Bubba Wallace got a Dr. Pepper and confetti shower in victory lane following his win at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Bubba Wallace captured the second consecutive win at Kansas Speedway for 23XI Racing, charging through the field and holding off rival driver Denny Hamlin, who is also his boss as co-owner, with Michael Jordan, of Wallace’s racing team.
Kurt Busch drove the number 45 Toyota to victory in May, and Wallace has taken over the ride to finish the year as Busch recovers from a concussion.
The win is the second of Wallace’s career, but the first full-distance win, the previous being the rain-shortened Talladega 500 in 2021.
After the race, Wallace talked about the meaning of the accomplishment.
“I think it’s incredible,” the six-year NASCAR Cup veteran said. “Winning at this level is the hardest thing in life for us race car drivers.”
“To be able to say we’re winners today here at Kansas through the year that we’ve had and what we’ve been able to do the last couple of months, is incredible.”
Alex Bowman won stage 1 of the race, and Christopher Bell took stage 2. Playoff contenders Kevin Harvick and Tyler Reddick were both knocked out of the race, complicating their chances in advancing to the next round.
Taking place on the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the pre-race festivities had a patriotic flair and included musical performances from Lee Greenwood and Craig Morgan, along with the swearing in of a large group of new military enlistees, who received a large ovation from the crowd.
The NASCAR Cup playoffs continue next week at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway. Though Wallace is not in playoff contention, the 23XI team continues to race for the owner’s championship.
Bubba Wallace crossed the finish line as the winner of the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Tyrone Garner touted Kansas City, Kansas, to the assembled crowd during pre-race introductions. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Harrison Burton (21) and Corey LaJoie (7) collided in a turn 1 incident involving Erik Jones. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)A B2 bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base flew low over pit road before the start of the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Erik Jones (10) clipped Harrison Burton and ended up in the wall in turn 1. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Race day coincided with the Chiefs’ season opener, and former Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt served as the race’s grand marshal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Country singer Lee Greenwood sang his well-known anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.” before the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Bubba Wallace held the lead going around turn 2. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., raced down the main straight. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Country singer and Army veteran Craig Morgan performed in a pre-race concert. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Ross Chastain’s pit crew swapped four new tires onto his Chevrolet. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)The pack passed in front of the grandstand on a race restart. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Kameron Daboe stiff-armed his way around the left side. Daboe scored two touchdowns in the Stallions’ 48-29 loss to Highland Park on Friday. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Schlagle Stallions suffered a 48-29 loss to the Highland Park Scots Friday evening in their home opener.
The Stallions moved the ball effectively on the ground and had a brief first-quarter lead, but weren’t able to contain the lightning speed of Scots’ running back Tre’ Richardson, who scored eight touchdowns for the visitors.
Highland Park got on the board just two minutes into the first quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead. The Stallions answered with a touchdown run from Kameron Daboe, and tacked on the extra point for a 7-6 advantage.
Schlagle had Highland Park nearly stopped on a 4th-and-8 on the 28-yard line, but a fake punt handed off to Richardson created a morale-busting 72-yard scoring run and 12-7 Scots’ lead.
Highland Park put together a long scoring drive in the second quarter, taking over at its own 23 and grinding its way down the field with short and medium runs before Richardson scored on a run from the 15 with less than a minute remaining before halftime.
Daboe ran back the ensuing kickoff, and Schlagle made the 2-point conversion to cut the halftime deficit to 18-15.
Schlagle got great starting position to open the second half, but handed the ball back to the Scots on the 15-yard line. A 70-yard touchdown pass to Richardson from Highland Park quarterback A’ydren Drew-Gregory followed.
On the next drive, Schlagle again drove deep into Scots’ territory, but turned the ball over on an interception at the 1-yard line. Richardson again turned poor field position into points with a 95-yard touchdown run, and Highland Park led 30-15.
With three minutes left in the quarter, Schlagle took advantage of a failed onside kick to get good field position. Cameron Campbell scored from 25 yards out, and Daboe ran in the 2-point conversion to bring the Stallions within 7.
