Kyle Larson secured a springtime Kansas Speedway victory once more Sunday afternoon, however this time with a extra comfy margin than . Larson scurried away with a dominant victory within the AdventHealth 400, main 221 of 267 laps to prevail for this third time this 12 months.
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For the remainder of the sector, some drivers will probably be leaving the Sunflower State on an upbeat notice, whereas nonetheless others have some floor to make up after a Kansas day that didn’t yield the specified outcomes. No factors will probably be on the desk in subsequent weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race, however right here’s a half-dozen drivers with blended fortunes from this weekend earlier than the circuit heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with a $1 million prize on the road.
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THREE UP ⬆️
1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Began: third
Completed: 2nd
What occurred: Bell notched a career-best Kansas Speedway consequence, one thing he stated he wanted after ending the earlier three races outdoors of the highest 5, together with a crash-related thirty fifth at Talladega final month. He wound up simply 0.712 seconds behind on the checkered flag, and he moved up three spots to 3rd place within the Cup Collection standings.
What’s subsequent: Bell is prepping for his fifth All-Star Race major occasion, and he’ll be on the lookout for his first top-five end within the non-points particular. After that, Bell will probably be aiming to defend his crown within the Coca-Cola 600 when the Cup Collection schedule resumes its points-paying methods.
Christopher Bell
2. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Group Penske Ford
Began: tenth
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Completed: third
What occurred: Blaney made his Cup Collection debut at Kansas again in 2014, and he matched his greatest end there Sunday. He didn’t lead a lap on this most up-to-date 400-miler, however the 31-year-old driver now possesses a strong string of 4 top-five leads to his final 5 races.
What’s subsequent: The 2022 All-Star Race winner has been constant within the two editions of the occasion at North Wilkesboro, ending sixth (2023) and fifth (2024). He additionally has a Coca-Cola 600 win, taming NASCAR’s longest race in 2023 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Ryan Blaney, left, chats with Alex Bowman post-race on pit highway at Kansas Speedway
3. Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
Began: twenty eighth
Completed: thirteenth
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What occurred: The Craftsman Truck Collection common made his first Cup Collection begin of the season — and simply his fourth general — Sunday at Kansas. The rookie stored issues comparatively clear, getting again on the lead lap with a Lap 199 wave-around and urgent on after contact that triggered a multicar crash 14 laps later. The career-best end was truly the day’s strongest for 23XI Racing, topping teammates Tyler Reddick (seventeenth), Riley Herbst (twenty seventh) and Bubba Wallace (thirty third).
What’s subsequent: Heim stated Saturday that the subsequent begin on his part-time Cup Collection schedule is slated for June 1 at Nashville Superspeedway. Within the meantime, he’ll be again at it when the Truck Collection resumes for a Saturday showdown at North Wilkesboro, the place he’ll intention to increase his lead in that tour’s level standings.
Corey Heim (67) races with William Byron on the frontstretch at Kansas Speedway
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Began: seventh
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Completed: twenty fourth
What occurred: A rocky finish to Stage 1 put the 27-year-old driver in a catch-up scenario. A brought about the No. 24 Chevy to scrape the skin retaining wall by way of Turns 3 and 4 within the 66th lap. Byron misplaced management with a lazy slide as he tried to deliver the automobile to pit highway, and he fell to thirty second within the change. He clawed again into the highest 25, however was nonetheless one lap down on the checkered flag — a consequence that dropped him from the Cup Collection factors lead, handed by Larson, his teammate.
What’s subsequent: Byron will probably be within the All-Star characteristic’s discipline for the seventh consecutive 12 months, however he’s nonetheless trying to find his first top-five consequence within the invitational occasion. Past that, he’ll be going for his third straight high 5 within the Coca-Cola 600 at month’s finish on his house monitor of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
No. 24 crewmembers test over a shredded tire from William Byron
2. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Began: 14th
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Completed: thirty sixth
What occurred: Hamlin completed within the factors on the finish of each levels, however a hindered the No. 11 Toyota crew, slowing the veteran driver as he tried to depart his pit stall after stops for service. A Lap 127 cease was particularly painful — hassle on the right-front with an errant wheel fastener price him time, and his crew needed to push-start him. Hamlin’s automobile stalled once more in a final-stage pit cease, and his crew pushed the No. 11 to the storage with terminal harm.
What’s subsequent: Hamlin began the springtime stretch with 4 consecutive top-five finishes, a span that included two wins. He heads into North Wilkesboro on a downswing with two straight DNFs. He has a historical past of robust All-Star performances, profitable the 2015 version and coming house second in final 12 months’s race on the 0.625-mile oval.
The No. 11 crew offers Denny Hamlin a push out of his pit stall at Kansas Speedway
3. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Began: thirty third
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Completed: thirty eighth
What occurred: The No. 16 crew’s race day in Kansas lasted simply six laps when their Chevrolet went up in smoke, with engine failure the wrongdoer. Allmendinger had scored top-10 finishes on two different 1.5-mile tracks (Las Vegas, Homestead) this season, however he sounded off with a salvo of fiery frustration on the crew radio after his second consecutive DNF.
What’s subsequent: Allmendinger was within the All-Star major occasion final 12 months because of his Charlotte Roval win within the 2023 marketing campaign. This 12 months, he’ll should race his manner in or depend on the , however he’s transferred in earlier than as a two-time winner of the All-Star Open last-chance race (2008, 2018).
AJ Allmendinger makes laps within the No. 16 Chevy throughout apply and qualifying at Kansas Speedway
