After a few weeks of wild east coast racing, the Cup Series heads to the mid-west to race on a hot windy afternoon at Kansas Speedway and the Advent Health 400.

Tyler Reddick and Brennan Poole have both of their cars fail the inspection process twice; as a result, both teams will lose a crew member for the weekend and will not be allowed to choose their pit stall for the race.

Kurt Busch returns to Kansas Speedway to join Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the FOX broadcast booth.  Kurt and his little brother Kyle were just named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers to celebrate the sport’s 75th anniversary.

The 36 drivers have been divided into two groups for two 20 minute practice sessions before each group makes a qualifying run.  The top five drivers from each group will move on to a second round to make a run for the pole.

William Byron gets into the wall and brings his number 24 car down pit road for repairs.

Josh Bilicki spins out and backs it into the wall during practice; all four tires blow out to end Group A practice.  As a result of his crash, Josh Bilicki will not make a qualifying run.

Noah Gragson is the first car on the track to make a qualifying run and posts a time of 30.799 seconds around the mile and a half track.

A backstretch tailwind is causing some major issues for the drivers as Group A makes their qualifying runs.

William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, and Martin Truex Jr will all move on to round two of qualifying from Group A.

Ty Dillon is the first driver from Group B on the track and posts a time of 30.920 seconds.

Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain will all move on from Group B to make a run for the pole.

All of the top five drivers in Group B ran faster times than the drivers in Group A.

Ross Chastain topped the chart in round one with a time of 30.224 seconds around the mile and a half track.

First on the track in round two is Daniel Suarez with a time of 30.384 seconds as clouds begin to cover the track.

And the laps are getting faster still, the fourth car out, William Byron posted a time of 30.133 seconds.

With a time of 30,133 seconds, William Byron puts his number 24 car on the pole with teammate Kyle Larson starting alongside on the front row.  This is Byron’s 10th career pole.

The starting lineup for the AdventHealth 400:
William Byron
Kyle Larson
Ross Chastain
Martin Truex Jr
Tyler Reddick
Joey Logano
Ty Gibbs
Denny Hamlin
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney
Austin Dillon
Christopher Bell
Kevin Harvick
Chris Buescher
Austin Cindric
Kyle Busch
Bubba Wallace
Aric Almirola
Erik Jones
Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott
Noah Gragson
Michael McDowell
Corey LaJoie
Harrison Burton
Ty Dillon
AJ Allmendinger
Ryan Preece
Josh Berry
Justin Haley
Chase Briscoe
Todd Gilliland
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Brennan Poole
JJ Yeley
Josh Bilicki

Stage one of the race is 80 laps long, stage two is 85 laps long, and stage three will be 102 laps in length for a total of 267 laps around the mile and a half track.  The drivers can run around 60 laps on a single load of fuel.

Last year the 45 car driven by Kurt Busch in the spring and Bubba Wallace in the fall won the race.  This year the 45 car is driven by Tyler Reddick.  Should Reddick win it will be the first time in NASCAR history that the same car number won with three different drivers.

Corey LaJoie, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Josh Bilicki will all start the race from the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars.

On the hottest day of the year so far – over 90 degrees with track temps of over 120 degrees – William Byron brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the inside lane with teammate Kyle Larson alongside.  William Byron gets out in front for the lead as the drivers get three wide across the track going into turn one.

William Byron leads the race with Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain in a battle for second.

Lap two, the top five are William Byron, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, and Martin Truex Jr.

Lap three, William Byron drops down to the apron after tapping the wall and loses the lead.  In a three wide battle Tyler Reddick takes the lead briefly before Kyle Larson gets out in front .

Lap five, Ross Chastain takes the lead briefly before Kyle Larson gets back out in front.

Kyle Larson brings out the first caution flag on lap six when Tyler Reddick tried to get out in front of second place driver Ross Chastain and clips Larson.  Larson spins out but did not hit anything or anyone.

A frustrated Tyler Reddick noted that he is sorry but still “flippin’ did it”.

Some of the drivers came down pit road for adjustments.

Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with Ross Chastain alongside.  Reddick gets out in front as drivers gets four wide across the track.

Lap eleven, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Ty Gibbs.  Denny Hamlin passes Ty Gibbs for fifth.

Lap 13, Tyler Reddick has a narrow lead on Ross Chastain; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron round out the top five.

After restarting the race from the back of the field, Kyle Larson has moved up to 28th on lap 15.

Lap 16, Tyler Reddick has pulled out to a half second lead on Ross Chastain; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron round out the top five.

All six of the Toyotas are in the top eight spots – Ross Chastain and William Byron are the only drivers in the top eight who are not driving a Toyota.

Lap 19, Tyler Reddick has a one second lead on Ross Chastain; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron round out the top five.  William Byron is reporting a “free” condition in his car.

