Mike Joy: We return to the heartland of America in the Midwest for the running of the Busch Light 400 at Kansas Speedway! This track is fast and its going to get even faster under the lights tonight!
Race Details
Track: 1.5 Mile Intermediate
Race Length: 267 Laps/400 Miles
Stages: 80/80/107
Fuel Window: 55-60 Laps
Tire Wear: Medium
Race Start: 6:00 PM
Weather: 80° Clear Skies
0% Chance of Rain
Starting Lineup
Row 1: Brad Keselowski/Martin Truex Jr
Row 2: Chase Briscoe/Kyle Busch
Row 3: Noah Gragson/Christopher Bell
Row 4: Ryan Blaney/Kyle Larson
Row 5: Joey Logano/Corey Heim (R)
Row 6: Kurt Busch/Tyler Reddick
Row 7: Jimmie Johnson/Ty Gibbs (R)
Row 8: William Byron/Chase Elliott
Row 9: Matt DiBenedetto/Todd Gilliland
Row 10: Gracie Trotter/John Hunter Nemechek
Row 11: Matt Kenseth/Denny Hamlin
Row 12: Justin Haley/Brett Moffitt
Row 13: Ross Chastain/Zane Smith (R)
Row 14: Shane Van Gisbergen/Sheldon Creed (R)
Row 15: Parker Kligerman/Anthony Alfredo
Row 16: Chris Buescher/Myatt Snider
Row 17: Casey Atwood/Michael McDowell
Row 18: Paul Menard/Kaz Grala
Row 19: Tyler Ankrum (R)/Ryan Sieg (R)
Row 20: Landon Cassill/Matt Tifft
Row 21: Hailie Deegan/David Ragan
Row 22: BJ McLeod
1/267
Brad Keselowski on pole, Martin Truex Jr to his outside and we're green at Kansas! Keselowski gets a big jump on the bottom and pulls ahead of Truex into turn 1! 43 cars storming down the backstretch under the lights as everyone quickly falls into line, Keselowski is gonna lead the first lap of this race.
3/267
Chase Briscoe challenging Martin Truex Jr for 2nd, they're side-by-side into turn 3 with Briscoe on the inside, look at the grip Briscoe has as he marches past the 16!
7/267
Noah Gragson and Christopher Bell have not given up fighting for 5th and Gragson is gonna send it way deep into turn 1, slide up in front of Bell, and finally secure the spot after several laps of battling.
15/267
Jimmie Johnson on Kurt Busch for 11th, that 48 is ripping the top side already and making up a lot of pace! Johnson didn't qualify very ideal but he's got race pace.
22/267
Kyle Larson finally got himself to the outside line and he flies right past Ryan Blaney to move into 7th, Larson was a pre-race heavy favorite to win tonight.
27/267
Chase Briscoe is catching Brad Keselowski as the run turns long, that 41 car is looking really, really good here at Kansas which would be much needed for this slumping team.
34/267
Kyle Larson is logging some really good laps and he's taking 6th from Christopher Bell, the defending champ is on the move here at Kansas.
40/267
Corey Heim flies around the outside of Joey Logano, no incident between them this time unlike last week at Talladega. Heim has had some growing pains but seems to be figuring it out.
48/267
Kyle Busch to the inside of Martin Truex Jr for 3rd, Busch takes the lead away from one of his championship rivals in the 16. Truex going backwards a bit on this openiGillespie?
50/267
Zane Smith is the first one on the extreme high line to find the wall, just a gentle brush that these composite bodies are able to absorb.
57/267
Pit stops, here come some cars to get their service! 4 tires and fuel as we wait for the leaders to make their move onto pit road.
58/267
Chase Briscoe dives into the pits with Kyle Busch but the caution is out, Parker Kligerman is into the wall in turn 2 pretty hard and has dropped some debris. This is gonna work beautifully for Briscoe and Busch as they get a cheap pit stop from this!
61/267
Brad Keselowski brings the leaders into the pits, he has led all of them up to this point and it's gonna be 4 tires and fuel for everyone. Chase Briscoe cycles to the lead after pitting just before the caution was thrown.
Race Off Pit Road
1 - Brad Keselowski
2 - Martin Truex Jr
3 - Kyle Larson (+1)
4 - Noah Gragson (-1)
5 - Christopher Bell
6 - Corey Heim (R)(+1)
7 - Ryan Blaney (-1)
8 - Joey Logano
9 - Jimmie Johnson
10 - Tyler Reddick (+1)
63/267
Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch on the front row, green is back out and we're racing again! 18 laps to go in Stage 1 and Briscoe leads into turn 1, but Busch isn't letting him get away as they're side-by-side off turn 2! Down the backstretch, here comes Brad Keselowski to take them 3 wide into turn 3, but Briscoe doesn't give and pulls ahead! Busch stays 2nd and Brad has to settle for 3rd and wait for another opportunity.
68/267
Kyle Larson gets past teammate Martin Truex Jr and Truex gets very loose off turn 2, he's gonna lose another spot to Noah Gragson, he's down to 6th place!
