Keep an eye on these drivers this weekend at Kansas Speedway.
As we return to where last year’s Chase-altering feud between Logano and Matt Kenseth started, it’s worth noting that they’re the only ones to score multiple wins since Kansas was reconfigured between races during the 2012 season. But Logano in particular has been stellar lately with two wins, five top-five finishes, and a per-race average of 58 laps led over his last 5 Kansas starts.
He is a picture of consistency at Kansas. He’ll go for his fourth win there this weekend, and he’s posted 13 top-10 finishes in his last 14 Kansas starts. In regards to Loop Data (2005-present), he holds the top spot at Kansas in multiple categories – including average running position (9.4), laps inside the top-15 (3,484 – 82%), and green flag average speed (169.158).
He has yet to score a win at Kansas, but it’s been one of his stronger tracks. Since 2012, he’s notched two runner-up and five top-five finishes in eight starts there. And while he’s winless this season, he’s had steady performance on the 1.5-mile tracks (8.0 average finish, series-best 175 laps led).
Has the reigning Sprint Cup champion finally solved Kansas? Back-to-back top-five finishes there are a good sign. Even more promising: He won on the last 1.5-miler at Texas and is tied with Jimmie Johnson for the best average finish on that track type this season (2.7).
Following his Spring 2011 win, Keselowski hasn’t been particularly spectacular at Kansas but has earned five top-10 and seven top-15 finishes in his last nine starts there. He scored a win on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this year, so he’ll bear watching.
