NASCAR: Hamlin wrecks Larson to win in Kansas

Kyle Larson got wrecked twice by wankers on Sunday in Kansas – both times while leading.

Denny Hamlin surged to his first victory of the NASCAR Cup Series season, bumping by Kyle Larson on the final lap in a thrilling back-and-forth battle Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Larson’s Hendrick Chevy teammate William Byron, who started on the pole, was third while Bubba Wallace was 4th for Toyota.

Ross Chastain rounded out the top-5.

The victory was Joe Gibbs Racing’s 400th NASCAR victory, and second consecutive, following Martin Truex Jr.’s victory on Monday at Dover Motor Speedway.

“I got position on him there, was trying to side-draft him but clipped his left-rear. Glad he was able to at least finish,” Hamlin said. “Proud of my FedEx team, though. 400 wins now for Joe Gibbs Racing, just such a great accomplishment for them.”

Larson held on to finish second in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Pole-starter William Byron was third with Bubba Wallace fourth and Ross Chastain completing the top five.

Chastain was involved in a post-race fight with Noah Gragson, who confronted the Trackhouse Racing driver on pit road after late contact. Their discussion quickly became physical until security separated the two.

The race’s front-row starters both found early trouble in Stage 1 before making major comebacks. Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet went spinning out of Turn 4 after contact from Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota in their Lap 5 contest for the lead. Larson recovered to 10th place at the conclusion of the stage and eventually rallied back into contention.

Things went worse for Byron, who was pinched for speeding during the first cycle of green-flag pit stops. He lost a lap to the leader, then scraped the Turn 2 retaining wall with the right-rear corner of his No. 24 Chevy. He wound up two laps off the pace in 34th at the end of the first stage, regaining those laps with a wave-around and free pass in Stage 2.

“One of the greatest finishes here at Kansas!”@KurtBusch, @ClintBowyer and @mikejoy500 break down Denny Hamlin’s battle with Kyle Larson on the last lap. pic.twitter.com/dDA8dRUCJi

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023

DENNY HAMLIN WINS AT KANSAS AFTER AN EPIC BATTLE WITH KYLE LARSON! pic.twitter.com/2wfK5BnhVm

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023

Kyle Busch saw an early exit, sustaining significant damage in a crash at the end of the second stage.

Busch had an eventful day, rallying from early pit-road issues and a bumping duel with Ross Chastain. But his day ended after just 162 of the scheduled 267 laps after his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet crashed into the inside retaining wall on the backstretch.

Full report to follow.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

Can you walk us through that last lap?

“It’s the new NASCAR – it’s what everyone cheers about when someone else does it. I was just trying to side draft him there and miscalculated. It was great for us to get back into position to get close to him and get him loose through (turn) one and two. I’ve got to thank FedEx, Toyota, TRD, Coca-Cola, Sport Clips, Interstate Batteries, Jordan Brand, Logitech and Shady Rays. I had such a fast car, just couldn’t get long enough runs for it to materialize. Finally, we had just enough time.”

Can you describe the execution today to get you where you needed to be?

“This is a team win. These team guys, this pit crew, stepped up in a huge way this week. I’m proud of them.”

How important was it for you to get a win here today?

“It is so important. It is a big win for Joe Gibbs Racing, for myself. Every win is very, very hard to get, so you have to take everyone you can get.”

Race Results

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MANUF	BEHIND	LAPS
1	11	Denny Hamlin		—	267
2	5	Kyle Larson		1.307	267
3	24	William Byron		4.301	267
4	23	Bubba Wallace		4.677	267
5	1	Ross Chastain		5.473	267
6	22	Joey Logano		5.988	267
7	9	Chase Elliott		6.426	267
8	19	Martin Truex Jr.		7.444	267
9	45	Tyler Reddick		8.132	267
10	3	Austin Dillon		9.692	267
11	4	Kevin Harvick		11.618	267
12	47	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.		13.105	267
13	10	Aric Almirola		13.329	267
14	16	AJ Allmendinger		15.882	267
15	99	Daniel Suarez		20.075	267
16	12	Ryan Blaney		22.442	267
17	17	Chris Buescher		22.905	267
18	31	Justin Haley		27.861	267
19	6	Brad Keselowski		28.601	267
20	7	Corey LaJoie		29.626	267
21	43	Erik Jones		30.387	267
22	77	Ty Dillon		30.615	267
23	51	JJ Yeley(i)		-1	266
24	38	Todd Gilliland		-1	266
25	48	Josh Berry(i)		-1	266
26	34	Michael McDowell		-1	266
27	41	Ryan Preece		-1	266
28	15	Brennan Poole(i)		-3	264
29	42	Noah Gragson #		-5	262
30	21	Harrison Burton		-6	261
31	2	Austin Cindric		-7	260
32	14	Chase Briscoe		-7	260
33	78	Josh Bilicki		-7	260
34	54	Ty Gibbs #		-91	176
35	8	Kyle Busch		-105	162
36	20	Christopher Bell		-110	157

# DENOTES ROOKIE
(i) NOT ELIGIBLE FOR POINTS
(*) REQUIRED TO QUALIFY ON TIME