Kyle Larson surged to the top of the leaderboard on Saturday, capturing pole position for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway after a thrilling qualifying session. The California native, driving the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, posted an impressive lap of 29.391 seconds, reaching a speed of 183.730 mph. As the last driver to take the track in single-car qualifying, Larson secured his 22nd career pole at NASCAR’s highest level, ensuring he will lead the field to green in Sunday’s race.
This achievement set the stage for a dramatic front-row rematch between Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher, echoing the unforgettable finish at Kansas last spring. Chris Buescher, piloting for RFK Racing, was narrowly edged out, with his lap of 29.448 seconds placing him just a half-tenth of a second behind Larson. For Buescher, a Texas native, it marks his first front row start since the Texas event in the fall of 2023.
The anticipation surrounding this matchup is high, particularly after last season’s record-setting finish, when Buescher crossed the line a mere 0.001 seconds behind Kyle Larson—the closest margin in NASCAR Cup Series history. Reflecting on the pole win, Larson shared,
The qualifying session was packed with intensity as top competitors battled for starting positions. Christopher Bell laid down the third-quickest time, with Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano—winner of the previous Cup Series event at Texas—rounding out the top five. Ty Gibbs, who led the sole practice session for NASCAR’s premier drivers, secured the sixth starting spot, followed by William Byron, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney completing the top ten lineup for the AdventHealth 400.
Some strong drivers, including Denny Hamlin (14th), Chase Briscoe (19th), Alex Bowman (21st), Ross Chastain (26th), Ryan Preece (30th), Kyle Busch (35th), and Brad Keselowski (36th), found themselves starting further back on the grid after challenging laps. Several competitors, such as Kyle Busch, Cody Ware, and Josh Berry, faced issues during qualifying, making contact with the wall but avoiding major damage and finishing their timed runs.
During practice at Kansas Speedway, problems with tires led to a pair of cautions in both practice groups. Although no cars suffered major damage, drivers including Brad Keselowski, Shane Van Gisbergen, Chase Briscoe, Zane Smith, and Ty Gibbs all encountered difficulties, highlighting the unpredictable conditions ahead of Sunday’s main event.
As Kyle Larson prepares to start from pole position, all eyes will be on the front row at Kansas Speedway. The rematch between Larson and Buescher promises excitement, especially given last year’s incredible finish. Fans and teams alike will watch closely to see whether Larson can capitalize on his strong qualifying effort and whether recent challenges for other top drivers might shape the outcome. The AdventHealth 400, set for Sunday, May 11 at 3:00 PM ET, could deliver yet another memorable chapter in NASCAR Cup Series history.
