Ryan Blaney moved one step closer to a potential second NASCAR Cup Series championship last week in New Hampshire.
The Team Penske driver was easily the fastest car in qualifying and race day as he led the final 50 laps to take his third victory of the year. His prize was a secured spot in the Round of 8 – and a local delicacy: a live lobster.
‘I’ve wanted a lobster ever since I was a little kid coming to watch these races. I’ve always wanted one of those things, so I’m looking forward to it,’ Blaney said after his victory.
Blaney won the championship in 2023 and finished runner-up last year to teammate Joey Logano. His win last week ensures he’ll fight on to the next round of the playoffs and he holds a two-point lead over William Byron in the playoff standings.
Sunday marks the Cup Series’ second visit to Kansas Speedway this season. Kyle Larson won the AdventHealth 400 in May in dominant fashion. The Hendrick Motorsports driver took pole position, won every stage, led the most laps and notched the fastest lap of the race.
Larson sits in third in the playoff standings behind Blaney and Byron. He’s one of eight playoff drivers looking for their first win of the postseason to punch their ticket one step further in the playoffs.
Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 28:
Denny Hamlin wins Stage 1 of Kansas playoff race
Denny Hamlin led 55 laps in the opening stage of the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway and held off Kyle Larson at the line to win Stage 1 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race. Hamlin started second, alongside pole winner and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, who led 19 laps in the 80-lap opening stage.
Larson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott finished second and third, respectively, followed by JGR’s Christopher Bell and Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing. Briscoe took sixth in Stage 1, with reigning series champion Joey Logano in seventh, Chris Buescher eighth, Zane Smith ninth and Carson Hocevar 10th.
Among the other playoff drivers remaining in the Round of 12, Bubba Wallace was 13th, Ryan Blaney 14th, William Byron 15th, Austin Cindric 19th and Tyler Reddick 24th.
What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Kansas start?
The Hollywood Casino 400 is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Kansas on?
The Hollywood Casino 400 will be broadcast on USA Network, the channel for most of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Kansas?
Yes, the Hollywood Casino 400 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream the NASCAR race at Kansas on Fubo
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Kansas?
The Hollywood Casino 400 is 267 laps around the 1.5-mile track for a total of 400.5 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 80 laps; Stage 2: 85 laps; Stage 3: 102 laps.
NASCAR playoff standings
Here’s how the field stacks up with the gap to leader in parentheses. Four drivers were eliminated after Bristol: Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry.
- Ryan Blaney
- William Byron (-2)
- Kyle Larson (-8)
- Christopher Bell (-20)
- Denny Hamlin (-22)
- Joey Logano (-25)
- Chase Elliott (-35)
- Chase Briscoe (-37)
- Ross Chastain (-49)
- Austin Cindric (-56)
- Tyler Reddick (-60)
- Bubba Wallace (-64)
Who won the NASCAR Cup playoff race at Kansas last year?
Ross Chastain didn’t make the playoffs but ensured he wouldn’t go winless in the 2024 Cup Series season by taking the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway last September. He overtook Martin Truex Jr. for the lead on a restart with less than 20 laps to go and kept William Byron far enough behind to get the win. Byron, Truex, Ryan Blaney and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top five.
What is the lineup for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas?
Here is the lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Kansas Speedway (car number in parentheses; P=playoff driver):
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (P)
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (P)
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (P)
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (P)
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (P)
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (P)
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (P)
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (P)
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (P)
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
- Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (P)
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (P)
- JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (P)
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