Winners and losers from a shocking NASCAR Cup race at Kansas

The ninth spherical of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season was a shocking one, partly on account of how clear it was. There have been no incidents till a single-car spin on the penultimate lap fully modified the complexion of the end.

And the end itself was unbelievable, with Reddick as soon as once more prevailing after a last-lap go on Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin dropping out after dominating half the race.

Here is a glance again at a few of the largest winners and losers from Kansas Speedway:

What else can we are saying? Reddick was within the wall and working out of gasoline one second, and the subsequent, he was blowing previous a number of vehicles in an time beyond regulation restart and taking his fifth win of the 12 months. All 4 23XI vehicles completed the highest 15, and Reddick has received 5 of 9 races run up to now — a feat not completed since 1987 with Dale Earnhardt. Michael Jordan was elated, and even he appeared to be in shock by the driving force of the No. 45 after his Kansas triumph. 

LOSER: Denny Hamlin’s good day that would have been nice

Watch: Hamlin bitter after Kansas loss: ‘It is about profitable’

Hamlin leaves Kansas second within the standings after a high 5 end, so it feels like he must be glad. However clearly from his post-race interview, he was not. Hamlin led 131 laps — practically half the race. He additionally was mere seconds from securing the win on the white flag when the one and solely pure warning of the race flew. However that wasn’t sport over. Hamlin then had a messy time beyond regulation restart with Larson attending to his inside and shuffling him again. He slid up into Reddick and inadvertently derailed his teammate Bell’s race, earlier than occurring to complete fourth. After we’re speaking a few driver who’s keenly targeted on his race win complete, Sunday was a bust for the driving force of the No. 11.

WINNER: Chase Briscoe and his time beyond regulation cost

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Whereas a lot of the leaders opted for 2 right-sides, Briscoe took 4 recent Goodyears and led the best way for the technique from eleventh within the lone time beyond regulation restart. He put that automotive precisely the place he wanted to, charging all the best way as much as third by the point the checkered flag flew. And had he cleared Hamlin by way of Flip 2 on the white flag lap, Briscoe may have even challenged for the win. Nonetheless, he drove a powerful ultimate two laps to get all the best way right into a ‘podium’ spot.

LOSER: Cody Ware makes himself the story whereas working final

The Rick Ware Racing driver was working in final, over 5 laps down because the leaders approached the white flag. And in a race that noticed zero pure yellows within the first 397 of 400 scheduled miles, he was about to turn out to be the primary. Ware spun sideways, combating tires that have been coming aside after a prolonged run. This drew the ire of Hamlin, who was moments away from taking the white flag with the lead in hand, and it is the very last thing a driver working that far down the order needs to do.

WINNER: Austin Cindric is knocking on the door of the Chase

Austin Cindric, Workforce Penske

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

When the playoff format was eradicated, many thought Cindric’s probability of being a part of the highest 16 went with it, however the driver of the No. 2 is proving his doubters mistaken. 2026 began tough with a greatest end of nineteenth within the first 5 races. Nevertheless, since then, Cindric has ripped off outcomes of fifth, eighth, sixteenth, and twelfth. He has soared from thirtieth in factors after Race #5 to seventeenth in factors after Race #9, simply 13 factors out.

LOSER: Trackhouse cannot crack the highest 25

John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Membership, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Final fall, SVG earned his first oval high ten within the Cup Sequence at Kansas. Lower than two years in the past, Ross Chastain was a winner on the 1.5-mile oval. However on Sunday, Trackhouse had completely nothing for the competitors. All of their vehicles ended race no less than two laps down, and the highest-finisher was Chastain in twenty sixth. Zilisch was twenty ninth and SVG was thirty sixth, falling outdoors of the Chase. The group is aware of they’re in bother, and have been vocal about their efforts to proper the ship, however seeing them this sluggish at a mode of monitor they excelled at for years continues to be very shocking.

WINNER: All of RFK Racing quietly stacking factors

Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing

Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Photographs

We simply cannot cease praising RFK for his or her consistency as a company. They are not making a number of noise, however they’re doing precisely what they should do with a view to get all three vehicles into the Chase, only one 12 months after those self same three vehicles missed the reduce for the ultimate season that includes the win-and-you’re-in playoffs. Keselowski led the best way in sixth, Buescher was tenth, and Preece was eleventh within the ultimate order. 

LOSER: Christopher Bell goes from profitable shot to twentieth place

Watch: 5 for 45! Reddick wins rousing time beyond regulation shootout at Kansas

Exiting Flip 2 on the time beyond regulation restart, Bell gave the impression to be in an ideal place to problem Larson for the race lead. Nevertheless, contact whereas battling three-wide with Reddick and Hamlin noticed him spinning into the pit lane on the white flag with a flat tire, and ending twentieth. That is now back-to-back races the place Bell may have received, however misfortune visited him as a substitute.

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