The NASCAR Cup Series heads north on Interstate 35, heading to the Kansas Speedway and the Advent Health 400. Here is everything you need to know before 400 miles of Cup Series racing.
NASCAR Cup Series Advent Health 400 at Kansas Speedway Preview:
Last May, it was Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher making history in the closest finish in NASCAR History, with just .001 seconds between the two. The finish was decided by a single inch, and it was Kyle Larson taking his second of six wins in 2024. Will Larson go back-to-back? Can Chris Buescher get that race win back this year? Or will it be Toyota yet again?
Race Preview:
The Advent Health 400 at Kansas Speedway is a 400-mile, 267-lap race around the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. Stage cautions will be displayed on laps 80 and 165, with the checkered flag flying on lap 267. A total of 11,055,250 dollars is up for grabs for finishing the race. The Goodyear tires being used are the same as last weekend at Texas, also previously used at Homestead, Darlington, and Las Vegas.
The Track: Kansas Speedway
With its groundbreaking in 1991 and opening in 2001, Kansas Speedway is in Kansas City, Kansas. It was built as part of an effort between NASCAR and its International Speedway Corporation to break into the Midwest region with the Cup Series. Since its opening, it has hosted NASCAR, IndyCar, and even IMSA on its infield road course. Its 1.5-mile track has 17 degrees of banking at the bottom of the racetrack, and it increases to 20 degrees at the wall. The front stretch is 10 degrees, and the back is 5 degrees.
The Cup Series has raced at Kansas 38 times. Jeff Gordon won the first race in 2001. Denny Hamlin has the most wins among active and retired drivers with four wins. Kyle Larson set the lap record in 2018, with a 28.857-second lap.
Cup Series Points Standings:
Here are the points standings for the Cup Series following last week’s race at Texas:
1. William Byron: 421
2. Kyle Larson: 408
3. Denny Hamlin: 338
4. Chase Elliott: 338
5. Tyler Reddick: 337
6. Christopher Bell: 335
7. Ryan Blaney: 313
8. Bubba Wallace: 306
9. Joey Logano: 288
10. Alex Bowman: 284
READ MORE: Joey Logano Makes Late Charge to Win Crashed Filled NASCAR Cup Series Race at Texas
Drivers to Watch:
We have two drivers from the lower series making starts the Sunday in the Cup Series. Jesse Love makes his second Cup Series start in a row, driving for Richard Childress in the #33 Chevy. Corey Heim makes his first start with 23XI Racing in 2025, driving the #67 Robinhood Camry.
Whole squad ready. 💪
4 x #ForwardTogether headed to Kansas. 🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️ pic.twitter.com/1zfcqdMbqR
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) May 8, 2025
Toyota has been the dominant manufacturer at Kansas since the inception of the Next-Gen car. Four of the last six have been won by Toyota. Denny Hamlin has been the dominant Toyota, only finishing a low of eighth in Next-Gen. Hamlin was on fire last week, literally, so he wants to recoup some lost points. Look for the #11 Toyota on Sunday.
It was Chevrolet sweeping both Kansas races last year, first with Larson and then with Ross Chastain. Chastain finished second last weekend and is hungry for a win after missing the playoffs last year. But Larson’s dominance is upon us. One win and two top fives in the last three races. Look for the #5 of Larson to be leading the race and the bowties.
While Chevy and Toyota have been dominant in the Next-Gen era, Ford has been a mixed bag in the last six races. While Buescher ran second to Larson in the spring, he has been so and so in the other five races. If I were to pick a Ford driver to win this race, it would be Blaney. Fourth in the fall race, and third at Texas last week. Look for Blaney to lead the Fords in Kansas.
How To Watch The Cup Series at Kansas:
Saturday, May 10th:
- Practice:
- 4:30 PM Eastern
- Coverage is on Amazon Prime
- Qualifying:
- 5:40 PM Eastern
- Coverage continues on Amazon Prime
Sunday, May 11th:
- The Advent Health 400 at Kansas Speedway:
- 3:00 PM Eastern
- Coverage is on Fox Sports 1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Stay connected with Last Word On Motorsports for all the news from the NASCAR Cup Series and the race at Kansas
Main Photo: Sean Gardner, Getty Images
Recording Date: 5/5/2024