Schlagle sent the kickoff short to keep it away from Richardson, but he ran up to scoop the ball and then headed toward the end zone for another touchdown, and the quarter ended with a 36-23 Scots’ lead.
Richardson scored twice in the fourth quarter, on a 76-yard run, and also a 52-yard swing pass to the right side. Schlagle countered with a 67-yard run from Campbell, making the final margin.
Highland Park, on the east side of Topeka, has joined the USD 500 schools in the Kansas City-Atchison League, now renamed the Meadowlark League. Last Friday, the Scots broke a 65-game, 8-year losing streak with a 60-47 win over Wyandotte. With two consecutive wins in the new league, the Scots look to be making themselves at home.
Quarterback Stephon Jones and guard Alexander Velasquez created a big gap for running back Kameron Daboe. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Cameron Campbell was upended on a run. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Kameron Daboe ran a kickoff back for a touchdown just before halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Cincere Lewis sprinted around the right side. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Schlagle cheerleaders performed a routine during a break in the action. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Quarterback Stephon Jones released a pass. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Kameron Daboe was tackled near the Highland Park goal line. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Highland Park running back Tre’ Richardson took off on a 72-yard touchdown run on a fake punt. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Linebacker Pierson Miller forced a wobbly throw from Highland Park’s quarterback. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Cincere Lewis was in pursuit of Tre’ Richardson. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Cameron Campbell scored a touchdown in the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Noah Gragson beat Ty Gibbs (54) and Justin Allgaier (7) on a late restart to take the win in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Noah Gragson knew the rain was coming — he’d known it since he checked the radar when got to the track in the morning. As the drops started to hit his windshield midway through the Kansas Lottery 300, he knew he needed to make a move.
Stuck for most of the race behind the speedy Toyota of Ty Gibbs, Gragson made the most of a lap 76 restart to get past Gibbs and Austin Hill for the lead.
The caution flag was flown for rain on lap 82, setting up some final drama as the drivers raced each other and the incoming rain.
On the lap 88 restart, Gragson held off teammate Justin Allgaier for the lead into turn 2, and Allgaier provided an assist by riding Gibbs up to the outside of the track to prevent him from making a move for the lead.
The race was red-flagged on lap 93. Drivers left their cars on pit road and headed to the garages, sensing that the race was over, but having to wait several minutes before word arrived from NASCAR that the result was final.
After the win, Gragson’s fifth of the year, the 24-year-old talked wistfully about his JR Motorsports team, which he will leave at the end of the season for a seat with Petty GMS in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“I think we have a great group of people,” said the Las Vegas native. “I really don’t want it to change. I’ve been thinking over these last two or three weeks, ‘It’s coming to an end.'”
“And it’s bittersweet because I’m in love with everybody at Junior Motorsports. I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my racing career, and I don’t want it to ever stop, but things move on.”
Allgaier finished the raced in second, followed by Gibbs. Brandon Jones started on pole and finished fourth, and Ross Chastain finished fifth. Sam Mayer (9th) and Riley Herbst (16th) clinched positions in the Xfinity Series playoffs, starting in two weeks.
The final regular season race will be held next Saturday in Bristol, Tennessee.
The ARCA Series Kansas Lottery 150, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, was postponed to Sunday morning at 9 a.m., and the NASCAR Series Kansas Lottery 400 will start at 2 p.m.
Jeremy Clements spun coming out of turn 4, bringing out a caution flag on lap 70. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
C.J. McLaughlin’s pit crew raced to change the tires at an early pit stop. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Teammates Justin Allgaier (7) and Noah Gragson (9) were side-by-side in the final restart before rain ended the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Noah Gragson demonstrated some of the late-race maneuvering for a member of Justin Allgaier’s crew. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Brandon Jones (19) started on pole but was soon overtaken by Ty Gibbs (54) for the race lead. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Josh Williams (36), Ryan Sieg (39), and David Starr (08) raced three-wide around turn 1 on a restart. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Noah Gragson celebrated with the race trophy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sam Mayer (1) clinched a spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs with a 9th place finish. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
