After an exciting NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March that featured extreme tire wear, a record number of lead changes on a short track (54) and twists and turns in the complexion of the race with every passing lap, the September return was relatively mundane, as Kyle Larson curb stomped the field with 462 laps led in a race where tires didn’t wear, track position was paramount and it was difficult for drivers to pass.
But up next on the docket is Kansas Speedway, which has quickly become a fan-favorite with a Next Gen car that excels on intermediate tracks. The track saw the closest finish in Cup Series history in May, as well as an incredible race from start to finish.
This weekend will mark the start of the Round of 12 for Cup, the playoff opener for the Xfinity Series and the first round of eliminations for the Craftsman Truck Series. Buckle up for what’s shaping up to be a wild, wild weekend.
Round of 12 Standings (3 Races Until Elimination)
| Rank | Driver | Points | Cut line |
| 1 | Kyle Larson | 3047 | +39 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 3032 | +24 |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 3028 | +20 |
| 4 | William Byron | 3022 | +14 |
| 5 | Ryan Blaney | 3019 | +11 |
| 6 | Denny Hamlin | 3015 | +7 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | 3014 | +6 |
| 8 | Joey Logano | 3012 | +4 |
| 9 | Austin Cindric | 3008 | -4 |
| 10 | Daniel Suarez | 3006 | -6 |
| 11 | Chase Briscoe | 3005 | -7 |
| 12 | Alex Bowman | 3005 | -7 |
The Playoff Consolation Standings
| Rank | Driver | Points | Difference |
| 13 | Ty Gibbs | 2074 | |
| 14 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2064 | -10 |
| 15 | Brad Keselowski | 2048 | -26 |
| 16 | Harrison Burton | 2031 | -43 |
Best of the Rest
| Rank | Driver | Points | Difference |
| 17 | Ross Chastain | 766 | |
| 18 | Chris Buescher | 754 | -12 |
| 19 | Bubba Wallace | 737 | -29 |
| 20 | Kyle Busch | 636 | -130 |
Quick Track Facts: Kansas
Built: 2001
First Cup race: 2001
Last Reconfigured: 2012
Length: 1.5 miles
Banking: 17-20 degrees (turns), 10 degrees (trioval), 5 degrees (backstretch)
Pit road speed limit: 45 mph
Kansas By the Numbers
Defending Winner: Tyler Reddick
Defending Spring Winner: Kyle Larson
Most Wins (full-time drivers): Denny Hamlin (4)
Most Top Fives: Denny Hamlin (14)
Most Top 10s: Martin Truex Jr. (18)
Most Poles: Christopher Bell (3)
Most Laps Led: Martin Truex Jr. (906)
Most Laps Led, Non-Winner: Alex Bowman (183)
Best Average Finish (min. 5 starts): Brad Keselowski (29 starts, 12.2)
Former Kansas Winners in the field: Denny Hamlin (4), Jimmie Johnson (3), Joey Logano (3), Kyle Busch (2), Brad Keselowski (2), Kyle Larson (2), Martin Truex Jr. (2), Chase Elliott (1), Tyler Reddick (1), Bubba Wallace (1)
Playoff Driver Statistics at Kansas since…
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