Kansas Speedway has been on the NASCAR schedule since 2001 and whereas it has had its moments, nobody circled it because the ‘motion monitor’ when trying on the calendar yearly. Nonetheless, that modified swiftly with the arrival of the Subsequent Gen automobile.
Whereas the automobile has made brief monitor racing and street programs duller than earlier than, it has shone somewhat brightly on intermediate tracks, and that’s by no means extra true than when the sequence rolls into Kansas twice a 12 months. Kansas has managed to supply six totally different winners within the final six races, and every occasion performed out in its personal distinctive (and thrilling) means.
In 2022, there have been fixed battles throughout the monitor (and a whole lot of flat tires), making for a chaotic race from begin to end. However the spotlight was the thrilling battle for the win between Kyle Larson and Kurt Busch. With 86 laps to go, Larson was pushing exhausting and spun sideways in entrance of Busch, hitting the skin wall earlier than straightening the automobile out. The race remained inexperienced and the 2 champions continued to battle back-and-forth all through the ultimate stage, slicing by means of slower site visitors as they swapped the lead quite a few instances. With simply eight laps to go, Busch squeezed Larson, who tagged the skin wall as Busch escaped for what would finally be the ultimate win of his NASCAR Cup Collection profession.
Kurt Busch, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Tire points continued to be a storyline within the fall go to later that very same 12 months, altering the complexion of the race continuously. And nonetheless, this was doubtless the calmest Kansas occasion from the Subsequent Gen period with Bubba Wallace claiming victory, driving the identical No. 45 vacated Busch after his career-ending crash at Pocono. There was by no means a second the place somebody wasn’t attempting to overhaul one other driver on monitor, leaving these watching on the sting of their seats.
Crash injury
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs
Issues began to get actually wild within the spring of 2023. There have been 37 lead modifications — a brand new report for Kansas. The drivers have been going as exhausting as doable from the very begin with William Byron almost wrecking from the lead throughout the first two laps. By Lap 5, three drivers have been already locked in a busy struggle for the highest spot, culminating in touch that despatched Larson spinning from the race lead. This simply set the tone for the whole occasion, which noticed 12 totally different drivers lead the race (a 3rd of the sector).
It resulted in dramatic vogue as Larson acquired wrecked from the lead (once more), this time slamming the wall on the ultimate lap. He was battling Hamlin, who clipped Larson earlier than driving off with the victory. However the largest second of this race got here after the checkered flag flew as Noah Gragson confronted Ross Chastain on pit street over some on-track dispute. He grabbed the motive force of the No. 1 Chevrolet by the firesuit, inflicting the watermelon farmer to clobber Gragson within the facet of the face with a proper hook.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, spins from the lead
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
The autumn of 2023 had loads of its personal drama with common season champion Martin Truex Jr. crashing out of the pivotal playoff race throughout the first 5 laps. As commentator Steve Letarte stated then: “Kansas…it is a mile-and-a-half, it seems so regular, it seems so benign. It’s something however, and it is unimaginable to say why.” Kansas simply has an inherent wildcard issue that goes far past some other intermediate monitor within the present period.
Hamlin was cruising out entrance when a late-race yellow arrange a dash to the checkered flag. That gave us an eyebrow-raising second on pit street as Chase Elliott door-slammed teammate Larson after a decent pit exit. And Elliott wasn’t even within the playoffs! Daniel Suarez now led the race after staying out on outdated tires with a number of automobiles straight behind him who solely took new right-sides. Reddick had 4 contemporary tires although, and restarted in fifth for the two-lap sprint. Reddick shortly charged ahead, taking the win with a formidable three-wide move for the lead on the white flag.
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Joey Logano, Crew Penske Ford, Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Membership Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
The drama didn’t subside with the 2024 season as Chastain and Larson engaged in a shocking battle for the lead within the very first stage of the spring race, swapping the highest spot almost each lap in an appetizer for what was to come back. The race resulted in a historic picture end as Larson pulled alongside Chris Buescher in a drag-race to the road. Elliott and Truex have been quickly closing on them as effectively, almost fanning out four-wide on the end as Larson door-slammed Buescher. On the checkered flag, simply 0.001s separated Larson and Buescher in what now stands because the closest end within the historical past of the Cup Collection.
Photograph end with Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet; Chris Buescher, RFK Racing Ford; Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet; Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Logan Riely / Getty Photographs
The 2024 fall occasion, and the latest race at Kansas, started with a multi-car crash on Lap 1. There have been 30 lead modifications, however regardless of being a playoff race, two non-playoff drivers stole the present within the closing stage. Kyle Busch and Chastain have been swapping the lead as each searched for his or her first win of the 2024 season. It was benefit Busch as he caught Chase Briscoe — a playoff driver — who he was attempting to lap. Busch ended up in a foul aero spot exiting Flip 2, spinning out in a stunning flip of occasions. Chastain then fought his means round Truex for the lead on the ultimate restart and held again a charging Byron to win the race and play spoiler at Kansas.
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Why is Kansas so good?
Effectively, the monitor permits for multi-groove racing and passing is much simpler than at most different circuits, which actually helps it preserve the motion flowing. It has insane grip and progressive banking which implies there is no such thing as a dominant line. Drivers are all around the monitor within the corners, generally shifting strains mid-turn. There’s additionally the affect of a noticeable draft, which permits for the motive force being handed to right away struggle again. The sector stays tightly packed and barely does the chief ever handle to drive away. Important tire put on additionally by no means fails to maintain issues thrilling.
However greater than something, the drivers simply have choices. Nobody feels caught, which is usually the grievance at a number of different tracks on the schedule with this automobile. They do not should depend on pit stops or alternate technique calls, however can really make one thing occur for themselves. Due to this, there’s at all times one thing going across the riveting 1.5-miler. And if Sunday’s race has names like Larson, Hamlin or Chastain close to the entrance, current historical past tells us to be careful as one thing large is about to occur.
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