GFT Facts & Stats Friday: NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway
3 May 2024
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News
KANSAS CITY, KS — Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the most recent winner, taking the victory last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, tying Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron for the season-most wins at three each. Through the first 11 races of the season, Hendrick Motorsports (five) and Joe Gibbs Racing (four) have combined to win nine of the 11 events — a winning percentage of 81.8%, the two other organizations with wins being Trackhouse Racing (Atlanta) and 23XI Racing (Talladega).
In total five of the seven race winners this season are from either Hendrick Motorsports — William Byron (three wins), Kyle Larson (one win) and Chase Elliott (one win) — or Joe Gibbs Racing — Denny Hamlin (three wins), Christopher Bell (one win).
When it comes to this weekend at Kansas Speedway, expect the two titans of the NASCAR Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, to continue to battle it out again as they are tied for the series-most wins at the 1.5-mile track with eight victories each:
- Hendrick Motorsports: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014), Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015), Chase Elliott (one: Playoffs 2018) and Kyle Larson (one: Playoffs 2021).
- Joe Gibbs Racing: Tony Stewart (2006), Denny Hamlin (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023), Matt Kenseth (2013), and Kyle Busch (2016, 2021).
Denny Hamlin is the Chief of Kansas Speedway
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is coming off his third win of the season last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, tying William Byron for the series-most victories on the year. Now, the 43-year old heads to Kansas Speedway as not only the defending winner of this Sunday’s AdventHealth 400, but he also leads the series in wins at Kansas Speedway as well, with four victories (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023).
A total of 19 different drivers have led the pack to the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, and 10 of the Kansas Cup winners are active this weekend.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the defending winner of this race, and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, the organization Hamlin co-owns with NBA Legend Michael Jordan, won the Playoff race at Kansas last September.
Toyota returns to Kansas Speedway to keep the winning streak alive
Over the last two seasons Toyota has swept the races at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, and now they return to the 1.5-mile track riding the longest OEM winning streak in the track’s history with the intentions of keeping it alive.
Last season, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin won this race and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick won the Playoff race (Sept.). Then in 2022, 23XI Racing drivers’ Kurt Busch (May race) and Bubba Wallace (Sept. race) swept the NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway.
In total four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet with 13 victories, Toyota has 12 wins, Ford has nine, and Dodge has two. Toyota can tie Chevrolet for series-most wins at Kansas with a victory this weekend.
Track Facts
NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway
Track Length: 1.5 Miles Asphalt Oval
Race Length: 400 Miles (267 laps)
First Race: Sept. 30, 2001 — Protection One 400
Banking in Corners: 17–20 degrees (variable)
Banking on Frontstretch: 10 degrees
Banking on Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,685 feet
Backstretch: 2,207 feet
The Date: Sunday, May 5
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $7,894,315
TV: FS1, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 165), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 267)
Qualifying & Race Records
Qualifying: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 197.773 mph (27.304 sec.); Oct. 4, 2014 (Round 2 of 3)
Race: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 152.057 mph (2:38:02); Oct. 21, 2018
Track Records
Most Wins: 4 — Denny Hamlin
Most Poles: 5 — Kevin Harvick
Most Top Fives: 13 — Denny Hamlin
Most Top 10s: 19 — Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick
KANSAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
(Driver stats in the below section are from 2005-Present)
Christopher Bell (№20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two top fives, five top 10s; two poles
· Average Finish of 15.125, eighth-best
· Average Running Position of 12.091, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 92.0, eighth-best
· 1,604 Laps in the Top 15 (75.1%), fourth-most
Ryan Blaney (№12 Team Penske Ford)
· Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average Finish of 16.167, 11th-best
