Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson, the drivers who won Stage 1 and Stage 2 respectively, were involved in an incident with 20 laps to go in the Cup race at Kansas Speedway
The two were in the top five when they made contact entering Turn 1. The damage from the contact cut a tire on Blaney’s car and sent him into the wall.
Blaney was eliminated from the race and Larson continued. Larson had to pit twice, the second time in order to tighten lug nuts.
Blaney led 53 laps and Larson has led 100 laps after having to start last for changing tires after qualifying.
“It was hard racing,” Blaney told Fox Sports 1. “I definitely take the blame on that one. I was just trying to side draft hard and the car was kind of light down the frontstretch there and it was just hard racing at the end. I got about spun out in one and two on the restart, getting sucked around. We were making some spots back up and just trying to get back up to the front and tried too hard. That stinks. ... I hate I got (Larson), but it was just hard racing.”
A few laps after the race restarted, a seven-car wreck brought out the red flag on Lap 253.
The wreck eliminated William Byron, Matt Kenseth, Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman. Clint Bowyer was also involved.
Byron’s car was lifted off its rear wheels when Newman plowed into him
“That one hurt really bad,” Byron told FS1. “I’m fine. We took two tires there and just couldn’t get it turned on the bottom and then got sucked around at the last minute. Couldn’t rotate. Couldn’t cut. Overall tried to push some things there, and it didn’t work out.”
Byron added, “That’s the hardest hit I’ve been in. I’m thankful to be walking.”