The NASCAR Playoffs will be held at Kansas Speedway, which hosted perhaps the most exciting race of the season earlier this year. Back in May, Kyle Larson defeated Chris Buescher in a photo finish, winning by 0.001 seconds in the closest finish in NASCAR history.
But now that the second round of the playoffs begins today, the stakes are even higher. Last week, four drivers were eliminated from championship contention, leaving 12 drivers with a shot at the 2024 Cup Series title. After Sunday’s race, the playoffs will move to Talladega Superspeedway, followed by another elimination race at Roval’s Charlotte Motor Speedway, a part-road course, part-oval circuit.
If the playoff drivers win today’s race in Kansas, they will automatically advance to the Round of 8. But at least one driver will qualify for the next round with points, so all playoff drivers will be trying to get as many points as possible.
USA TODAY Sports provides news, highlights and results for the Kansas Hollywood Casino 400. Follow us to get the latest information.
Alex Bowman wins Stage 2 of NASCAR playoff race in Kansas
Alex Bowman took the lead after a late restart and won Stage 2 of the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Bowman took the checkered flag and earned 10 stage points.
Ty Gibbs finished second, Ryan Blaney third, Stage 1 winner William Brion fourth and Brad Keselowski fifth. Carson Josevar, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott and Chase Brisco rounded out the top 10.
At the end of Stage 2, five of the top 10 drivers were playoff drivers.
After the stage, most of the field headed down pit road for fuel and tires. Ty Gibbs and Carson Josevar led the field to restart stage 2, with Josevar taking the lead.
Austin Cindric spins for caution at the end of Stage 2 in Kansas
Playoff driver Austin Cindric spun with seven laps remaining in Stage 2, bringing out the caution flag. After making contact with Kyle Busch, Cindric hit the outside wall and spun across the track. Cindric was able to drive the No. 2 Team Penske Ford to pit road for repairs.
With the caution flag out, several drivers opted to return to pit road before the end of the stage, including Penske teammate Joey Logano, who had been running inside the top five early in the race.
Erik Jones spins in Kansas NASCAR playoff race, raising caution flag
Erik Jones spun into the grass on lap 99, bringing out the caution flag. A yellow flag allowed all cars to come to pit road to refuel, install new tires and contest the remainder of Stage 2.
William Byron, who won the opening stage, led all of Stage 2 until the caution flag was waved. However, Kyle Busch surged into the lead after only wearing out two tires during the stoppage. Christopher Bell will also restart alongside Busch on just two tires. Fitted with four new tires, Joey Logano and Byron will restart from the second row with 60 laps remaining in the stage.
William Byron wins Stage 1 of NASCAR playoff race in Kansas
William Byron took the lead on lap 72 and held on until the final eight laps to win the opening stage of the Hollywood Casino 400. Pole sitter Christopher Bell led 71 of the 80-lap stage, but lost power and slid against the outside wall. He allowed Byron to pass in his No. 24 Chevrolet. Bell was able to fix his No. 20 Toyota, but lost several positions as Stage 1 ended.
Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney were second and third, respectively, and Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin, Bell and Ty Gibbs were fourth, fifth and sixth. Ta. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric finished seventh, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman and Carson Josevar. All drivers who finished in the top 10 earned stage points, with Byron earning a maximum of 10 points and Josevar a maximum of 1 point.
After the stage, all drivers returned to pit road for fuel and tires, and in the off-pit road race, Logano held off Byron to win.
Playoff driver Daniel Suarez was one lap late at the end of stage one, but received a free pass and will be able to restart on the lead lap for the 85-lap second stage. Kyle Larson, who suffered an accident early in Stage 1, remained one lap behind.
Points leader Kyle Larson crashes into wall during Stage 1 of Kansas NASCAR race
Kyle Larson ran in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in May when he ran into trouble early in the Hollywood Casino 400. Larson, who entered the second round of the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, crashed into the outside wall in turn one. On the 20th lap, the right rear tire went flat. With the caution flag waving, he was able to drive his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on pit road so his team could access the damage.
With the yellow flag out, the field came to pit road to refuel and change tires. Christopher Bell, who started from pole position, maintained his lead on the restart. Larson was able to stay on the lead lap, but was the last of the lead lap cars to restart.
Crash occurs on opening lap of NASCAR playoff race in Kansas
Just seconds after the green flag waved for the Hollywood Casino 400, a multi-car crash occurred at the back of the pack at Canas Speedway. Harrison Burton, who started 28th, and Ty Dillon, who started 32nd, collided, causing both cars to spin. Jimmie Johnson and Josh Berry were also killed in the accident. During the accident, Chase Elliott was forced to drive along the outside wall, but Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet was able to avoid damage.
NASCAR playoff race in Kansas begins with green flag
The green flag was waved at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is the fourth of 10 playoff races and the first race of the second round. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs led the field in the 80-lap opening stage.
