Kyle Larson, who previously led 221 laps to win at Kansas Motor Speedway during last May’s Cup Series event, is set to make another push to strengthen his Kansas playoff hopes as the NASCAR postseason continues. The Hendrick Motorsports driver seeks to maintain a strong points lead in the standings as the Cup Series heads to Kansas for the second race in the playoff Round of 12 this Sunday.
Despite his commanding performance in Kansas earlier this season, Larson has not returned to Victory Lane in the 18 weekends since that win. Now, returning to the Sunflower State, his primary focus is not just on winning, but on keeping a safe margin above the playoff cutoff line. As he shared during an interview at Arrowhead Stadium,
We’re going to Kansas, a good track for us. Hopefully, we can have another good points day and be well above the cut line before the Roval.
— Kyle Larson, Driver
Holding a 41-point advantage over the elimination line following a seventh-place result in New Hampshire last weekend, Larson recognizes the importance of capitalizing on his Kansas performance to ensure advancement to the next playoff stage. He is optimistic about surviving this round, seeing Kansas as a critical opportunity before moving forward to venues where he’s experienced greater consistency and success.
Charlotte Roval: The Upcoming Playoff Challenge
Looking ahead, the Charlotte Roval presents uncertainty for Larson and other contenders. Though Larson captured victory at the Roval last year, repeating that outcome is far from certain, especially with formidable competition in the form of Shane van Gisbergen. Van Gisbergen, racing for Trackhouse Racing, has excelled on road courses this season, collecting four victories, all on such tracks, making him a key rival for the final race of the current playoff round.
Drivers are aiming to solidify their positions before the Roval, understanding the difficulty of outpacing specialists like van Gisbergen on road circuits. Larson is no exception, focusing on maximizing his points in Kansas to reduce reliance on a strong finish at the Roval and keeping his Kansas playoff hopes firmly in view.
Next Round Awaits with More Favorable Venues
If Larson maintains his position and advances beyond this playoff round, he will face tracks where he feels more assured of strong results: Las Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville. He expressed confidence in the upcoming venues by stating,
Get through this round, and then Vegas is a great track for us. Talladega, I feel like we do a really good job on Speedways of gaining points and getting good finishes now this year.
— Kyle Larson, Driver
He further shared his optimism,
And then honestly, Martinsville has been one of our better tracks. So, I really like the next round.
— Kyle Larson, Driver
All focus now turns to the qualifying session at Kansas, which is slated to begin at 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, where Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports team will look to position themselves advantageously for the race and continue strengthening his Kansas playoff hopes. The outcome will be pivotal not only for Larson but for other key contenders aiming for advancement in this intense postseason battle.
