Kyle Larson didn’t just win at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, he took his slim one-point lead and absolutely blew it open to a 26-point gap over Denny Hamlin, completely grabbing control of The Chase with only six races left to go. This wasn’t some quiet cruise either. Larson looked like he’d lost the Cup race when Chase Briscoe blew past him with 30 laps remaining, only for Larson to roar back a mere 23 laps later to snatch the win. It’s his second victory in the last three races, after going 51 winless starts before this hot streak.
Larson Is Just Different Right Now
This win wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. When Briscoe had the lead, Denny Hamlin was breathing down Larson’s neck, just 5-10 points behind. But once Larson got back out front, that’s where the real damage was done. A victory alone is worth 55 points, and second place only gets you 35. Larson? He bagged a massive 76 points thanks to 55 for the win, 20 stage points from dominating both stages, and an extra point for the fastest lap. Now, his 26-point lead on Hamlin feels huge. He’s also up 50 points on Christopher Bell and 67 on Joey Logano. Those three are the only drivers even within 76 points of him. What’s even crazier is Larson might just be the fastest guy on 1.5-mile ovals right now, and guess what? The next two races at Las Vegas and Charlotte are both on 1.5-mile ovals, even if the banking is a little different.
Still, Larson isn’t getting a big head. He said qualifying getting rained out and starting on the front row made a huge difference. He knows things could be different. “If I qualify the third row, the race could look completely different,” Larson admitted. He’s still got “some skepticism of where I really rank to the guys who are really good on intermediates.” That’s the mindset of a champion, right?
Denny Hamlin Is Chasing Speed
While Larson is flying, Denny Hamlin is openly saying he needs more speed. He totally admits Larson is in control right now. Hamlin told reporters after the race that his recent finishes of ninth, eighth, and third were pretty much what his car had. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver thinks it’s less about overall speed and more about a balance problem in the car. “He’s got the point lead. He’s definitely in control,” Hamlin said. “We’re right there. We have finished right where we’ve run. … This is where we’re at right now on speed. Until we get a little bit faster in the short run, we’re going to finish right where we’re at.” That’s a pretty clear assessment. It sounds like the gap might just get bigger if they don’t find something fast.
The Carson Hocevar Incident
Speaking of things getting wild, Stage 2 kicked off with Carson Hocevar getting loose, setting off a chain-reaction wreck. It definitely looked like Brad Keselowski might have given him a shove, especially since those two tangled a few weeks ago and there was talk of payback. But Hocevar didn’t think it was intentional. “I don’t think so,” he told reporters. Sometimes a wreck is just a wreck, even when it looks super suspicious.
So, what now? Larson has a solid lead and the next two tracks are perfect for him. Can Hamlin and the others find that extra speed before it’s too late, or is Larson about to pull away even further? Las Vegas and Charlotte are up next, and you can bet the rest of The Chase field is watching every move Larson makes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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