Lap 26, Tyler Reddick’s lead is down to just a third of a second on Martin Truex Jr; Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 28, Martin Truex Jr passes Tyler Reddick for the lead.

Lap 29, Denny Hamlin passes Tyler Reddick for second.

Lap 30 the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs.  Truex has a lead of over half a second on Hamlin.

Kyle Larson has entered the top 20.

Lap 37, William Byron is the first driver to make a green flag pit stop.  He was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a pass through penalty.

Martin Truex Jr has a lead of less than half a second on teammate Denny Hamlin; Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 40, Denny Hamlin gives up second place to make his green flag pit stop.

Lap 41, leader Martin Truex Jr makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Christopher Bell.

Lap 43, leader Christopher Bell brings his car down pit road for his pit stop and gives the lead over to Michael McDowell.

Lap 44, Michael McDowell brings his car down pit road for service and gives the lead over to Corey LaJoie – LaJoie is the only driver yet to make a pit stop.

Josh Bilicki was caught speeding on pit road.

Lap 47, Corey LaJoie comes down pit road for his pit stop and gives the lead over to Denny Hamlin with Martin Truex Jr in second.

Lap 49, Martin Truex Jr passes Denny Hamlin for the lead.

A tire from Chase Briscoe’s car was rolling down pit road; the tire was collected before it made it out on the track.  Briscoe will have to serve a pass through penalty.

Fifth place driver Brad Keselowski last pitted during the caution on lap six.

Lap 53, the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez.

Lap 60, Martin Truex Jr has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin; Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.  Last year’s fall winner Bubba Wallace is in sixth place.

Lap 61, trying to make it to the end of the stage, Brad Keselowski has dropped five spots to 10th place as he falls through the field.

Harrison Burton slaps the wall but saves the car and the track stays green.

Lap 64, Kyle Larson is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.

Fourteen laps remain in stage one with Martin Truex Jr leading the race; Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 70, Denny Hamlin has caught up to leader Martin Truex Jr and the teammates are battling for the lead with Hamlin getting out in front.

With 10 laps remaining in stage one, Brad Keselowski has come down pit road for service.

William Byron has gotten into the wall again and has to come down pit road for repairs and service.

Lap 75, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to nearly a second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 78, Kyle Larson is now in the top 10.

Denny Hamlin wins stage one for the second stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Ty Gibbs
Tyler Reddick
Daniel Suarez
Christopher Bell
Bubba Wallace
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Kyle Larson

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road and Martin Truex Jr right behind him.

Tyler Reddick’s crew had a jack issue resulting in a slow stop that cost Reddick five spots.

Kyle Busch was caught speeding on pit road.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 89 with Martin Truex Jr on the outside.  Drivers are four and five wide across the track.  Hamlin and Truex go side by side in a battle for the lead.

Lap 91, Martin Truex Jr takes the lead with DennyHamlin in second; Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Lap 93, Martin Truex Jr has a third of a second lead on Denny Hamlin; but Ross Chastain is nearly two seconds back in third with Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five.

Lap 94, Kenny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr again battle for the lead with Truex holding on to the lead.

Lap 96, the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs.

Lap 98, Denny Hamlin again pulls up to battle Martin Truex Jr for the lead and this time he gets out in front as the teammates continue their cat and mouse battle.

Lap 99, Martin Truex Jr retakes the lead.

Lap 100 the top five are Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs.

Lap 108, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Martin Truex Jr.  Austin Cindric brings out the caution flag after getting into the wall with a flat tire.  The tire and wheel came off the car with the tire sitting in the grass and the wheel rolling all over the track before coming to a stop in the grass.  Brad Keselowski is the “lucky dog” and back on the lead lap.

With 75 laps remaining in the stage, the drivers come down pit road for service with Bubba Wallace winning the race off of pit road.  Chase Elliott had to back up in his pit stall with a possible tire issue.

Austin Cindric is being held two laps for losing the tire on the racing surface.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart on the outside lane with Ross Chastain on the inside on lap 114.  NASCAR reports that the restart is under review.  Bubba Wallace gets out in front for the lead with drivers three and four wide across the track.

Lap 115 Bubba Wallace leads the race with Ross Chastain over half a second back; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson rounding out the top five.

Martin Truex Jr passes Ross Chastain for second.

Kyle Larson passes Denny Hamlin for fourth.

Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson battle for third with Larson taking the spot.

NASCAR has reviewed the restart and has deemed it a good start.

Lap 118, Martin Truex Jr passes Bubba Wallace for the lead.

Third place driver Kyle Larson has caught up to the leaders.

After a speeding penalty, Kyle Busch is back in the top 10.

Lap 121, Martin Truex Jr has a half second lead on Bubba Wallace; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Drivers are battling all through the field.

After his slow stop on pit road, Chase Elliott is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.

