Kyle Larson Breaths a Sigh of Relief as Chase Elliott’s Men Gift Him a Smooth Sail at Kansas After 2024 Breather

Last spring, Kansas delivered a finish no one will forget. Kyle Larson edged out Chris Buescher by one one-thousandth of a second, just an inch. It was the closest finish in Cup Series history. The final lap was chaos. Larson charged from the outside, barely held it together through Turn 4, and beat Buescher by a hair. Initially, fans and even officials thought Buescher had it. But a frame-by-frame review gave Larson the win. He called it “super loose in the center,” but it worked.

That win meant more than just a trophy. Larson’s move in the closing seconds was gutsy and cemented his status as NASCAR’s clutch machine. He had said after the race, “I committed really hard up top and wasn’t quite sure if we were gonna make it out…” His instincts paid off. It was a hard-earned moment, the kind of finish that drivers dream of and fans talk about for years. The race put Kansas Speedway in the spotlight, and Larson in the history books.

Fast forward one year, and Kyle Larson came back to Kansas not for a photo finish, but for pure domination. From the pole to the checkered flag, he owned the day. But the story wasn’t just about speed. It was also about a gift. This time, Chase Elliott’s pit crew fumbled at the worst time, handing Larson a clear path. It wasn’t as dramatic as last year, but for Larson, it was just as sweet.

Chase Elliott’s crew fumbles and helps Kyle Larson!

Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 felt more like a showcase than a competition. Kyle Larson came in fast and never slowed down. He started from the pole and immediately put distance between himself and the field. He won Stage 1, then Stage 2, and looked untouchable for most of the day. But things got interesting during the final pit cycle. Chase Elliott, his Hendrick teammate, briefly took the lead after beating Larson off pit road earlier. It was shaping up to be a real duel until disaster struck for the No. 9 team.

On lap 195, Elliott’s crew made a costly error. The jack dropped too soon, and the right rear tire wasn’t secure. The delay knocked Elliott out of the lead and dropped him to 13th. Meanwhile, Larson cycled back to the front, and from there, the race turned into a smooth cruise for the No. 5. Fans in the stands could see it, the moment the pit mistake happened; the momentum shifted. Elliott had led 29 laps and had speed. But once Larson took back control, the outcome was all but sealed.

Pole
Stage 1
Stage 2
Fastest lap
Race win

Kyle Larson. ALL WEEKEND. pic.twitter.com/BsavvD9BnK

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 11, 2025

The final 50 laps were Larson’s parade. Christopher Bell tried to close the gap, especially in the closing laps, but never had the speed to threaten. Ryan Blaney, Briscoe, and Bowman trailed in the top five. Bell led three laps, but Larson’s 221 laps at the front told the real story. It was Larson’s third win of the year, and his second straight Kansas spring race victory. He earned the Xfinity Fastest Lap, maximum stage points, and the overall win. But without that pit road hiccup for Elliott, the ending might’ve looked different.

After the race, Larson sounded relieved but measured. He acknowledged how close things got toward the end, especially with tire wear and vibrations. “I was trying really hard to pace myself… was struggling a bit at the end of the runs. It felt like I needed to be better and started to lose a lot of grip, and I was vibrating really badly. I was afraid something might let go,” he told the broadcasters. He acknowledged Elliott’s speed, too, saying, “Chase is really good. So I felt like I just needed to try to be better on my end.”

The numbers back it up. This was Larson’s 14th career stage sweep. He now has eight stage wins on the year, more than double anyone else. He also led his 10,000th career Cup Series lap during the race. He’s now the points leader, taking the spot from teammate William Byron. Notably, Larson has finished in the top four in each of the last four races. No one’s hotter right now. With the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the horizon, this momentum couldn’t come at a better time.

Elsewhere, the race was messy. Brad Keselowski can’t catch a break. He looked on track for a solid finish, even climbed to second behind Elliott. But with 72 laps to go, his right rear tire gave out. The car slammed into the wall, ending his day. That’s three crashes in three weeks for “Bad Brad,” and still no top 10 finish in 2025. He called it “a great day” that ended in “a big boom.” Similarly, Kyle Busch also found trouble again. After looking strong early, he lost the handle late and spun with under ten laps to go, setting up the final run.

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin had the speed, but mechanical failure ruined his afternoon. His clutch started slipping early. Then, on pit road, the gears failed. “Just can’t keep it together right now,” he admitted after finishing 36th. On the other hand, Christopher Bell stayed consistent with another podium finish. Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five.

2025 NASCAR Cup Series – AdventHealth 400 Results (Kansas Speedway)

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