Chastain Wins Kansas for 1st win of 2024, Larson struggles but holds P1 ranking
29 September 2024
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News
KANSAS CITY, KS — Ross Chastain’s win at Kansas Speedway is delivered some drama to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Chastain in his №1 Trackhouse Chevrolet clinched victory at the Hollywood Casino 400, as he did last year at the Phoenix season finale collecting a race win as a non-playoff driver. The win is Chastain’s first of the season and his career’s fifth.
Chastain seized the lead from Martin Truex Jr. after the final restart on Lap 248 and managed to fend off Hendrick Motorsports William Byron by a mere 0.388 seconds[2]. This victory thwarted Byron’s attempt to secure an automatic advancement into the Round of 8, adding an extra layer of excitement to the playoff opener.
“For us on this 1 team, it’s what Cup racing is all about,” Chastain remarked. He credited the team’s co-owner, Justin Marks, and Pitbull for their vision of disruption in NASCAR.
GFT AI Driver Rankings after Kansas
Challenges and Near Misses
William Byron, who led for 24 laps, expressed his frustration at not being able to overcome Chastain’s aerodynamic advantage in the closing laps. “Yeah, just clean air,” Byron said, highlighting the challenges he faced. Despite his efforts, Byron had to settle for second place, knowing the upcoming race at Talladega Superspeedway would be another tough battle.
Martin Truex Jr. finished third, having lost the lead to Chastain and Byron after the final restart. Defending series champion Ryan Blaney managed to secure fourth place despite an unscheduled pit stop for a loose wheel, showcasing his determination and skill.
Playoff Implications and Standings
The race had significant implications for the playoff standings. Byron heads to Talladega as the series leader, with a narrow six-point lead over Christopher Bell and Blaney[9]. Tyler Reddick, who finished 25th, finds himself four points below the elimination line, adding pressure for the upcoming races.
Kyle Larson, the top seed entering the Round of 12, experienced a challenging race. After cutting a right-rear tire and hitting the wall early in the race, Larson finished 26th but remains fourth in the standings, 18 points above the elimination line.
Notable Performances and Setbacks
Several drivers had notable performances and setbacks. Ty Gibbs, eliminated from the playoffs in the previous round, finished fifth. Playoff drivers Alex Bowman, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott also delivered strong performances, finishing in the top ten.
However, it was a tough day for Kyle Busch, who led on Lap 226 but spun out after attempting to lap Chase Briscoe. Busch finished 19th, reflecting on the challenges of navigating lapped traffic in the closing stages of the race.
GFT NASCAR BOX SCORES
After 30 Races …
Manufactures Box Score:
Chevrolet = 13
Toyota = 8
Ford = 9
Team Box Score:
Hendrick Motorsports = 10
Driver Box Score:
Kyle Larson = 5 wins
GFT AI NASCAR Fantasy LIVE — back in the top 15%
162 points — not the best performance of our GFT AI Race Prediction model so far in the 2024 NASCAR Fantasy Live season, but our AI model remains in the top 15% of all players (13.99%) in the TMD NASCAR Fantasy Live League.
Looking Ahead
The Kansas race featured 30 lead changes among 15 drivers, setting a track record. As the Cup Series moves to Talladega Superspeedway, the stakes are higher than ever. With Byron leading the standings and several drivers on the brink of elimination, Talladega promises to deliver more playoff drama.
