WHAT TO WATCH

ODDS AND ENDS

Kyle Larson is the betting favorite for Sunday’s race at 6-1, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, after winning at Kansas in October on his way to a Cup Series championship. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott along with Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott of Joe Gibbs Racing are 7-1while Ross Chastain is 8-1to win for the third time this season.

NEW CAR, OLD RESULTS

Hendrick Motorsports will try to make it 3for 3in the Next Gen car at mile-and-a-half tracks this weekend. Alex Bowman won earlier this season at Las Vegas while William Byron triumphed at Atlanta.

TOUGH TIME

Joey Logano, last week’s winner at Darlington, crashed near the end of Saturday’s practice. The wreck came after Logano’s car chief was ejected and he lost his pit selection for twice failing inspection.

TIME TO GET HAPPY

Kevin Harvick, fourth at Darlington, hopes to parlay his Kansas dominance into his first win since Bristol on Sept. 19, 2020. He’s been second in two of his last three races at the track, and has four consecutive top-5runs, while his three wins at Kansas are tied with Hamlin, Logano, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the most in history.

WIN AND IN

Logano became the 10th driver through the first 12races to clinch one of 16playoff spots when he spun William Byron into the wall on the penultimate lap to win last weekend. That means the pressure is mounting for Harvick, Tyler Reddick and anyone else without a win.

“I think that’s what NASCAR has put together with this playoff system — that wins mean so much and you do what it takes when it comes down to it,” Austin Dillon said. “I think everybody’s organizations would be upset if they didn’t.”