasing Larson down from 1.5 seconds back. Lap by lap the #11 shaved down the distance. Getting within .27 of a second of the leader.
Hamlin with three laps to go was as close as he had ever gotten to Larson. It was obvious that the leader was getting loose as this race pushed on, and was vulnerable to giving up the spot. Hamlin went to take advantage. As each turn went by Hamlin tried but Larson raced hard, getting through traffic and maintaining. On the final turn, it was all or nothing for Hamlin.
DENNY HAMLIN WINS AT KANSAS AFTER AN EPIC BATTLE WITH KYLE LARSON! pic.twitter.com/2wfK5BnhVm
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
As you can see above, Larson was giving it all he could. As was Hamlin. Unfortunately for the #5 though, he just can’t edge out the car behind him. He gets bumped by Hamlin and sent into the wall. Hamlin would race by and capture the checkered flag. While Larson would make an excellent recovery and still manage to come away as runner-up. A hard-fought finish to the end for sure. And Denny Hamlin picks up his first win of the season. Byron, Wallace, and Chastain would close the top five as #11 would head to victory lane at Kansas Speedway.
Here's what happened on pit road between @NoahGragson and @RossChastain. pic.twitter.com/MMcOLASlgq
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 7, 2023
Before we celebrate though, there were some extracurriculars on pit road. While Hamlin was giving his post-race interview after collecting the checkered flag, Gragson and Chastain got into each other’s faces. After contacting each other earlier in the race, it was clear that bad blood was brewing. It was quickly broken up, but not without some punches being thrown by both sides. A fun race at Kansas Speedway ends with some fun bonus action.
DRIVER SPOTLIGHT: #24 William Byron
Kyle Larson wasn’t the only Hendrick Motorsports driver who overcame some bad circumstances early at Kansas Speedway. William Byron’s #24 car was loose for the majority of this race. Very early on he dropped off the map and was spending most of stage two in the dumps. But they got it right late, and he led some laps and scraped together a top-three finish by the end of it. An excellent day for Byron, who’s already got two wins on the year. He could very well make it three in the coming weeks if he gets his car right early and keeps it that way for an entire race.
Closing Thoughts
Per usual, I gave you all five drivers to look out for this race. So, let’s revisit and see who made me look smart, and who let me down here at Kansas Speedway.
#5 Kyle Larson
Gotta feel for the #5 this year. Larson has been the best driver this season. Bar none, hands down. The reasons why were perfectly laid out for you out in Kansas this weekend. Had one of if not the best cars all day, overcoming everything he did. It’s a shame he came just one turn short of his third victory of the season. But I had a good feeling about him this week and he proved me right with a 2nd place finish that could’ve been way worse.
#11 Denny Hamlin
It’s always nice when you pick the victor, it’s even sweeter when you get the top two. Denny Hamlin picked up his first win of the season and had to work for it too. He was probably the other best car of the weekend here with Larson. And he raced him hard to the end for the victory. I’ve picked him a few times in my previews and the effort pays off with this one. This is his fourth win here at the Speedway.
#12 Ryan Blaney
Blaney is the lone driver to finish outside the top 10 on my list at 16th. But he’s not exactly a dud. His momentum does take a sharp hit with this being his first finish outside the leaders in a few weeks. But he was inside the top 10 a few times throughout. We’ll see if Blaney can get it right as this season pushes on and continue his hot streak in Darlington next week.
#23 Bubba Wallace Jr
Wallace had another great outing. A 4th place finish, fighting for the lead at some points, he was awesome. Glad to see #23 out there in front and showing that he belongs at this level. No reason to doubt himself after this one. Just keep pushing forward and eventually, your efforts will lead to a win and a spot in the playoffs!
#45 Tyler Reddick
Reddick was excellent today too in spurts. It garnered him a 9th-place finish. He was also in fights for leads, racing with the best cars out there, and putting up a fight until the end. There are some things to clean up with the #45, and the streak of dominance at Kansas Speedway ends here, but a valiant effort for the 27-year-old driver.
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