This year has been full of compelling storylines, but the one rising to the top, is the competitive battle as to which organization is the best in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, and two teams – Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports – are neck-and-neck for the honors. Both organization’s drivers and teams have been outstanding and even dominating in some statistical categories, and this weekend’s showdown at Kansas Speedway in the AdventHealth 400 (Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) looks to be a good one.
For starters, the top four spots in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings are currently occupied by Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing drivers – 1. Kyle Larson, 2. Martin Truex Jr., 3. Chase Elliott, 4. Denny Hamlin. In fact, Hendrick Motorsports has all four of its drivers inside the top-10 in points after Dover – William Byron (ranked sixth) and Alex Bowan (ranked ninth).
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the most recent winner, taking the victory last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, tying Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron for the season-most wins at three each. Through the first 11 races of the season, Hendrick Motorsports (five) and Joe Gibbs Racing (four) have combined to win nine of the 11 events – a winning percentage of 81.8%, the two other organizations with wins being Trackhouse Racing (Atlanta) and 23XI Racing (Talladega).
In total five of the seven race winners this season are from either Hendrick Motorsports – William Byron (three wins), Kyle Larson (one win) and Chase Elliott (one win) – or Joe Gibbs Racing – Denny Hamlin (three wins), Christopher Bell (one win).
Through 11 NASCAR Cup Series races this season, 55 top-five finishing positions were up for grabs and Hendrick Motorsports (17) and Joe Gibbs Racing (12) accounted for 29 of them (52.7%). Also, through the first 11 races, 110 top-10 finishes were for the taking and Hendrick Motorsports (23) and Joe Gibbs Racing (21) accounted for 44 of them (40.0%).
Plus, not only have the Hendrick and Gibbs organizations finished well, but their drivers have also been out front leading laps 66% of the time this season. Of the 3,293 laps run this season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have led 1,293 laps (39%) and Hendrick Motorsports drivers have led 892 laps (27%).
When it comes to this weekend at Kansas Speedway, expect the two titans of the NASCAR Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, to continue to battle it out again as they are tied for the series-most wins at the 1.5-mile track with eight victories each:
- Hendrick Motorsports: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014), Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015), Chase Elliott (one: Playoffs 2018) and Kyle Larson (one: Playoffs 2021).
- Joe Gibbs Racing: Tony Stewart (2006), Denny Hamlin (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023), Matt Kenseth (2013), and Kyle Busch (2016, 2021).
In total nine organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
|
Organizations |
Wins |
Seasons |
|
Joe Gibbs Racing |
8 |
2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2006 |
|
Hendrick Motorsports |
8 |
2021, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2008, 2002, 2001 |
|
Team Penske |
6 |
2020, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2003 |
|
RFK Racing |
4 |
2012, 2010, 2007, 2005 |
|
23XI Racing |
3 |
2023, 2022 sweep |
|
Stewart-Haas Racing |
3 |
2018, 2016, 2009 |
|
Furniture Row Racing |
2 |
2017 sweep |
|
Richard Childress Racing |
1 |
2013 |
|
MB2 Motorsports |
1 |
2004 |
Kansas Speedway sets the stage for the NASCAR Cup Series
In the heartland of America, groundbreaking for Kansas Speedway was held on May 25, 1999. The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first NASCAR Cup Series race being held on September 30, 2001. The first Kansas Cup event was won by Hendrick Motorsport’s driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet). Gordon would actually win the first two NASCAR Cup Series races held at Kansas Speedway (2001, 2002).
During the 2012 season, between the April and October events, the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway track underwent a repave, adding variable banking in the corners bringing them to 17-20 degrees. The advancement has opened up racing lanes from the apron to the wall and has become a driver favorite.
“Kansas (Speedway) is a really fun racetrack,” said Martin Truex Jr. “It’s a place where you can move around. The tires wear out and it gets slippery. It’s just a fun place to race and we’re looking forward to it with our Auto-Owners Insurance Camry. At the same time, I think it’s a real measuring stick of your cars and where you’re at. It takes everything to get around there. You have to have horsepower and downforce, a good setup with a lot of tire grip and things like that. It’s a big challenge and usually the guys that have the fastest cars are up front there, so hopefully we’ll be one of those guys because it seems like our Camrys have been really strong this year.”
In total, there have been 36 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway; one event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011. The 36 Cup Series races have produced 19 different pole winners and 19 different race winners (2001-2023).
The hot ticket is starting upfront at Kansas
At Kansas Speedway, a total of 18 different starting positions on the grid have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series. With the first starting position being the most proficient starting spot in the field producing more winners (seven) than any other starting position on the grid (a winning percentage of 19.44%).
Seven different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race from the pole or first starting position at Kansas Speedway – Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013), Kevin Harvick (Playoffs 2013), Martin Truex Jr. (Playoffs 2017), Kevin Harvick (spring 2018), Kyle Larson (Playoffs 2021).
Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with five (fall 2013, 2014 sweep, spring 2018, spring 2019). NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson, who will be making his fourth start of the season this weekend at Kansas, leads all active drivers in poles with three (2003, 2007, 2008).
Nine of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners are active this weekend.
|
Active Kansas Pole Winners (9) |
Poles |
Seasons |
|
Jimmie Johnson |
3 |
2008, 2007, 2003 |
|
Christopher Bell |
2 |
2023, 2022 |
|
Joey Logano |
2 |
2018, 2015 |
|
Martin Truex Jr |
2 |
2017, 2016 |
|
William Byron |
1 |
2023 |
|
Tyler Reddick |
1 |
2022 |
|
Daniel Hemric |
1 |
2019 |
|
Ryan Blaney |
1 |
2017 |
|
Brad Keselowski |
1 |
2015 |
Denny Hamlin is the Chief of Kansas Speedway
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is coming off his third win of the season last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, tying William Byron for the series-most victories on the year. Now, the 43-year old heads to Kansas Speedway as not only the defending winner of this Sunday’s AdventHealth 400, but he also leads the series in wins at Kansas Speedway as well, with four victories (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023).
A total of 19 different drivers have led the pack to the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, and 10 of the Kansas Cup winners are active this weekend.
