Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson claim stage victories at Kansas
Staff Report
Josh Hedges | Getty Images
Stage 2
Kyle Larson's charge from the rear was officially complete on Lap 130, when he passed polesitter Kevin Harvick for the race lead. Larson, who diced through the field by riding the high line, held onto the lead, too, to win Stage 2 at Kansas Speedway.
Harvick, who radioed that he was fighting a handling condition throughout the 80-lap stretch, wound up in second place for the second consecutive stage. Stage 1 winner Ryan Blaney finished third in Stage 2, followed by Kyle Busch and Joey Logano.
RELATED: Stage 2 results
In addition to the 10 race points earned for winning Stage 2, Larson adds a playoff point toward his postseason total. It was his first stage win of the season.
Other drivers to finish in the top 10 in both stages at Kansas are the Stewart-Haas Racing trio of Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch.
Finish
Driver
Team
Race points
1
Kyle Larson
Chip Ganassi Racing
10
2
Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing
9
3
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
8
4
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
7
5
Joey Logano
Team Penske
6
6
Aric Almirola
Stewart-Haas Racing
5
7
Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing
4
8
Clint Bowyer
Stewart-Haas Racing
3
9
Erik Jones
Joe Gibbs Racing
2
10
Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing
1
Stage 1
Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney nabbed his third stage win of the season Saturday at Kansas Speedway, narrowly beating polesitter Kevin Harvick to the start/finish line after a harrowing and thrilling final few circuits of the 80-lap stage.
Blaney started Saturday night's race from the outside pole position, and he nabbed the lead from Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing) with a blistering stop on pit road following the competition caution on Lap 30. Blaney would lead the final 48 laps of the stage, but Harvick made him work for it with close-quarters racing that nearly resulted in both drivers taking a spin.
RELATED: Full Stage 1 results
In addition to the 10 race points earned for winning Stage 1, Blaney adds a playoff point toward his growing postseason total as well.
Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, both of Team Penske, claimed third and fourth in Stage 1 with Chip Ganassi Racing's Kyle Larson taking fifth.
Larson started from the rear for unapproved adjustments -- his No. 42 team was forced to change his qualifying tires after he took a spin Friday night -- but charged through the field, passing Aric Almirola for a top-five spot in the waning Stage 1 laps.