Kyle Larson led a commanding performance at Kansas Motor Speedway in May, dominating 221 laps to claim victory in the Advent Health 400. Since that win, however, Larson has been unable to return to Victory Lane across the following 18 weekends. As the NASCAR Cup Series playoff action returns to Kansas this Sunday for the Round of 12’s second race, Larson is focused on extending his points lead rather than just chasing another win.
Currently positioned 41 points above the playoff cutoff after a seventh-place finish in New Hampshire last weekend, the Hendrick Motorsports driver seeks to reinforce his cushion before moving forward. Speaking at Arrowhead Stadium, Larson said,
“We’re going to Kansas, a good track for us. Hopefully, we can have another good points day and be well above the cut line before the Roval.”
Kyle Larson, Cup Series Driver
While a win would be ideal, Larson’s main aim is to secure a strong spot in the standings that will comfortably advance him to the Round of 8, where the upcoming tracks generally suit his driving style better.
The Challenge Posed by the Charlotte Roval
The Charlotte Roval, hosting the final race of this playoff round, remains a potential stumbling block despite Larson’s victory there last year. Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing, dubbed the Kiwi, has excelled on road courses this season, winning all four of his races in that format and emerging as a clear favorite at the Roval.
Given van Gisbergen’s road course strength, Larson is motivated to maximize his lead in Kansas rather than relying on outperforming the New Zealander, whose recent form on these tracks is formidable.
Upcoming Tracks Present Opportunities for Larson
If Larson navigates through the current round successfully, the Round of 8 will bring races at Las Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville—circuits where he feels more confident. He remarked,
“Get through this round, and then Vegas is a great track for us. Talladega, I feel like we do a really good job on Speedways of gaining points and getting good finishes now this year.”
Kyle Larson, Cup Series Driver
“And then honestly, Martinsville has been one of our better tracks. So, I really like the next round.”
Kyle Larson, Cup Series Driver
With the stakes high, all attention now turns to Saturday’s qualifying session starting at 2:10 p.m. ET, which will help set the stage for Larson’s crucial points push at Kansas.
