The ninth spherical of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season was a stunning one, partly as a result of how clear it was. There have been no incidents till a single-car spin on the penultimate lap fully modified the complexion of the end.
And the end itself was unimaginable, with Reddick as soon as once more prevailing after a last-lap cross on Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin dropping out after dominating half the race.
Here is a glance again at a few of the greatest winners and losers from Kansas Speedway:
Watch: Jordan after Reddick win: ‘This child is on fireplace’
What else can we are saying? Reddick was within the wall and working out of fuel one second, and the subsequent, he was blowing previous a number of vehicles in an time beyond regulation restart and taking his fifth win of the 12 months. All 4 23XI vehicles completed the highest 15, and Reddick has gained 5 of 9 races run thus far — a feat not achieved since 1987 with Dale Earnhardt. Michael Jordan was elated, and even he gave the impression to be in shock by the driving force of the No. 45 after his Kansas triumph.Â
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LOSER: Denny Hamlin’s good day that would have been nice
Watch: Hamlin bitter after Kansas loss: ‘It is about profitable’
Hamlin leaves Kansas second within the standings after a prime 5 end, so it feels like he ought to be completely happy. However clearly from his post-race interview, he was not. Hamlin led 131 laps — almost half the race. He additionally was mere seconds from securing the win on the white flag when the one and solely pure warning of the race flew. However that wasn’t sport over. Hamlin then had a messy time beyond regulation restart with Larson attending to his inside and shuffling him again. He slid up into Reddick and inadvertently derailed his teammate Bell’s race, earlier than occurring to complete fourth. After we’re speaking a few driver who’s keenly centered on his race win whole, Sunday was a bust for the driving force of the No. 11.
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WINNER: Chase Briscoe and his time beyond regulation cost
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Whereas a lot of the leaders opted for 2 right-sides, Briscoe took 4 contemporary Goodyears and led the best way for the technique from eleventh within the lone time beyond regulation restart. He put that automotive precisely the place he wanted to, charging all the best way as much as third by the point the checkered flag flew. And had he cleared Hamlin by Flip 2 on the white flag lap, Briscoe might have even challenged for the win. Nonetheless, he drove a formidable closing two laps to get all the best way right into a ‘podium’ spot.
LOSER: Cody Ware makes himself the story whereas working final
Watch: Ware earlier than Kansas spin: ‘I do not know if we will maintain on’
The Rick Ware Racing driver was working in final, over 5 laps down because the leaders approached the white flag. And in a race that noticed zero pure yellows within the first 397 of 400 scheduled miles, he was about to grow to be the primary. Ware spun sideways, battling tires that have been coming aside after a prolonged run. This drew the ire of Hamlin, who was moments away from taking the white flag with the lead in hand, and it is the very last thing a driver working that far down the order desires to do.
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WINNER: Austin Cindric is knocking on the door of the Chase
Austin Cindric, Group Penske
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
When the playoff format was eradicated, many thought Cindric’s likelihood of being a part of the highest 16 went with it, however the driver of the No. 2 is proving his doubters mistaken. 2026 began tough with a greatest end of nineteenth within the first 5 races. Nevertheless, since then, Cindric has ripped off outcomes of fifth, eighth, sixteenth, and twelfth. He has soared from thirtieth in factors after Race #5 to seventeenth in factors after Race #9, simply 13 factors out.
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LOSER: Trackhouse cannot crack the highest 25
John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Membership, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Final fall, SVG earned his first oval prime ten within the Cup Collection at Kansas. Lower than two years in the past, Ross Chastain was a winner on the 1.5-mile oval. However on Sunday, Trackhouse had completely nothing for the competitors. All of their vehicles ended race not less than two laps down, and the highest-finisher was Chastain in twenty sixth. Zilisch was twenty ninth and SVG was thirty sixth, falling outdoors of the Chase. The workforce is aware of they’re in hassle, and have been vocal about their efforts to proper the ship, however seeing them this sluggish at a method of observe they excelled at for years remains to be very stunning.
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WINNER: All of RFK Racing quietly stacking factors
Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing
Picture by: David Jensen / Getty Photos
We simply cannot cease praising RFK for his or her consistency as a corporation. They are not making lots of noise, however they’re doing precisely what they should do as a way to get all three vehicles into the Chase, only one 12 months after those self same three vehicles missed the minimize for the ultimate season that includes the win-and-you’re-in playoffs. Keselowski led the best way in sixth, Buescher was tenth, and Preece was eleventh within the closing order.Â
LOSER: Christopher Bell goes from profitable shot to twentieth place
Watch: ‘Completely unbelievable’: Bell upset after attainable Kansas win slips away
Exiting Flip 2 on the time beyond regulation restart, Bell seemed to be in an ideal place to problem Larson for the race lead. Nevertheless, contact whereas battling three-wide with Reddick and Hamlin noticed him spinning into the pit lane on the white flag with a flat tire, and ending twentieth. That is now back-to-back races the place Bell might have gained, however misfortune visited him as a substitute.
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