The NASCAR Cup Series Kansas returns to Kansas Speedway on September 28 as the Playoff battle intensifies in the Round of 12. Drivers and teams will be aiming for a strong finish in the Hollywood Casino 400, hoping to either secure their spot in the next round or swing momentum as the championship race heats up.
Key Details About the Hollywood Casino 400
The Hollywood Casino 400 will take place at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The race is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET and will be televised on the USA Network. This event covers three stages: 80, 165, and 267 laps, with 37 cars on the entry list competing for 40 available spots. Last year, Ross Chastain claimed victory in this event, further raising expectations for another thrilling contest.
Playoff Standings Heading Into Kansas
After last week’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney has already clinched a place in the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. However, several drivers find themselves needing a strong result at Kansas to recover from disappointing showings in prior races. Specifically, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace are below the cutoff line as they approach the second race of the Round of 12.
The looming Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL adds to the pressure, as many drivers would prefer to lock themselves into the next round at Kansas rather than risk their fate on the unpredictable road course next week. Notably, Chastain, Reddick, and Wallace have all taken victories at Kansas before, with Chastain’s win coming in last year’s iteration of this event. Alongside them, past Kansas winners like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott are all eager to solidify their advancement into the Round of 8 and remain above the elimination line.
Unexpected High Stakes at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway may appear as a standard 1.5-mile oval, but it has repeatedly delivered high-stakes moments that impact the Playoff picture. In the 2024 AdventHealth 400, Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher engaged in one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history, with Larson winning by just 0.001 seconds. The track’s reputation for drama goes further back, featuring tight contests like Joe Nemechek’s victory in 2004 and Jeff Gordon’s memorable win in 2014.
Another crucial moment for Kansas came during the 2015 Playoff race, when Joey Logano’s win—after a contentious on-track exchange with Matt Kenseth—sparked further conflict between the drivers and influenced subsequent events at Martinsville Speedway. With Kansas again placed mid-Playoffs, another pivotal moment could shift the championship landscape this weekend.
Potential Surprises in the Playoff Mix
The unpredictable nature of the NASCAR Cup Series Kansas event means that even non-Playoff drivers can affect the outcome. Last week, Josh Berry nearly upset contenders with a second-place run at New Hampshire despite being out of the championship hunt. In the previous year’s Hollywood Casino 400, Ross Chastain captured a win as a non-Playoff participant, demonstrating that anything is possible at Kansas.
Josh Berry, who previously finished sixth at Kansas earlier in the season, enters this weekend as a potential wildcard who could again shake up the Playoff scenarios. Chris Buescher, already known for his razor-thin finish against Kyle Larson at the 2024 AdventHealth 400, cannot be overlooked as a candidate for victory either. As the stakes rise, drivers, teams, and fans alike are bracing for another dramatic chapter in the road to the championship.
With a rich history of surprise finishes, close battles, and pivotal moments, Kansas Speedway stands as a defining battleground in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The outcome of this weekend’s Hollywood Casino 400 could significantly shape the race for the championship as teams look ahead to the unpredictable Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and beyond.
