Bubba Wallace approaches the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race determined to recover his past achievements at Kansas Speedway, a critical contest in his Playoff quest. With the Bubba Wallace Kansas Speedway narrative as a focal point, the 23XI Racing driver looks for a turnaround as he and his team enter the Hollywood Casino 400 this Sunday in Wyandotte County, Kansas.
Recent Track Records Show Changing Dominance at Kansas
A few years ago, 23XI Racing commanded Kansas Speedway with impressive performances. Kurt Busch provided the team one of its milestones, securing his last career Cup Series win during the debut year of the Next Gen car in 2022. Bubba Wallace followed that feat later the same year by earning a memorable Playoff victory at Kansas, notably as a non-Playoff contender at the time. Tyler Reddick continued the team’s momentum, delivering another win for 23XI Racing and extending Toyota’s winning streak at the venue to four consecutive races in early 2023, while Denny Hamlin triumphed for Joe Gibbs Racing that spring.
However, recent events at the 1.5-mile track have been marked by a shift in fortunes. Chevrolet drivers clinched the last three Kansas victories, with Kyle Larson seizing the two most recent spring events and Ross Chastain capturing last year’s Playoff race. This string of outcomes has snapped Toyota and 23XI Racing’s former stronghold at the facility.
Wallace and Reddick Face Playoff Pressure Ahead of Kansas Challenge
Bubba Wallace enters Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 sitting 12th in the Playoff standings after the points reset, hindered by a 26th-place showing in the Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He now trails the elimination cutoff for the Round of 8 by 27 points, making a strong Kansas result all but mandatory for Playoff survival. Tyler Reddick, Wallace’s teammate at 23XI Racing, is also feeling the urgency, currently 11th in the standings and 23 markers behind the advancement line following a 21st-place finish at Loudon. Both drivers must deliver standout performances in order to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
Reflecting on his recent struggles at Kansas, Wallace commented,
“Kansas—we haven’t had much to brag about the last few times we’ve been there,”
and added,
“We’ve got to find our mojo back there.”
– Bubba Wallace, Driver
Kyle Larson’s Dominance Sets the Bar at Kansas
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports has been the leading force at Kansas Speedway lately. Known for his aggressive, high-line racing style, Larson piloted the No. 5 Chevrolet to victory in May by leading 221 laps, setting a Cup Series record for laps led in a 400-mile race on a 1.5-mile track. His dominance is reflected further by his three Kansas wins in the last ten races, making him the sole repeat champion at the venue during that period.
Larson noted,
“Kansas is probably statistically one of our strongest tracks as a team,”
and continued,
“For the most part, everyone runs the top, but I feel like at the end of the run you can kind of move around and find some grip. It’s probably our best track for Next Gen racing because of the options.”
– Kyle Larson, Driver
Larson is currently ranked third in the Playoff standings, just behind Ryan Blaney and William Byron. Byron holds a 47-point cushion over the elimination line, and Larson sits 41 points above the cutoff, while Blaney, having won at New Hampshire, is the only driver already guaranteed a spot in the next Playoff round.
Other Contenders and Track Trends to Watch
Joey Logano arrives at Kansas sixth in points, fueled by three consecutive top-five finishes—the best streak he’s enjoyed since 2019. Notably, a Ford driver hasn’t won at Kansas since Logano’s own victory in 2020. Christopher Bell, fourth in the standings, has consistently been at the front, having led laps in seven straight Kansas races, tying a track record.
The importance of a strong qualifying performance is clear: 10 of the past 11 Kansas winners have started from within the top 10 on the grid, with six coming from the first five positions.
Discussing the impact of car performance, Denny Hamlin, a four-time Kansas winner, remarked,
“It seems like when an organization has horsepower and downforce, it works for one lap, and it works for 20, 30 laps in a run,”
and emphasized,
“If you’ve got speed, you’ll have it the whole time.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
Since the track’s repave in 2012, Kansas Speedway has developed multiple fast racing lanes. The outside line especially rewards bold, skilled drivers. Hamlin observed,
“There are certainly guys that are better at it than others, and we’re going to see that,”
and highlighted,
“There are just guys like Larson who know how to run the top lane there as good as anyone, and they can carry a car better than most drivers.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
What’s at Stake for Bubba Wallace and the Playoff Field
The upcoming Hollywood Casino 400 presents a defining moment for both Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing’s Playoff journey. With recent success for drivers like Kyle Larson and shifting manufacturer momentum at Kansas Speedway, the challenge is steep. A strong performance could resurrect Wallace’s postseason hopes, while another setback may end his advancement chances. As history shows, both qualifying and in-race adaptability at Kansas are essential, setting the stage for a dramatic contest in the heart of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