Lap 124, Martin Truex Jr has a lead of over half a second on Bubba Wallace; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

L;ap 132, Martin Truex Jr has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Kyle Larson; Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Bubba Wallace battles with the boss for third place.

Lap 134, halfway, Martin Truex Jr, has a lead of over a second on Kyle Larson; Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Aric Almirola spins out and brings out the caution flag on lap 139.  He keeps it off the wall as he spins across the track.

Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and service.  Kyle Larson wins the race off of pit road.  Ty Gibbs stops at the end of pit road with a loose wheel and backs the car up on pit road.

Brad Keselowski gets caught speeding on pit road.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart on the inside lane with Martin Truex Jr alongside on lap 144.  Drivers are four wide across the track.  Larson and Truex are side by side in a battle for the lead with Larson finally getting out in front for the lead.

Lap 145, the top five are Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain.

Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, and Chase Elliott battle it out for fifth with Elliott taking the spot.

Lap 147,  Kyle Larson leads the race with Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr in a battle for second.

Josh Berry brings out the caution flag on lap 149 gets into Ty Gibbs.  He had made contact with Christopher Bell earlier but the track stayed green.  Erik Jones spins out in a separate event on the track.

William Byron is the “lucky dog” and is back on the lead lap.  The drivers who took the wave-around on the last caution, come down pit road for service.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 153 with Bubba Wallace on the outside.  Drivers spread out five wide across the track.  Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson go side by side in a battle for the lead.  Denny Hamlin pulls up behind them.

Bubba Wallace edges out in front before Kyle Larson takes the lead.

Lap 156, the top five are Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch.

La 158, Bubba Wallace passes Kyle Larson for the lead.

Christopher Bell slams into the inside wall hard after spinning out and brings out the sixth caution flag of the race.  He was in eighth place at the time of the wreck.  Bell reports that the car will not roll.

There are only six laps remaining in stage two but the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.  Taking only two tires Ryan Preece wins the race off of pit road but not all of the drivers came down pit road.

After staying out on the track, Joey Logano is the leader.

Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart with just three laps remaining in stage two.  Joey Logano and Michael McDowell battle for the lead.

The caution flag comes out on lap 164 when Kyle Busch hit the inside wall after some on track contact.

Joey Logano wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Joey Logano
Michael McDowell
Noah Gragson
Erik Jones
AJ Allmendinger
Chris Buescher
Ty Dillon
Austin Dillon
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin

Pit road is open and the drivers who stayed out on the last caution come down pit road for service.

There are 28 cars on the lead lap.

Christopher Bell said that he got a little too aggressive and got into Ross Chastain before hitting the wall.

Kyle Busch has been checked and released from the infield care center.  He said that he wasn’t really sure what had happened; calling it a crap shoot with all the caution flags.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Denny Hamlin alongside.  Larson gets out in front.  Noah Gragson is off the pace.

Drivers are in three wide battles through the field.

Kyle Larson leads the race with Denny Hamlin passing Bubba Wallace for second; Martin Truex Jr, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Coming up from the outside, Chase Elliott takes fourth place.

With 94 laps remaining in the race the drivers are running some of the fastest laps of the race.

Kyle Larson has a narrow lead over Denny Hamlin; Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.  Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott battle for third with Elliott taking the spot.

Martin Truex Jr says that he car is plowing and is falling through the field.

Ty Gibbs brings out the eighth caution of the day after a three wide battle with Martin Truex and Kevin Harvick.  He gets into Martin Truex Jr and spins out.  Both front tires are flat and the right tire is shredded as it flaps around, tearing up the car.  He is stopped in the grass.  There is debris all over the place.

There has been a record number of lead changes in today’s race.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and adjustments.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with Denny Hamlin alongside with 84 laps remaining in the race.  Chase Elliott comes up to make it a three wide battle for the lead before Kyle Larson gets out in front for the lead.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick. 

Chase Elliott passes Denny Hamlin for second. 

Teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott battle for the lead with Denny Hamlin on their bumper looking to make it a three wide battle.

Martin Truex Jr has been plowing through the field with fresh tires and has nearly caused a few wrecks.

Chase Elliott gets out in front for the lead with Kyle Larson in second; Kenny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Martin Truex Jr passes Ryan Blaney for fifth.

With 78 laps to go, Chase Elliott has a third of a second lead on Kyle Larson; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Harrison Burton spins out and brings out the caution flag for the ninth time.  He nearly runs over a slower car in front of him before spinning.

With 76 laps remaining in the race the drivers cannot make it to the end of the race on fuel.  Tire sets are getting slim in the pits for the drivers.

After pitting on the last caution flag, Martin Truex Jr stays out on the track but the remainder of the field comes down pit road for fresh tires.  Kyle Larson wins the race off of pit road with Chase Elliott in second. 

There have been 33 lead changes…so far.

Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart and jumps out infront for the lead as the drivers get three and four wide across the track.

With 72 laps to go, Martin Truex Jr has a third of a second lead on Austin Dillon; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Seventy to go, Martin Truex Jr has pulled out to a half second lead on Kyle Larson; Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Denny Hamlin passes Chase Elliott and  Daniel Suarez for fourth.

With 68 laps to go, Kyle Larson closes the gap on leader Martin Truex Jr; Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon, and William Byron (after being two laps down) round out the top five.

Lap 202, Kyle Larson has caught leader Martin Truex Jr and passes him to take the lead.  Larson pulls away on fresher tires.

Lap 205, Noah Gragson brings out the caution flag for the tenth time when he spins out and avoids other cars.

Sixty to go, drivers can make it to the end of the race form here.  Drivers come down pit road to pack the fuel cell and get that last set of fresh tires.  Kyle Larson wins the race off of pit road with William Byron coming out second.  There is a tire laying in the grass outside pit road.  The tire belonged to the 99 team.  Daniel Suarez will have to serve a pass through penalty.

After staying out on the track, Corey LaJoie brings the field down for the green flag restart with 56 laps remaining in the race.  Ryan Preece, Michael McDowell, and JJ Yeley also stayed out on the track.  Drivers are three and four wide across the track.  Corey LaJoie has the lead with William Byron in second; Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

With 55 laps to go, William Byron takes the lead with Kyle Larson in second; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Corey LaJoie round out the top five.

Teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron battle for the lead – swapping back and forth.

Erik Jones spins out and brings out the caution flag.  Jones comes to a stop in the grass.

Kurt Busch said that he has never seen anything like this on a mile and a half track.

William Byron, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, and Corey LaJoie are the only drivers who have a set of sticker tires remaining in the pits.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with 48 laps remaining in the race with Kyle Larson alongside.  Larson gets out in front for the lead with William Byron in second; Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Lap 222, Kyle Larson has a third of a second lead on William Byron; Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Ross Chastain passes Bubba Wallace for fourth.

With 42 to go, Tyler Reddick makes contact with Ryan Blaney but he saves the car and the track stays green.

There have been more lead changes today than any mile and a half track in NASCAR history.

Forty to go, Kyle Larson has a narrow lead on William Byron; Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

There are 28 cars on the lead lap.

With 37 laps to go, Kyle Larson has a near half second lead on William Byron; Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Lap 234, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on William Byron; Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Thirty to go, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly a second on William Byron; Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

With 26 laps to go, Denny Hamlin passes William Byron for second; Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second; Ross Chastain and  Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

With 24 laps to go, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to under a second on Denny Hamlin; William Byron, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Twenty to go, Kyle Larson has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin; William Byron, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Denny Hamlin has started moving around to find a faster lap time.

Bubba Wallace has caught up to Ross Chastain and they are closing the gap on third place driver William Byron.

Just 16 laps remain in the race with Kyle Larson three quarters of a second in front of Denny Hamlin; William Byron, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Leaders are encountering slower traffic.

Kyle Larson gets into the wall and Denny Hamlin has closed the gap to under a third of a second.

Twelve laps to go, Kyle Larson holds on to a narrow lead on Denny Hamlin; William Byron, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Ten to go, Kyle Larson holds on to his narrow lead of Denny Hamlin; William Byron is in third nearly four seconds back with Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain rounding out the top five.

Nine to go, Denny Hamlin has caught up to leader Kyle Larson. 

Seven to go, Kyle Larson is loose and has wiggled on the track but has held on to his lead.

Six to go, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin are side by side in a battle for the lead.

Five to go, Amid slower traffic, Kyle Larson pulls back out to a third of a second lead on Denny Hamlin.

Four to go, Denny Hamlin has pulled up to Kyle Larson’s bumper.

Three to go, Denny Hamlin is side by side with leader Kyle Larson.

Two to go, Kyle Larson holds on to the lead.

Kyle Larson takes the white flag but Denny Hamlin comes up side by side and taps Kyle Larson, sending Larson to the wall. Denny Hamlin wins the race.  This was the first last lap pass ever at Kansas Speedway.

Hamlin exits his car to boos.

This was the 400th win for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Noah Gragson and Ross Chastain have a discussion that becomes very aggressive.  The drivers had to be pulled apart.

The unofficial results of the Advent Health 400:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
Ross Chastain
Joey Logano
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
Kevin Harvick
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Aric Almirola
AJ Allmendinger
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney
Chris Buescher
Justin Haley
Brad Keselowski
Corey LaJoie
Erik Jones
Ty Dillon
JJ Yeley
Todd Gilliland
Josh Berry
Michael MDowell
Ryan Preece
Brennan Poole
Noah Gragson
Harrison Burton
Austin Cindric
Chase Briscoe
Josh Bilicki
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Busch
Christopher Bell