Greatness in the Heartland: Kansas Speedway Race Review and Analysis

 



The best race of the season! The Nascar Cup Series visited Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas for the AdventHealth 400. Denny Hamlin took home the checkered flag for Joe Gibbs Racing, collecting the 49th win of his career, and his first victory of the 2023 season. The 42-year old collects his fourth win, for an all-time record at the 1.5-mile track, along with raising the total to nine drivers locked into the Nascar playoffs. In addition, this is the 400th win in Joe Gibbs Racing history.



(The #11 Team in Victory Lane)



In a strategic chess match-like battle, Hamlin and Kyle Larson dueled until a late pass for the lead send Larson into the outside wall.  Hamlin was able to pinch Larson and manipulate the air flow in between the two cars, prompting Larson to get loose, and eventually ending what was an example of authentic, quality next-gen intermediate track racing.




The move put on Larson looked similar to Kurt Busch’s move on him, on this weekend last year.  Not plainly getting wrecked, but getting the short end of the stick.. in a vulnerable move, but a fair “racing deal” is what has kept Larson out of victory lane at Kansas the last two seasons.  



Hamlin leading 34 laps, was the fastest car all weekend headlines for team Toyota, as Kyle Larson for Hendrick Motorsports nursed his #5 car home to 2nd, after 85 laps out front. Hendrick teammate William Byron, in a bounce back afternoon, comes home 3rd, as Bubba Wallace for 23XI Racing crosses the line 4th after nine laps out front. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain, who’s a trending topic for trouble collects 5th place, with Joey Logano in a quiet afternoon being awarded 6th.


(2023 Spring Kansas Winner: Denny Hamlin)


Seventh is credited to Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports, and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. finishes 8th. Ninth goes to Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, alongside him is Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing, rounding out the top-10.   



Honorable mentions go out to Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing, with JTG Daugherty’s Ricky Stenhouse in 11th, and 12th. Stewart-Haas’ Aric Almirola comes home 13th, as Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger secures 14th. Daniel Suarez of Team Trackhouse is in 15th, as scaling down a few positions, Corey LaJoie comes home 20th, collecting his seventh top-20 of the season for Spire Motorsports. 



An overview of today’s race can’t be described without mentioning greatness. The 400-miler in Kansas was the best race the next-gen car has performed on at an intermediate track.  Lead changes, multiple groves, tire wear, wrecks, a rare altercation on pit road, and a new name added to the playoffs, all went into the recipe of success this afternoon in the heartland.  


Hamlin is your winner, but that can’t be overlooked by the Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson tangle pit road.  A Talladega restart wreck where Chastain sent Gragson’s #42 team packing early, and a close quarter, “no give” move this week played a huge role in a 29th five laps down place finish for the rookie Gragson. 


The 24-year old approached Chastain, as you could call it a long time coming for Nascar’s new villain, with aggression, 90-degree heat, and tension build-up warranting this issue. To keep the altercation breakdown simple, it was broken up before it really even got started, after a punch by Chastain. In order to bring the sport to new eyes, and a different audience, you have to let the “boys have at it” unwritten rule like in the NHL[National Hockey League] playout. 


Looking to rebound now leaving Kansas behind, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell, and Ty Gibbs, along with Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing are looking to bounce back in Darlington.  


Throwback Mother’s Day weekend. The Nascar national series will head to Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina for week number 13 of the season. The Craftsman Truck Series will have practice and qualifying starting at 3:05pm ET, with the Buckle Up South Carolina 350 at 7:30pm ET on FS1, Friday night. The Xfinity Series will return from a weekend off with practice and qualifying beginning at 5:05pm ET Friday evening, as the Shriners Children’s 200 gets underway at 1:30pm ET on FOX. The Cup Series begins action at 10:35am ET, Saturday morning with practice and qualifying, as the Goodyear 400 will be at 3:00pm ET, Sunday afternoon on FS1. 



  ( All images credited to https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/cup-series.)


For next week's race information please view the link down below:

Darlington Raceway Wesbite





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