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What should we expect as Kansas opens up next round of NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
By Stephen Furst
Get ready for a high-octane showdown at Kansas Speedway as the NASCAR playoffs roll into town! This weekend, drivers will battle it out on the 1.5-mile tri-oval, a track known for its unique combination of speed and strategy. With the stakes higher than ever, expect fierce competition as drivers fight for crucial points and a coveted spot in the next round of the playoffs.
With the playoffs in full swing, and the round of twelve kicking off this weekend, every position matters. Drivers on the bubble will need to push their limits, while those with comfortable leads will aim to solidify their spots in the next round. It’s no secret that some of those at the top of the playoff standings run well at Kansas which means that drivers such as Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, who have a combined six wins at here, will be favorites to win and punch their ticket to the next round. Kyle Larson earned the second of his two victories at the track earlier this year in May.
“It’s game on from here,” said Hamlin, “We need to be on the offensive from the start of practice this weekend and put ourselves in position to get stage points and have an opportunity to win the race or get a solid finish to set ourselves up for Talladega and the ROVAL. Kansas has historically been one of our better tracks, maybe our best, honestly, so we are more than capable.”
Another strong contender will be Joey Logano, who has three Kansas wins, but none since the fall race of 2020. Logano also earned the first win of the 2024 playoffs by claiming victory in Atlanta earlier this month. Tyler Reddick is the defending winner of the Hollywood Casino 400, having claimed his only victory at the track last year.
While others such as Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suarez, and Austin Cindric who do not have a history of strong runs at Kansas and are starting out the round below the cut line, will need to hope for a personal best to help bolster their position in the standings. Chase Elliott is also a favorite to win, as has the best average finish at Kansas among playoff drivers but sits only six points above the cut line. Elliot scored his lone triumph at Kansas Speedway in 2018.
“I think, for us, it’s really replicating a similar performance from the Round of 16, the first round for us,” Cindric said about his prospects for advancement. “You look at the numbers, and what we did for the past round is probably the bare minimum of what’s going to get us to advance for this round, so from a points perspective, it definitely gets more challenging, especially the deficit we have to the top four or five guys. It definitely becomes more of an issue when you start to eliminate guys that are in a similar space as far as points go as what we are. Otherwise, a win obviously is what you want to do, especially to be able to do it in the first two races. That makes things a lot easier, but for us, I still think this is a no-mistakes round. This is ‘Don’t take yourself out of it and race within our limits.’”
Could we possibly see someone play spoiler this weekend? Three times a non-playoff driver has won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the victory. Brian Vickers won the fourth race in the 2006 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 16th in points at the time of the victory. In 2022, Tyler Reddick won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway. Reddick had qualified for the postseason but was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 16, he was ranked 13th in points at the time of the victory.
Kansas is notorious for its tire wear, making pit strategy a crucial element. Teams will need to balance aggression with caution, deciding when to pit for fresh tires to maximize their chances of victory. Expect a thrilling race filled with close battles, dramatic moments, and potential surprises. With the playoff format, anything can happen, and fans can anticipate some intense on-track action as drivers fight tooth and nail for every point. As the green flag drops, the excitement will be palpable. Buckle up for a memorable race at Kansas Speedway!
