Kyle Larson (5) led William Byron (24), Chase Elliott (9), and Kurt Busch (1) into turn 1 after a restart at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Kyle Larson continued his hot streak Sunday at the Kansas Speedway, winning the Hollywood Casino 400, his third victory in a row. This is Larson’s second streak of three wins, and he has won 9 races in total this season, nearly matching the 10 races won in 2007 by Jeff Gordon.
A storm rumbling through the area delayed the race, which was red-flagged for about 20 minutes on the 11th lap. A heavy cross-wind picked up after the rain passed, and Larson admitted after the race that he had to alter his approach heading into turn 2 to account for the wind.
Larson overcame car damage suffered on an early brush with the wall, but led for 130 of the race’s 267 laps. Chase Elliott made a push for a win on the last 10 laps, but didn’t have the grip to pull off a move outside, making contact with the barrier and dropping back behind Larson.
Kevin Harvick also made a push for the lead with about 35 laps to go, but ended up in third place.
After the race, Larson’s crew chief Cliff Daniels credited the car’s strong performance to adjustments made based on the team’s previous race at Kansas Speedway, giving up some short-run speed, but boosting the long-run performance.
Because of Larson’s run of success, three of the four remaining playoff spots remain up for grabs and will be decided next weekend at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch hold those spots now. Ryan Blaney, who crashed out of the race late, dropped from second to fifth in the playoff standings.
Actor Eric Stonestreet, grand marshal for the race, sported a cap from Piper High School, his alma mater. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Night settled in over Kansas Speedway as the crowds headed home. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Race winner Kyle Larson pointed skyward in memory of Hendrick team members who died in a plane crash on this date in 2004, including team owner’s son Ricky Hendrick, known for wearing his ball caps backward. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
The Youth Chorus of Kansas City performed “God Bless America” before the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Msgr. Stuart Swetland, president of Donnelly College, offered the invocation before the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Kyle Larson crossed the finish line as the winner of the Hollywood Casino 400. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
The front tire changer on Kyle Larson’s pit crew sprinted to the left side of the car. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Daniel Suarez (99), B.J. McLeod (78), and Austin Dillon (3) raced side-by-side heading into turn 1. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Erik Jones (43), Matt DiBenedetto (21), and Brad Keselowski (2), raced into turn 2. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Kyle Larson (5) and William Byron (24) powered past the lapped car of Chad Finchum (66) along the front stretch. Byron led 57 laps, but finished in 6th place. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Kyle Larson (5) took the inside line against Matt DiBenedetto (21) into turn 1. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Ty Gibbs (54) came around turn 4 ahead of Austin Cindric (22). (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Ty Gibbs won the Kansas Lottery 300 race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. The 19-year-old driver fought his way back to the front of the field after suffering an early penalty for speeding into pit lane, overtaking Austin Cindric for the lead with 10 laps remaining in the race.
The victory was Gibbs’s fourth of the Xfinity Series 2021 season, despite having entered only 17 of the 31 races. His primary circuit is the ARCA series, where he leads in the 2021 standings. He sits ahead of Josh Berry to win the Xfinity Series rookie of the year award.
Cindric led for 151 laps and won stage 2 of the race. He remains in first place in the Xfinity Series playoffs, tied on points with third-place finisher A.J. Allmendinger but nudging in front based on top 5 finishes.
Gibbs had only a short break between his victory lane celebration and jumping back into the car for Saturday evening’s ARCA race, where he came in second, and celebrated an ARCA series championship.
Nick Sanchez, driving a Chevrolet, came from behind to beat Gibbs in the ARCA Reese’s 150 race.
Just 19, Ty Gibbs got a Monster Energy shower, not champagne, in victory lane. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Ty Gibbs got a hug from his mother Heather Gibbs after the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Race radio, awesome shades, autographed flag, ready to roll. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
The pit crew on Loris Hezernan’s No. 61 Toyota swapped out tires on a pit stop. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
As evening settled in, the speedway prepared to run the ARCA Reese’s 150. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Ty Gibbs spun his wheels in celebration after winning the Kansas Lottery 300 race at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
The pack came around turn 4 on a restart. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Justin Allgaier (7) raced side-by-side with Harrison Burton (20) as they entered the front straight. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Kyle Weatherman (47), Noah Gragson (9), and Daniel Hemric (18) raced three-wide through turn 4. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Harrison Burton (20) gave a push to Daniel Hemric (18) on a restart. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Ty Gibbs crossed the finish line to take the victory in the Kansas Lottery 300. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Ty Gibbs crossed the finish line at the end of the Kansas Lottery 300. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Noah Gragson led the field on a restart in his beat-up Camaro in the Xfinity race. Gragson led 9 laps, but was taken out in an accident late in the race. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