· Average Running Position of 9.505, series-best
· Driver Rating of 94.1, sixth-best
· 3,902 Laps in the Top 15 (80.9), series-most
Alex Bowman (№48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, eight top 10s
· Average Finish of 15.688, 10th-best
· Average Running Position of 18.030, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 78.6, 13th-best
· 2,228 Laps in the Top 15 (51.9%), 13th-most
Kyle Busch (№8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, ten top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average Finish of 15.194, ninth-best
· Average Running Position of 13.243, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 91.6, ninth-best
· 5,641 Laps in the Top 15 (68.4%), eighth-most
William Byron (№24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average Finish of 14.083, seventh-best
· Average Running Position of 13.836, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.0, 11th-best
· 1,928 Laps in the Top 15 (59.9%), 11th-most
Chase Elliott (№9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, ten top 10s
· Average Finish of 10.625, series-best
· Average Running Position of 10.900, third-best
· Driver Rating of 97.4, fourth-best
· 3,337 Laps in the Top 15 (77.8%), third-most
Denny Hamlin (№11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Four wins, 13 top fives, 14 top 10s
· Average Finish of 12.548, fourth-best
· Average Running Position of 11.913, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 94.8, fifth-best
· 5,937 Laps in the Top 15 (72.0%), seventh-most
Jimmie Johnson (№84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota)
· Three wins, nine top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles
· Average Finish of 11.269, second-best
· Average Running Position of 11.652, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 99.2, second-best
· 5,051 Laps in the Top 15 (73.1%), fifth-most
Brad Keselowski (№6 RFK Racing Ford)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average Finish of 12.250, third-best
· Average Running Position of 12.990, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.5, 10th-best
· 5,128 Laps in the Top 15 (68.4%), ninth-most
Kyle Larson (№5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, seven top fives, ten top 10s
· Average Finish of 12.944, sixth-best
· Average Running Position of 10.410, second-best
· Driver Rating of 102.7, series-best
· 3,770 Laps in the Top 15 (78.2%), second-most
Joey Logano (№22 Team Penske Ford)
· Three wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
· Average Finish of 16.310, 12th-best
· Average Running Position of 14.368, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.5, 12th-best
· 4,651 Laps in the Top 15 (59.9%), 12th-most
Tyler Reddick (№45 23XI Racing Toyota)
· One win, one top five, four top 10s; one pole
· Average Finish of 16.778, 13th-best
· Average Running Position of 13.951, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 92.7, seventh-best
· 1,577 Laps in the Top 15 (65.5%), 10th-most
Martin Truex Jr (№19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, ten top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
· Average Finish of 12.871, fifth-best
· Average Running Position of 11.723, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 98.5, third-best
· 5,943 Laps in the Top 15 (72.1%), sixth-most
Playoff Outlook: Former Kansas winner Bubba Wallace first driver outside Playoff cutoff
One driver hoping Kansas Speedway could right his 2024 season ship, is 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace. The Mobile, Alabama native is coming off back-to-back DNFs and the former Kansas winner (2022) is hoping this weekend could be a change in his fortune.
Wallace dropped four spots in the point standings following Dover, and now finds himself in 17th in the Playoff outlook, two points behind this week’s “Bubble Watch” driver Chris Buescher in 16th — the final transfer spot on points.
Just behind Wallace is 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski in 18th, four points back from his RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher.
Go Full Throttle NASCAR AI Driver Rankings following the Wurth 400 on April 28, 2024 at Dover Motor Speedway
GFT AI NASCAR FANTASY LIVE RACE PREDICTION MODELS
The Go Full Throttle #AI Race Prediction model redeems itself with a huge 243-point day including the winner Hamlin. GFT AI 1 is now in 392nd place vs 4,601 players in the #TMDNASCAR league. Back inside the Top 10 at 8.51% vs all players
GFT Race Prediction Model **INITIAL** Picks for NASCAR Fantasy LIVE — AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway
**NOTE** Be sure to follow us on X (aka Twitter) to see the updated GFT NASCAR Fantasy Live picks AFTER our AI models ingest the Practice and Qualifying data. For a Sunday race, this usually happens overnight Saturday and is published Sunday morning at least 2 hours before the green flag.
