For the second year in a row, Kyle Larson conquered Kansas Speedway with authority. The Hendrick Motorsports driver delivered a near-flawless showing in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400, capturing his third win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. From the moment he took the green flag on pole, it was clear Larson came to dominate—and he did just that.
The 32-year-old piloted the No. 5 Chevrolet to a commanding victory, sweeping both stages, setting the fastest lap, and leading a track-record 221 of 267 laps. As if the stats weren’t convincing enough, the win also launched Larson past teammate William Byron in the championship standings, marking a pivotal moment early in the season.
With Kansas now in the rearview, all eyes turn to North Wilkesboro and the NASCAR All-Star Race. But before that, let’s break down how Larson crushed the competition and what it means moving forward.
A Statement Win from Start to Finish
Larson entered the weekend already in strong form, having qualified on the pole on Saturday with a near-perfect lap that knocked Chris Buescher off the top spot. That momentum carried straight into Sunday. Right from the green flag, Larson made it clear he wasn’t going to let anyone else touch the lead easily.
The race featured 15 lead changes, but none felt permanent outside of Larson’s runs at the front. He took both stage wins and managed tire wear, restarts, and pit strategy flawlessly. With crew chief Cliff Daniels calling the shots, the No. 5 team executed every detail without error.
“The car just felt incredible all day,” Larson said after the race. “Clean air helped, for sure, but the speed we had everywhere—even in traffic—was just insane. This one is special.”
Larson’s dominance wasn’t just about staying out front. His No. 5 Chevrolet consistently posted the fastest laps, and he held off strong late runs by Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney in the final stage without breaking a sweat. In total, Larson earned the maximum 61 points available—an almost unheard-of performance in the modern Cup Series era.
Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney Among Standouts Behind Kyle Larson
While Larson stole the spotlight, several other drivers delivered solid days. Christopher Bell, who started third, stayed in contention all afternoon and claimed the runner-up spot. His No. 20 Toyota looked strong on longer runs, but not quite enough to keep up with Larson’s pace.
“I thought we had something for him during the long green run, but he just never faded,” Bell said. “Still, it’s great momentum for us heading into the break.”
Ryan Blaney came home third in the No. 12 Ford, marking another consistent run for Team Penske. Behind him, Chase Briscoe surprised many by finishing fourth—his best result of the season—and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five in another solid showing for Hendrick Motorsports.
Josh Berry, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, and John Hunter Nemechek completed the top ten. Buescher, who narrowly lost the pole to Larson on Saturday, once again found himself trailing the No. 5 by a frustrating margin—but still notched a respectable finish.
Meanwhile, William Byron’s day unraveled early. After losing a tire and brushing the wall in Stage 1, he was forced to pit under green, losing valuable track position and a lap in the process. He never fully recovered and ended the day in 24th, collecting only 13 points. Larson’s 61-point haul flipped the championship script—turning Byron’s 13-point lead into a 35-point deficit.
Tough Breaks and Full Finishing Order
While the front of the field showcased precision and pace, the middle and back of the pack were a different story. Several big names suffered setbacks:
Kyle Busch struggled and finished 21st, despite flashes of speed earlier in the weekend.
Ty Gibbs, one of the top qualifiers, faded in the second half and placed 28th.
Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Daniel Suarez all had mechanical or handling issues and finished outside the top 30.
Here’s the full finishing order from the AdventHealth 400:
| No. | Driver | Car No. |
| 1 | Kyle Larson | 5 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 20 |
| 3 | Ryan Blaney | 12 |
| 4 | Chase Briscoe | 19 |
| 5 | Alex Bowman | 48 |
| 6 | Josh Berry | 21 |
| 7 | Ryan Preece | 60 |
| 8 | Chris Buescher | 17 |
| 9 | Joey Logano | 22 |
| 10 | John Hunter Nemechek | 42 |
| 11 | Austin Cindric | 2 |
| 12 | Todd Gilliland | 34 |
| 13 | Corey Heim | 67 |
| 14 | Noah Gragson | 4 |
| 15 | Chase Elliott | 9 |
| 16 | Zane Smith | 38 |
| 17 | Tyler Reddick | 45 |
| 18 | Ross Chastain | 1 |
| 19 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 |
| 20 | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 |
| 21 | Kyle Busch | 8 |
| 22 | Austin Dillon | 3 |
| 23 | Michael McDowell | 71 |
| 24 | William Byron | 24 |
| 25 | Cole Custer | 41 |
| 26 | Carson Hocevar | 77 |
| 27 | Riley Herbst | 35 |
| 28 | Ty Gibbs | 54 |
| 29 | Jesse Love | 33 |
| 30 | Cody Ware | 51 |
| 31 | Justin Haley | 7 |
| 32 | Erik Jones | 43 |
| 33 | Bubba Wallace | 23 |
| 34 | Daniel Suarez | 99 |
| 35 | Ty Dillon | 10 |
| 36 | Denny Hamlin | 11 |
| 37 | Brad Keselowski | 6 |
| 38 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 |
News in Brief: Kansas Cup Race Results 2025
Kyle Larson didn’t just win at Kansas—he sent a clear message. His complete sweep of the weekend wasn’t luck or strategy; it was raw speed, teamwork, and execution. And now, with the points lead in hand, he heads into All-Star week with a target on his back.
The Cup Series now shifts gears for a non-points event at North Wilkesboro, but make no mistake—momentum like this has lasting impact. Larson has three wins already and looks poised to make a deep playoff run if his form holds.
For now, the rest of the field is left playing catch-up. And if Larson keeps driving like this, they might be chasing him for a while.
ALSO READ: Carson Hocevar Wins Big in Kansas After Layne Riggs’ Disqualification – Complete Race Results
