The Hollywood Casino 400, set to take place on Sunday, September 29, at Kansas Speedway, is significant for being in the mid-phase of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This race comes after the competition at Bristol, where Kyle Larson secured his fifth win of the season, and several drivers are on the verge of elimination. Kansas is an oval where the track records of drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson could make the difference in the battle to advance to the next phase.
Playoff Standings After Bristol
Kyle Larson (#5 Chevrolet) leads with 3,047 points and 5 wins, maintaining a solid 39-point advantage.
Christopher Bell (#20 Toyota) has 3,032 points and 3 wins.
Tyler Reddick (#45 Toyota) follows with 3,028 points and 2 wins.
William Byron (#24 Chevrolet) has 3,022 points and 3 wins.
Ryan Blaney (#12 Ford) has 3,019 points and 2 wins.
Denny Hamlin (#11 Toyota) has 3,015 points and 3 wins.
Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet) has 3,014 points with 1 win.
Joey Logano (#22 Ford) rounds out the top 8 with 3,012 points and 2 wins.
The drivers at risk of elimination are Austin Cindric (#2 Ford), Daniel Suárez (#99 Chevrolet), Alex Bowman (#48 Chevrolet), and Chase Briscoe (#14 Ford).
Kansas Speedway Performance Analysis
Kyle Larson
With two wins, eight top 5 finishes, and eleven top 10 finishes, Larson has been consistent at Kansas. His average finishing position is 12.3, the fifth-best among active drivers, and his Driver Rating is the highest at 104.4.
Christopher Bell
Bell has yet to win at Kansas, but he has secured 3 poles and has an average finishing position of 14.1, indicating that he can be competitive.
Tyler Reddick
Reddick won the Kansas playoff race in 2023. Although his average finishing position is 17.1, his recent win makes him a driver to watch.
William Byron
Byron has finished in the top 5 twice and in the top 10 seven times, with an average finishing position of 14.8. He will need to improve to stay in contention.
Ryan Blaney
Blaney has achieved three top 5 finishes and seven top 10 finishes at Kansas, with an average finishing position of 15.9. Although consistent, he needs a stronger result to advance.
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin is the most successful driver at Kansas, with four wins, 14 top 5 finishes, and 15 top 10 finishes. His average finishing position of 12.3 makes him one of the top contenders.
Chase Elliott
Elliott has one win at Kansas, along with seven top 5 finishes and eleven top 10 finishes. His average finishing position of 10.2 is the best among active drivers, giving him a strong position.
Joey Logano
Logano has won three times at Kansas, with nine top 5 finishes and ten top 10 finishes. His average finishing position is 15.3.
Austin Cindric
Cindric has not had strong results at Kansas, with an average finishing position of 21.0, putting him in a tough spot.
Daniel Suárez
Suárez has secured one top 10 finish at Kansas and has an average finishing position of 18.7. He will need to improve to stay in the playoffs.
Alex Bowman
Bowman has two top 5 finishes and four top 10 finishes at Kansas, with an average finishing position of 20.6. He is at risk of elimination if he does not improve.
Chase Briscoe
Briscoe has earned one top 10 finish at Kansas, with an average finishing position of 19.3. His situation in the playoffs is precarious.
Other Data
- Playoff Winners: Denny Hamlin has won four times at Kansas during the playoffs, followed by Joey Logano with three victories.
- Importance of Starting Position: Seven races have been won from pole position at Kansas.
- Manufacturers: Chevrolet leads with 14 victories, followed by Toyota with 12 and Ford with 9.
- Teams with the most victories: Hendrick Motorsports has 9 wins, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with 8.
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