70/267
Brad Keselowski sends it past Kyle Busch and drives right psst to take 2nd away. Keselowski has been the dominant car up to this point and seems to still have that pace even without clean air.
73/267
Corey Heim drives past Christopher Bell into 7th, Heim is having himself a great run, as is Roush as a whole! Much needed confidence booster for him.
80/267
Off of turn 4 comes Chase Briscoe, with a little luck and fortune he wins Stage 1 here at Kansas as Brad Keselowski runs out of time to catch him!
Stage 1 Results
1 - Chase Briscoe
2 - Brad Keselowski
3 - Kyle Busch
4 - Kyle Larson
5 - Noah Gragson
6 - Martin Truex Jr
7 - Corey Heim (R)
8 - Christopher Bell
9 - Ryan Blaney
10 - Joey Logano
83/267 -> Caution
Chase Briscoe leads the front of the field down the pits once again after a decently long cycle on the tires. It'll be 4 and fuel for everyone who pit and Briscoe wins the race off pit road.
Race Off Pit Road
1 - Chase Briscoe
2 - Brad Keselowski
3 - Kyle Larson (+1)
4 - Kyle Busch (-1)
5 - Noah Gragson
6 - Martin Truex Jr
7 - Corey Heim (R)
8 - Ryan Blaney (+1)
9 - Joey Logano (+1)
10 - Christopher Bell (-2)
86/267
Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and John Hunter Nemechek stay out and make a gamble for track position on 20 lap older tires, here we go and green again! Hamlin gets a huge jump as Byron spins the tires a bit, Hamlin leads into turn 1! The older tires launched off pretty well as the trio that stayed out is still 1-2-3.
92/267
Denny Hamlin has driven off as Chase Briscoe gets by teammate John Hunter Nemechek for 3rd place, Briscoe looking to make back up lost track position but these cars at the front are quick.
97/267
Brad Keselowski up to 4th, ing John Hunter Nemechek and trying to stay in touch with the 41 of Chase Briscoe who's now working on William Byron for 2nd.
101/267
William Byron has a moment off turn 2, that's gonna cost him 2nd to Chase Briscoe and 3rd to Brad Keselowski, but the tires are starting to even out and this is a full net gain for the 24 team.
106/267
Kyle Larson flies past William Byron on the outside and takes 4th away, still chasing after Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Brad Keselowski ahead of him.
111/267
Trouble for Anthony Alfredo and he's blown up down the backstretch! The engine has let loose on that JTG 37 and that's gonna his night over.
115/267 -> Caution
The strategy for Denny Hamlin has paid off and now he's gonna be on the same cycle as those around him as he brings everyone to the pits. 4 tires and fuel for everyone.
Race Off Pit Road
1 - Denny Hamlin
2 - Chase Briscoe
3 - Kyle Larson (+1)
4 - Brad Keselowski (-1)
5 - William Byron
6 - John Hunter Nemechek
7 - Noah Gragson (+1)
8 - Kyle Busch (-1)
9 - Martin Truex Jr
10 - Corey Heim (R)
118/267
Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe lead the way and we're green again! Hamlin sails into turn 1 with tons of grip and confidence and he slides ahead of the 41 to keep hold of the lead. Hamlin's confidence is soaring after winning Talladega and now being a dominant force here.
125/267
Kyle Larson to the outside of Chase Briscoe into turn 1, Larson completes the to move up yet another place. The defending champ is looking very strong as the run goes on.
133/267
William Byron and John Hunter Nemechek side-by-side for 5th, Nemechek bounces off the 24 exiting turn 4 and forces himself through into the top 5. Byron loses an additional place to teammate Noah Gragson in the exchange.
140/267
The field has gotten pretty spread out in the middle portions of this race, Denny Hamlin has it locked down at the front and he's led since the beginning of this stage.
160/267
Here comes the 11 of Denny Hamlin, he wins Stage 2 here at Kansas ahead of Kyle Larson! It's been a clinic for Hamlin since that Stage 2 gamble.
Stage 2 Results
1 - Denny Hamlin
2 - Kyle Larson
3 - Chase Briscoe
4 - Brad Keselowski
5 - John Hunter Nemechek
6 - Noah Gragson
7 - William Byron
8 - Kyle Busch
9 - Martin Truex Jr
10 - Corey Heim (R)
163/267 -> Caution
Here comes all the lead lap cars into the pits for their round of stops, it'll be 4 and fuel for everyone as Denny Hamlin continues to lead.
Race Off Pit Road
1 - Denny Hamlin
2 - Kyle Larson
3 - John Hunter Nemechek (+2)
4 - Chase Briscoe (-1)
5 - Brad Keselowski (-1)
6 - Noah Gragson
7 - Martin Truex Jr (+2)
8 - Kyle Busch
9 - Corey Heim (R)(+1)
10 - William Byron (-3)
166/267
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson make up the front row and we're back underway! Hamlin and Larson side-by-side into turn 1, Hamlin slides up the track a bit but keeps his foot on the gas, he forces Larson to back out and holds the lead!
