Kyle Larson drove to victory lane at Kansas Speedway in tribute to the 17th anniversary of a Hendrick plane crash.
KANSAS CITY – October 24, 2021 – Anthony Holbrook
The NASCAR Cup Series unloaded in Kansas City for round two of three in the Round of 8 NASCAR Playoffs schedule. Just one race remaining for competitors to qualify for NASCAR’s Championship finale after Sunday’s race Hollywood Casino 400 completion at the Jayhawk State.
The Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway ended in what has become a familiar sight this season as Kyle Larson continued to dominate his way to victory.
Hollywood Casino 400 – Recap:
Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney occupy the front row and led the pack for 267 competitive laps on the 1.5 mile tri-oval located at the Village West vicinity of Kansas City, Kansas.
Dominating 130 of 267 circuits around the track, Kyle Larson crossing the checkers out front on a historical day which displaying a patronage tribute to 17th anniversary of the 2004 plane crash that killed 10 people including Rick Hendrick’s son Ricky.
Larson’s collected his fourth win in the playoffs, it is his third straight victory and the second time. Kyle Larson has won three consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races during the 2022 campaign, tying the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. as the only drivers to accomplish this goal in a single season.
Kyle Larson regained the lead for the final time off a restart with 39 circuits remaining. Not an easy mission as Larson battled an aggressive Kevin Harvick to secure the point to the checkered stripe.
Chase Elliott advanced forward past a fading Kevin Harvick with 13 laps to go setting sites on his Hendrick Motorsport teammate. A brush with the Turn 2 safer-barrier wall would end Chase Elliott’s chance to challenge Kyle Larson for the trophy, as Larson secures a 3.619 seconds margin of victory.
Kevin Harvick finished in the sand box, Kurt Busch checked off fourth, and Denny Hamlin completed the top five.
William Byron finished sixth and credited with the Stage 2 win. After an unexpected caution with 50 to go, Byron dove into pit lane service for attention. Unfortunaley, Byron makes an unplanned extra pit stop to correct lug nut tightness and ends his chances of and prosperous finish.
Martin Truex Jr. additionally subdued to tire problems which forced an unscheduled green-flag pit stop on lap 56 placing him two laps down. Martin Truex Jr. finished seventh.
Christopher Bell finished eighth, Joey Logano finished ninth, and Austin Dillon finished 10th. Five of the eight playoff drivers finished inside the top 10.
Brad Keselowski suffered two flat tires eliminating his chances of contention. Brad Keselowski finished 17th one lap down.
As the track chewed on the Goodyear Eagles, 2019 Cup Champion Kyle Bush finished six laps down in 28th position, additionally contending with consistent tire issues.
Terrible day for Ryan Blaney who crashed out of the race with 44 laps to go compliments Austin Dillion chrome horn. Ryan Blaney would finished 37th.
Hollywood Casino 400 Results
October 23, 2021
NASCAR Cup Series
Pos | Driver
1. Kyle Larson
2. Chase Elliott
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Kurt Busch
5. Denny Hamlin
6. William Byron
7. Martin Truex Jr
8. Christopher Bell
9. Joey Logano
10. Austin Dillon
11. Alex Bowman
12. Chris Buescher
13. Ross Chastain
14. Bubba Wallace
15. Daniel Suarez
16. Michael McDowell
17. Brad Keselowski
18. Cole Custer
19. Chase Briscoe
20. Parker Kligerman
21. Ryan Preece
22. Tyler Reddick
23. Matt DiBenedetto
24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
25. Corey LaJoie
26. Aric Almirola
27. Ryan Newman
28. Kyle Busch
29. Erik Jones
30. BJ McLeod
31. Cody Ware
32. Joey Gase
33. Josh Bilicki
34. David Starr
35. Quin Houff
36. Ryan Ellis
37. Ryan Blaney
38. Anthony Alfredo
39. Justin Haley
40. Chad Finchum
The Hollywood Casino 400
Results (Stage 1) :
1. Kyle Larson; 2. William Byron; 3. Chase Elliott; 4. Kurt Busch; 5. Denny Hamlin; 6. Kevin Harvick; 7. Alex Bowman; 8. Ross Chastain; 9. Kyle Busch; 10. Tyler Reddick
Hollywood Casino 400
Results (Stage 2) :
1. William Byron; 2. Chase Elliott; 3. Kyle Larson; 4. Kurt Busch; 5. Kevin Harvick; 6. Tyler Reddick; 7. Alex Bowman; 8. Denny Hamlin; 9. Bubba Wallace; 10. Ross Chastain
NASCAR Cup Series
Point Standings
Points After: Kansas
Hollywood Casino 400
Round of 8 (Race 1 of 3)
Pos | Driver | Points =/- Cut
1.- Kyle Larson
2 Wins (In Round)
2. Chase Elliott
+34
3. Denny Hamlin
+32
4. Kyle Busch
+1
— Championship Cutline —
5. Ryan Blaney
-1
6. Martin Truex Jr
-3
7. Brad Keselowski
-6
8. Joey Logano
-26
The Round of 8 continues next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where the final three spots in the NASCAR Cup Championship finale will be decided.
2020 NASCAR Cup Champion Chase Elliott is the defending race winner while 2018 NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr. grabbed the checkers at Martinsville Speedway in the spring.
The Xfinity 500 scheduled green flag on Sunday (Oct. 31) at 2 p.m. ET on NBC / Sirius XM NASCAR 90