Kyle Larson won Kansas, took Cup lead
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 1, 2026
Larson’s Kansas masterclass
Larson took another big step in the 2026 Cup Series title race with a dominant win in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. He led 235 of 267 laps, swept both stages and earned the fastest-lap bonus. He also posted a perfect 150.0 Driver Rating, a number that matched the way he controlled the race from the front. Larson’s victory was his second in the opening four Chase races, a run that has put him in clear command of the championship conversation. He handled the stage breaks and kept the No. 5 team in control. The finish confirmed Larson’s status as the favorite for the championship.
Larson’s title charge
The Kansas win pushed Larson to the top of the standings picture and gave him a 26-point cushion over Denny Hamlin. That edge matters when every race can shift the title chase and every point can shape the path forward. Larson’s position comes with more than a strong points line, too. Neil Paine’s forecast now gives him a 57% chance to win the title, ahead of Hamlin at 29% and Christopher Bell at 10%. Those numbers match the on-track trend. Through the first four Chase races, Larson has averaged a 123.7 Driver Rating, and none of those races has produced a Driver Rating below 106.3. That kind of consistency gives the championship case real weight. Larson has not just won races, he has kept his floor high every week. Kansas also showed how his path can still swing in the final laps. Chase Briscoe passed him late, but Larson took the lead back with seven laps to go and kept it from there. That sequence mattered because it showed both pressure and response. Larson did not fade when Briscoe got by him. He regained control and finished the job. In a playoff-style run where the margins stay tight, that kind of response can carry as much value as the victory itself.
Larson’s season turnaround
Larson’s surge at Kansas also reflects where the No. 5 team started earlier in the season. The group had snapped back to top form after a 51-race winless streak, and the Kansas result added another layer to that rebound. One win can be treated as a hot streak. Two wins in the opening four Chase races point to something more stable. Larson has turned the early part of this stretch into a run that mixes speed, race control and consistency. That blend has moved him to No. 1 in the Racing America On SI NASCAR Power Rankings after the Kansas victory, another sign that the broader view of the season has shifted in his favor. Rankings do not decide championships, but Kansas reinforced Larson’s case. Larson controlled the event, responded to a challenge from Briscoe and left with another win on his record. With the points lead, the forecast edge and the top spot in the rankings, Larson has built the kind of position every contender wants. He has speed, he has results and he has the numbers to match the eye test.