171/267
3 wide, here comes Noah Gragson getting past both Chase Briscoe and Brad Keselowski to move into 4th! What a run for Gragson in his breakout season.
179/267
Martin Truex Jr is finally moving forward as he takes 6th from Brad Keselowski. It's been a quiet stretch of races for the man who started the season winning 3 of the first 6.
183/267
Kyle Larson brushes the wall a bit off turn 2 and he's vulnerable to John Hunter Nemechek down the backstretch, here comes Nemechek who takes the spot away!
192/267
Kyle Busch up to 7th, he gets past the 2 of Brad Keselowski and is looking to extend his lead in the regular season points standings.
200/267
Denny Hamlin has checked out with this one, he's led the most laps today and he holds a 3 second lead over John Hunter Nemechek, pulling out about a quarter a second a lap.
204/267
5th place, Martin Truex Jr drives past the 41 of Chase Briscoe and gets back into the top 5 after fading back from a front row starting spot.
211/267
William Byron tries to take 9th away from Corey Heim, but he's unsuccessful and has a huge moment underneath the 99 as he tried to make the .
216/267
Green flag pit stops are underway, starting with John Hunter Nemechek and others. It'll be 4 and fuel to get to the end of this race.
220/267
Here comes race leader Denny Hamlin, he's led 137 in a row and he's in for 4 tires and fuel after stretching this stint as long as he could, there's a little stumble on the right side but he gets back out ahead of John Hunter Nemechek and Kyle Larson.
225/267
Kyle Larson sends it deep to the inside of John Hunter Nemechek for 2nd, that 17 is dialed in and he wants to try and win this race! Larson thinks he has the car to do so.
231/267
Martin Truex Jr is gonna take 4th from Noah Gragson without much of a fight, that 16 could be a problem for Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson if we get a late caution.
237/267
Kyle Busch takes 6th from Chase Briscoe, his charge may end up there as it's a large gap between where he's at and Noah Gragson up ahead.
242/267
Denny Hamlin is mowing them down, he's lapped up to 15th place and has truly just been dominant so far, but Kyle Larson is slowly but surely running him down!
251/267
Ty Gibbs in the 54 has tracked down William Byron, he's looking for a top 10 and he's gonna take it away from the 24! Byron couldn't hang on and Penske has a pair of cars in the top 10 now.
260/267
Kyle Larson is lurking, he's closing, he's half a second behind the 11 of Denny Hamlin but now he's gonna have to forego the high line with Hamlin taking that line and delivering lots of dirty air.
263/267
Kyle Larson tries the bottom, he gains a little time but his car is tight on corner exit and gives the time back. He's gonna need a lapped car to force Denny to change his line.
266/267
2 laps of racing to go, here comes Larson to the bottom again! He gets underneath the 11, slides up, and hits him! Hamlin brushes the wall, Larson slides back as they come to the white flag!
267/267
Hamlin leads at the white, will he make it back? Larson sends it again into turn 1, but he's sideways up into the wall! Hamlin pulls away, Larson is too far back to make anything happen. Back to back wins, Hamlin dominates at Kansas!
Busch Light 400 Results
1 - Denny Hamlin (185 Laps Led/Stage 2 Winner)
2 - Kyle Larson
3 - John Hunter Nemechek
4 - Martin Truex Jr
5 - Noah Gragson
6 - Kyle Busch
7 - Chase Briscoe (22 Laps Led/Stage 1 Winner)
8 - Brad Keselowski (60 Laps Led)
9 - Corey Heim (R)
10 - Ty Gibbs (R)
11 - William Byron
12 - Jimmie Johnson
13 - Tyler Reddick
14 - Kurt Busch (-1)
15 - Christopher Bell (-1)
16 - Chase Elliott (-1)
17 - Todd Gilliland (-1)
18 - Matt DiBenedetto (-1)
19 - Joey Logano (-2)
20 - Ryan Blaney (-2)
21 - Matt Kenseth (-2)
22 - Gracie Trotter (-2)
23 - Justin Haley (-3)
24 - Ross Chastain (-3)
25 - Brett Moffitt (-3)
26 - Shane Van Gisbergen (-3)
27 - Chris Buescher (-4)
28 - Zane Smith (R)(-4)
29 - Sheldon Creed (R)(-4)
30 - Myatt Snider (-4)
31 - Casey Atwood (-5)
32 - Michael McDowell (-5)
33 - Paul Menard (-5)
34 - Ryan Sieg (R)(-6)
35 - Matt Tifft (-6)
36 - Kaz Grala (-6)
37 - Tyler Ankrum (R)(-7)
38 - Landon Cassill (-7)
39 - BJ McLeod (-7)
40 - Hailie Deegan (-9)
41 - David Ragan (-12)
42 - Parker Kligerman (-57)
DNF
43 - Anthony Alfredo
Comment