Wallace Takes Second Career Win at Kansas

Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR

Playoff Drivers Upset Again with Wallace Kansas Triumph

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – No rainout necessary, as Bubba Wallace takes his second NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas. Spoiling the Playoffs as a non-contender winner again, Wallace put together one of his most impressive drives to date. The No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing took command on lap 200 and never looked back. Wallace is now the 18th different driver to win a Cup race in 2022. Is the record of 19 winning drivers at jeopardy of being broken?

The opening Stage proved very costly for a few Playoff favorites. While running fifth on lap 35, Kevin Harvick found the turn four wall. The No. 4 Ford went wide after two other drivers were tightly racing ahead of him, and Harvick had to lift. This major contact sent Harvick to a last-place finish in 36th, and a must-win scenario for Bristol next week.

Another contender found issues while up front, as Tyler Reddick cut a tire from the lead. Heavy wall contact again sent the No. 8 behind the wall, and out of the race. Reddick leaves Kansas in 35th place, holding onto a very slim points advantage heading into Bristol.

Racing would resume with less than 10 laps left in Stage 1. After restarting second, Christopher Bell held on to take the opening Stage win.

Stage 2 would see a few incidents, but none impacted any Playoff drivers. That changed on lap 138, when Kyle Busch spun through the grass. After being trapped a lap down, the 18 would only recover to finish 26th. These Playoffs have not been kind results-wise through two weeks for Busch, as he’s now below the cut line going to Bristol.

While Bell tried to rally late, he was no match for Alex Bowman in Stage 2. The 48 took the Stage win, as he led a race-high 107 laps. This was by far the most laps Bowman had led all season long, going for his first win since March.

The Stage 2 break proved to be the last caution of the day. Bowman initially took off in Stage 3, but had a challenger quickly find his back bumper. After stalking down the Hendrick driver, Bubba Wallace took the lead away on lap 200. As Bowman faded, a few fellow Toyotas tried to chase Wallace for the win, including Bell and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin.

Even on the final cycle of green flag pit stops, the 23XI team was unfazed and only extended their lead. The closing laps saw Hamlin eventually take second and try to close in, but the 11 could not get within a second. In a season-sweeping performance, the No. 45 takes another win at Kansas, this time with Bubba Wallace behind the wheel.

“Man, just so proud of this team, so proud of the effort that they put in each and every week,” Wallace said. “Just thankful for the opportunity, right? Took this jump from an idea two years ago from a text from Denny before it all even happened. He was ready to get the deal done. Appreciate him. Appreciate MJ, Curtis, Gene. Everybody on that side of things, everybody at 23XI. Men and women there, they work their tails off. Just so proud. Pit crew was awesome today. We had one loose wheel. Just thankful. Thanks for the opportunity, and thankful to shut the hell up for a lot of people.” 

“I knew Denny was going to be strong. That’s the things I look at, is he wasn’t that good at the beginning of the day, and he comes up and finishes P2. And that’s what I want to start doing. When we don’t have the best days, just capitalize on moments like that. It’s cool to beat the boss, but man, we were just lights-out today once we got to the lead, and it was a lot of fun.”

Kansas marks career victory number two for Wallace, after Talladega last fall. Unlike Talladega though, this race ran full-distance and saw a checkered flag. Racing for an Owner’s Championship with the No. 45, Wallace’s win locked this team into the next round.

Behind Wallace, Hamlin and Bell, top finishers from Kansas were Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr., William Byron, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez.

By virtue of points, Bell is locked into the Round of 12. Only the 20 team is guaranteed safe before the Bristol cutoff race. The standings have separated quite a bit for a few drivers though, but 15 points separate six teams at the cut line.

Championship hopes end for four drivers Saturday in the Bristol Night Race. With non-Playoff drivers taking both wins so far, 15 drivers are racing for 11 spots in the next round. Can Bristol give us either a 19th different winner, or another Playoff spoiler? Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race coverage begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. 

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR