On Sunday, the celebs of the NASCAR Cup Collection will take to the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway for the operating of the AdventHealth 400 (2 p.m. ET. Fox, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Right here’s what you want to know forward of the ninth race of the 2026 Cup Collection season.
Favourite: Denny Hamlin (+450, per DraftKings)
Hamlin solely has the one win at Las Vegas earlier this season, however his 5 prime 10s within the first eight races and series-best 444 laps led level to a driver who has been as constant as any within the collection up to now.
He has a track-record 4 wins at Kansas and a 12.6 common end in 35 profession begins within the “Sunflower State.” With seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his final 9 races there, all indicators level to Hamlin having a shot at his second win of 2026 on Sunday.
Underdog: Alex Bowman (+5500, per DraftKings)
If Bowman is lastly going to get his season not off course, there is no such thing as a higher place than Kansas. He has six prime 10s within the final seven races and possesses a 9.75 common end in 16 begins on the 1.5-mile monitor in Hendrick Motorsports tools.
Bowman’s return from a four-race absence
on account of vertigo ended prematurely at Bristol when he was caught up in a multi-car crash in Stage 2 and completed final (thirty seventh). He offered an encouraging well being replace earlier this week, however because the final of the full-time drivers in factors (thirty sixth), Bowman wants a turnaround instantly and Kansas could possibly be the right start line.
Ty Gibbs seeking to construct off early-season momentum
Coming off his first profession Cup Collection win in his 131st begin at Bristol, Gibbs heads to Kansas with six consecutive prime 10s and at present sits fourth within the standings. As constant as he has been, although, that run could possibly be put to the take a look at on Sunday.
In seven profession begins at Kansas, Gibbs has 5 finishes of twenty fifth or worse and has solely led a complete of 5 laps. With that mentioned, he was fifth at Las Vegas earlier this season and has been quick all over the place the collection has visited. There isn’t any cause to imagine that Kansas shall be any completely different.
Kyle Larson returns to web site of most up-to-date Cup Collection win
It’s nonetheless onerous to imagine that the two-time collection champion is mired in a 32-race winless streak relationship again to his most up-to-date victory within the 2025 Kansas spring race. If historical past is any indication, that drought may finish on Sunday.
Not solely has Larson led probably the most laps (761) at Kansas since 2021, however he’s the one repeat winner within the final 11 visits to the 1.5-mile monitor with three triumphs in that span. It might transform one other heavyweight bout between Larson and Hamlin on the monitor, however do not be stunned if Larson is the one again in victory lane.
Toyota seeking to proceed early-season dominance
By way of the primary eight races of 2026, Toyota has gained six occasions. 4 of these six got here from Tyler Reddick, whereas Hamlin (Las Vegas) and Gibbs (Bristol) added a pair extra.
Ryan Blaney (Phoenix) and Chase Elliott (Martinsville) have been the one drivers up to now to spoil the Toyota social gathering. Chevrolet ought to be in rivalry this weekend judging by its Las Vegas efficiency, however Toyota will possible be standing in its method.
