Photo finish decides it in Kansas
NASCAR CUP KANSAS SPEEDWAY (USA) 5 MAY ROUND 12/36
One week after losing a tough battle to Denny Hamlin at Dover, Kyle Larson took his turn in Victory Lane thanks to a timely caution and video review of the finish.
Hamlin appeared in good position to earn his second consecutive NASCAR Cup victory when a caution in the final laps of Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway sent the race into overtime. All the lead-lap cars pitted, with most taking just two new tyres and fuel. Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was first off pitroad, but Buescher (RFK Racing Ford) quickly rocketed to the lead on the restart ahead of Larson (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet).
Larson quickly caught back up with him, but Buescher pulled back ahead briefly exiting Turn 2 on the final lap. After the two briefly made contact, Larson ended up on the outside and the two raced side by side to the chequered flag. Initially the scoring monitor said Buescher won by 0.001 seconds, but a video review of the finish showed Larson to be inches ahead.
Officially, the result is now the closest finish in NASCAR history since the advent of electronic timing and scoring, eclipsing the famed Ricky Craven win over Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003. “I was trying not to get too far ahead of him to where he can side-draft and then I was just trying to kill his run,” said Larson, for whom this was the second win of 2024. “It was crazy.”
Hamlin ended up fifth, behind thirdplaced Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr, and ahead of polewinner Christopher Bell.