Even though Kyle Larson drove his No. 5 Chevrolet to a photo-finish victory at Kansas Speedway last spring, he’s not counting on a repeat win just yet. The 2021 Cup champion knows that while Chevrolet swept both races at the 1.5-mile oval in 2023, Toyota teams—especially those backed by Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing—have built a history of dominance in Kansas. Heading into Sunday’s AdventHealth 400, the conversation around manufacturer strength is heating up, and there’s plenty of reason to believe that any of the Big Three—Chevy, Ford, or Toyota—could take home the trophy.
Kyle Larson’s Respect for the Toyotas at Kansas
Kyle Larson might have earned a win for the ages last year by beating Chris Buescher by a mere 0.001 second—the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history—but he still believes Toyota holds the upper hand at Kansas Speedway.
“Whether I won or I didn’t, it was really neat to be a part of a finish like that. So obviously, I was happy to come out a thousandth ahead, but still, to be a part of a finish like that was pretty neat.”
“The Toyotas—they’re still the best there, I think. We’ve chipped away at it and gotten better, I think. I’ve led lots of laps there since we’ve gone there with the Next Gen. I just hadn’t gotten the win until last year.” – Kyle Larson
Despite Chevrolet sweeping both Kansas races in 2023 with Larson in the spring and Ross Chastain in the fall, Larson has his reasons for keeping an eye on the Camrys. From 2021 to 2023, Toyota won four straight races at Kansas through four different drivers—Kurt Busch, Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick.
Even though Larson has led laps and improved steadily at Kansas, he’s well aware that his win last year came down to a margin thinner than a blink. It’s no surprise that he isn’t underestimating the Toyotas heading into this weekend’s showdown.
Toyota Drivers Look to Reclaim Momentum
Bubba Wallace knows exactly what winning at Kansas feels like. In 2022, he earned his second career Cup win there, making it a high point for 23XI Racing. But that magic has slipped a bit over the past year, and Wallace is hoping this weekend offers a chance to turn things around.
“I don’t know where we got off pace there, but we did,” Wallace said of his recent struggles at the track, including a pair of 17th-place finishes last year. “It’s not like we’re way out in left field from what we had a couple years ago. It’s maybe one thing that’s giving us the wrong feel.”
Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell has been lightning-fast in qualifying. Bell has claimed the pole at Kansas in the last three events—something not seen since Larson’s streak at Sonoma from 2017 to 2022. That kind of starting position matters, though Chastain proved last fall that you can win from deep in the field, starting 20th and breaking a nine-race streak of Kansas winners coming from inside the top 10.
For the Toyota camp, Kansas represents a pivotal moment. With recent speed and past victories, they’re eager to return to the top step of the podium and reclaim their dominance at this track.
Ford Still Fighting for Respect Despite Momentum
Don’t count Ford out just yet. Joey Logano’s recent win at Texas gave the Blue Oval brigade a needed boost. While Logano remains the only Ford driver to win at Kansas in the last 12 races, the team has shown signs of life in 2024 on 1.5-mile tracks.
Josh Berry’s surprise win at Las Vegas for the Wood Brothers and Buescher’s near-miss at Kansas last year show that Ford can challenge the status quo. Buescher himself is taking the runner-up finish in stride.
“When it does come up, I try to make a joke about being the closest loser ever,” Buescher said. “Ultimately, we’re trying to look further ahead… no time wasted in that.”
Ford has won two of the three 1.5-mile races so far this season. The stats suggest they’re trending in the right direction, but the challenge will be turning that pace into consistent top-five finishes and more trophies.
News in Brief: NASCAR Manufacturer Rivalry at Kansas
Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 promises to be a thriller. With a record-setting 37 lead changes in last spring’s race and the closest finish in Cup Series history, Kansas Speedway is quickly becoming one of NASCAR’s most dramatic battlegrounds. While Kyle Larson and Chevrolet hold the most recent bragging rights, the Toyotas of Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing are fast and hungry. Ford, riding the momentum of recent wins, is far from an underdog.
Whether it’s Larson defending his title, Toyota reclaiming its dominance, or Ford surprising the field again, one thing’s for sure—Kansas is about to deliver another unforgettable finish.
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