Chase Elliott will start last in NASCAR playoff race in Kansas
Chase Elliott, who enters the second round of the playoffs in seventh place, will start at the back of the field in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports replaced the engine in its No. 9 Chevrolet after Saturday’s qualifying.
Who will start from pole position for the NASCAR playoff race in Kansas?
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell set the fastest time in qualifying on Saturday and will start from pole position for Sunday’s race. Teammate Ty Gibbs qualified in second place and will also start on the front row.
What is the lineup for NASCAR’s Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas?
The car number is in parentheses. (P)=Playoff driver
(20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford ( 24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota (14) Chase Brisco (P), Ford (99) Daniel Suarez ( P), Chevrolet (5) Kyle Larson ( P), Chevrolet (48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet (23) Buba Wallace, Toyota (77) Carson Josevar, Chevrolet (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet (43) Erik Jones, Toyota (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet (34) Michael McDowell, Ford (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet (10) ) Ford, Noah Gragson (17) Ford, Chris Buescher (6) Ford, Brad Keselowski (51) Ford, Corey Lajoie (21) Ford, Harrison Burton (4) Ford, Josh Berry (31) Chevrolet, Daniel Hemric (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota (16) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford (15) Kaz Grala, Ford (84) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota (44) JJ Yealy, Chevrolet (41) Ryan Preece, Ford (9) Chase Elliott (P), chevrolet
What time do NASCAR playoff races start in Kansas?
The Hollywood Casino 400 begins Sunday at 3pm ET (2pm local time) at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.
What TV channels are broadcasting the NASCAR playoff races in Kansas?
USA Network is broadcasting the Hollywood Casino 400 with a pre-race show starting at 2:30 PM ET (1:30 PM local).
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff races in Kansas?
The Hollywood Casino 400 can be streamed live on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app. The race can also be streamed on Fubo.
How many laps are the NASCAR playoff races in Kansas?
The Hollywood Casino 400 is 267 laps around a 1.5 mile oval for a total of 400.5 miles. The race consists of three segments (one lap per stage). Stage 1: 80 laps. Stage 2: 85 laps. Stage 3: 102 laps.
What is the weather forecast for NASCAR races in Kansas?
Weather won’t be a factor at Kansas Speedway today. AccuWeather’s forecast calls for sunny skies and warm temperatures in Kansas City, Kansas, with northeast winds gusting to 7 mph.
Temperatures will peak in the mid 80s with a 0% chance of precipitation.
Who won the recent NASCAR Cup race in Kansas?
May 5, 2024 Kyle Larson led 63 laps and beat Chris Buescher by 0.001 seconds in a photo finish, the closest finish in NASCAR history.
And a year ago, Tyler Reddick led just two laps, took the lead on the overtime restart, and beat Denny Hamlin by 0.327 seconds on September 10, 2023.
Heading into the NASCAR race in Kansas, what will the playoff standings look like?
Ranking, driver, team, points, and difference from the leader. Through three races. Points will be reset after the first round.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports โฆ 3,047 Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing โฆ 3,032 (-15 points) Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing โฆ 3,028 (-19) William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports โฆ 3,022 (- 25) Ryan Blaney, Team Penske โฆ 3,019 (-28) Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing โฆ 3,015 (-32) Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports โฆ 3,014 (-33) Joey Logano, TeamใปPenske โฆ 3,012 (-35) Austin Cindric, Team Penske โฆ 3,008 (-39) Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing โฆ 3,006 (-41) Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports โฆ 3,005 (- 42) Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing โฆ 3,005 (-42)
How are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs conducted?
Sixteen drivers have qualified for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. 14 of those drivers qualified for the playoffs with regular season wins and two winless drivers with points.
There will be a total of 10 races in the playoffs, including the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10th. The playoffs feature three rounds with three races in each round before the final race. The four drivers with the fewest points were eliminated in the first round, leaving 12 drivers to advance to the second round. Four drivers were eliminated after the sixth race, and four more were eliminated after the ninth race, leaving the final four to compete for the title.
If a playoff driver wins a race in one of the three rounds, they automatically advance to the next round. However, if a non-playoff driver wins these races, the playoff driver advances based on points accumulated in each of the three rounds.
What is the full schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs?
Below is the schedule, including date, track, time and TV for each of the 10 races in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (all times Eastern)
Sunday, September 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway. Winner: Joey Logano Sunday, September 15: Watkins Glen International. Winner: Chris Buescher Saturday, September 21: Bristol Motor Speedway. Winner: Kyle Larson Sunday, September 29th: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3pm Sunday, October 6th: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2pm Sunday, October 13th: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.
From time to time, we recommend interesting products and services. If you click one of our links and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission. The USA TODAY Network newsroom operates independently, and this does not influence our reporting.