NASCAR Chase Heads to Kansas as O’Reilly Series Takes a Week Off

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase moves from the tight quarters of Bristol to the wide, fast turns of Kansas Speedway this Sunday, September 27. The Hollywood Casino 400 is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET in Kansas City, Kansas. With seven races remaining, every finish matters for drivers pursuing the championship.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has no race this weekend. After racing at Bristol, the series returns Saturday, October 3, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Its championship contenders get an extra week to prepare while the Cup drivers take on Kansas.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will race at Kansas on Saturday, September 26. The Race to Stop Suicide 200 is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on FS1, giving fans a look at the track before Sunday’s Cup race.

A Little History of Kansas Speedway

Kansas Speedway opened in 2001, and its first Cup race ended with Jeff Gordon in Victory Lane. The 1.5-mile tri-oval changed significantly in 2012, when it was repaved and given variable banking in the turns. That gives drivers room to search for a faster line as a race develops.

Kansas may look more forgiving than Bristol, but choosing the right lane, managing tires and making the right adjustments can decide who is still in contention at the finish.

Drivers Who Have Found Success at Kansas

Kyle Larson enters as one of the strongest drivers to watch. He has three Cup wins at Kansas, including victories in 2024 and 2025, and has led more laps there than anyone in the track’s history. He also finished second at Bristol last weekend, taking a one-point lead in the Chase.

Denny Hamlin has also won three times at Kansas. He led most of the first stage when the Cup Series visited in April and finished second, so he has recent speed at the track as well as a strong history there.

Tyler Reddick won that April race, giving him two Kansas victories. Chase Elliott won last September’s Kansas race in a dramatic overtime finish. Both have shown they can be there when the race is on the line.

Bristol brought the intensity of a short track. Kansas brings speed and space, with several Chase contenders returning to a place where they have already won.

The question now is who can do it again when the championship points matter most.

David Conde

David is the Founder and Co-Owner of Legends On Deck and Co-Host of the Legends On Deck Podcast. A lifelong sports fan with a special passion for the New York Mets and New York Knicks, David has spent more than a decade covering the sports he loves. From 2010 to 2014, he served as a Senior Editor for MetsMerized Online and Mets Minors, and in June 2014 fulfilled a lifelong dream by covering the New York Mets at Citi Field as a credentialed writer. As Legends On Deck has expanded beyond baseball, David has enjoyed diving into more sports, learning along the way and sharing those stories with readers and listeners. Married for over 27 years and the proud father of two adult sons, he continues to connect with sports fans through Legends On Deck, the podcast and social media.