Kyle Larson dominates at Kansas, padding NASCAR points lead over Denny Hamlin

The reigning champion of the NASCAR Cup Series is looking like his old self again.

After ending a 51-race winless streak two weeks ago at Gateway, Kyle Larson found victory lane once again at a crucial time in the season, leading 235 laps on Sunday, Sept. 27 to take the checkered flag at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Four races into NASCAR’s postseason Chase, Larson has padded his lead over regular-season champion Denny Hamlin - who finished third - now with an advantage of 26 points. It was a max-points day for Larson, as his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet won the race, the first and second stages, and had the fastest lap.

“It wasn’t easy, I know it looked easy at times,” Larson told MRN after the win.

Larson lost the lead to Chase Briscoe with 29 laps to go, but charged back and regained it with six to go, then held off Austin Cindric while battling lapped traffic.

“You saw the fight from Kyle there at the end. We’ve been through a tough summer,” Larson’s crew chief Cliff Daniels told MRN. “For a minute there, I thought we were going to get beat, but Kyle is tough as nails. Just a great day for our team. I’m super proud of our guys, but the work is not finished.”

After losing the lead to Larson, Briscoe - who started the race in 23rd - tagged the wall and faded back to fourth place. Finishing behind him was Ryan Blaney in fifth, Christopher Bell sixth, William Byron seventh, Chase Elliott eighth, Bubba Wallace in ninth and Ryan Preece rounding out the top 10.

For second-place Cindric, it was the best finish of the season for his No. 2 Team Penske Ford.

By leading the majority of the laps at Kansas, Larson has now passed Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott for 19th in most laps led all-time in the Cup Series.

“I really thought when Chase got by he was going to stretch out… I don’t know, I think it’s just easier to be the hunter rather than the hunted,” Larson told USA Network. “That was fun. That was such a good day.”