Hamlin wins at Kansas, moves on to the next round in “The Chase” (10-20-20)

By: Becca Cottingham

Headline Photo Courtesy: NBC Sports.com

We start Kansas three wide and then begins to stretch into a single file line. However, the field is in a racing mood across the board. The shoves from other drivers are causing the driver getting the shove to get loose. Joey Logano had an issue with a vibration and is currently not on the lead lap. He has also now dropped below the cut line for the Chase. The wind is also a huge factor for the drivers. There was a penalty on pit road due to a tire issue. We then get a caution because Ryan Newman scrapes the wall. Joey Logano wins stage one in a shootout.

We start the second stage with drivers racing to try to get the best possible position. Things settled down with Martin Truex Jr leading until Joey Gase got spun by Kyle Larson. Kyle wanted the line and Joey was not moving lower. So Kyle Larson moved him. This caution came at a good time as we are about half way through the run. Kyle Larson then got hit with a pit road penalty due to an uncontrolled tire. Kyle Busch is having issues with his one of his throttle. Then we go four and five wide at the restart. The restarts are causing damage as they go through the restarts. Keeping your car damage free and stage points are a must for our Chase drivers. As it stands right now all of Hendricks Motorsports will be out of the Chase. The crazy thing about Kansas is that no stage winner has won this race. Denny Hamlin wins stage two.

At the end of stage two we have half of the eight clinched into the next round of the Chase. Alex Bowman tried pit strategy hoping for a caution flag but ended up with no caution flag. This cost him a lap. Jimmie Johnson also made his way back into the top ten in this race. Ryan Blaney scrapes the wall and has a tire blow which brings out the caution. This caution flag can determine who goes to the round of eight and who is out. This will be the battle of two tires verses four tires on the restart. Drivers going three and four wide trying to get up front. Chase Elliot is pulling all kinds of tricks out of the hat in passing drivers. But we had a crash with Bubba Wallace as a wheel comes off his car. This sends us into overtime that can make or break the Chase. We just had another accident with Daniel Hemric, Daniel Suarez, and Joey Logano. This was while drivers were four wide. Brad Keselowski needed an amazing restart and make up positions. However, he started going backwards. Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott battled to the finish with Denny winning the race.