The 2025 AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway delivered a race full of unexpected twists and high-speed drama. Kyle Larson powered his way to another win, but not without facing fierce competition and handling a few surprises of his own. Meanwhile, mechanical problems took down some of the series’ biggest names. Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski both had their own struggles, with Keselowski’s tire troubles costing him dearly. What went wrong for these contenders? Read on to uncover the full story.
Chaos from the Start: Four-Wide Madness and Tire Concerns
The 2025 AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway kicked off with a thunderous roar as drivers launched into the first few laps in a frenzy. The green flag barely dropped before the field exploded into a four-wide battle deeper in the pack, setting the tone for a wild and unpredictable day of racing.
Austin Dillon found himself trapped in the middle early, losing momentum as he was swallowed by traffic. Kansas, known for its wide racing surface, funneled drivers from four lanes down to two, causing early chaos and contact.
While battles unfolded up front, tire strategy quickly took center stage. Teams were flirting with the limits of air pressure, especially in the rear tires, to gain speed. As the track heated up, so did the risk. Christopher Bell and others noted handling issues, while William Byron appeared to suffer a right rear failure mid-run. Despite slowing dramatically, he avoided bringing out a caution. His radio chatter revealed a tight car on restarts and a long-run setup that just wasn’t working.
The constant threat of tire issues added pressure for crews to make careful air pressure decisions. Too low and they risked a blowout; too high and they’d be left in the dust.
Kyle Larson Takes Command as the Field Battles Behind
Kyle Larson wasted no time asserting dominance. He rocketed to the lead, methodically carving through traffic and winning Stage 1 with ease—his seventh stage win of the season, more than double any other driver. Larson crossed a significant milestone during the stage, eclipsing 10,000 career laps led, joining only Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin among active drivers with that achievement.
Behind him, action remained intense as lapped cars like Dillon, Ross Chastain, and Carson Hocevar fought desperately to stay on the lead lap. At one point, they were three-wide in front of Larson, creating a precarious situation for the leader. Larson chose not to force the issue, demonstrating patience and veteran awareness. His decision paid off as he maintained the lead and avoided unnecessary contact.
The battle wasn’t without tension, as crew chiefs began expressing concern over tire wear and fuel mileage heading into the second stage. Strategy and composure were going to be just as important as raw speed.
Stage Two Gets Dicey: Hamlin Retires, Keselowski Blows a Tire, Pit Stops Go Haywire
Larson held off a charging Chase Elliott to win Stage 2, but it was far from a smooth ride. Noah Gragson was pushing hard to get back on the lead lap, running the outside line aggressively. Meanwhile, Chastain was again right in the mix, refusing to yield as Larson negotiated around lap traffic.
But the biggest stories came from the setbacks suffered by several contenders. Brad Keselowski blew a right rear tire, causing the fourth caution of the day. His team had gambled with lower pressures to gain speed, but it backfired in spectacular fashion. The blown tire destroyed his momentum and forced an unscheduled stop.
Chase Elliott’s pit crew also had trouble. During a routine stop, the jack dropped too soon on the right rear, forcing the crew to re-lift the car. The miscue cost Elliott several positions, dropping him to 12th after a 14.7-second stop. That blunder proved costly as track position became even more important with the sun setting and the race intensity rising.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin’s day ended prematurely, his Toyota pushed behind the wall after transmission issues left him stuck in gear. High revs and audible grinding suggested a terminal failure, and the No. 11 team quietly ended their race in the garage.
Cautions Stack Up: Multiple Crashes Rattle the Field
As the final stage got underway, cautions began to stack up quickly. The Gen-7 car’s tight racing and limited forgiveness showed its teeth.
The first major incident involved the No. 10 getting loose under the No. 51 and collecting Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 in the chaos. The 99 was an innocent bystander, caught trying to avoid the wreck with nowhere to go.
Then came a chaotic restart where the field went five-wide, with Kyle Larson still holding the lead. On the ensuing green flag, Kyle Busch slid up the track, making contact and bouncing off several cars before slamming the wall. The contact damaged his right front, and although the yellow didn’t fly immediately, it eventually triggered the sixth caution.
Another restart saw Chase Briscoe go three-wide on the inside of Alex Bowman, while Christopher Bell sailed around the outside of Joey Logano. But the battle didn’t last long. Bubba Wallace, Justin Haley, and Erik Jones were caught in a multi-car pileup entering Turn 2 after contact stacked up the field. Haley got into Jones, who then clipped Wallace’s rear quarter, sending the 23 hard into the Turn 3 wall. Wallace’s day ended there in frustration.
In the aftermath, both RCR cars were involved in separate incidents within a few laps, highlighting how treacherous the race had become as aggressive restarts and desperate positioning pushed the limits.
Kyle Larson Hangs On With a Damaged Car to Seal the Win
As the final laps ticked down, the focus returned to Kyle Larson, who led a field of battered but determined contenders. Despite late pressure from Christopher Bell and signs of right front tire wear, Larson managed the gap.
Coming to the white flag, Larson’s car showed visible signs of damage, with rubber stripping from the right front. His team radioed to hang on for just one more lap. In a tense final mile, Larson stayed low, avoided the wall, and crossed the line ahead of Bell by just over a second.
It was a race that demanded perfect execution, and the No. 5 team delivered across the board—from pit road speed to strategic decisions and Larson’s ability to manage chaos around him. His crew chief, Cliff Daniels, once again demonstrated poise under pressure, helping Larson navigate through a minefield of blown tires, crashes, and lapped traffic.
The win was a culmination of dominant speed and smart racing, the kind of performance that puts a championship-caliber season into sharp focus. For Kyle Larson, the Kansas win wasn’t just another trophy—it was proof that patience, precision, and leadership remain the keys to conquering the unpredictable nature of the NASCAR Cup Series.
News in Brief: Highlights from the Kansas 2025 Cup Race
Kyle Larson’s dominant performance at the 2025 AdventHealth 400 earned him his third win of the season, despite tire issues and tough competition. Christopher Bell finished in second, with Ryan Blaney rounding out the top three. The race saw Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin face significant setbacks, including tire failures and mechanical issues. William Byron’s race ended in disaster with a blown tire. As the series heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway, expect more action, as the standings continue to shift in dramatic fashion
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