What a difference a week and a different track makes. Talladega proved to be nothing but mayhem and this past week’s race in Kansas was just a yawner.
Martin Truex Jr. started the 267-lap race from the pole and within a few laps was 3 seconds ahead of the second place car. If the race went caution-free the whole race, he would have easily lapped the field. There were six caution flags – two for debris and three for single cars brushing the wall. The last caution was for a bold move by Denny Hamlin while going for the lead near the end of the race, which resulted in the only accident. 
I had to laugh at the announcers after one of the wall-brushing episodes. They were at a loss for words and just looked at each other, not having anything positive to say. Finally one of them started in about the car that brushed the wall and made it sound as if it was similar to one of the “big ones” at Talladega. What can you say when action is lacking?
Truex Jr. was well ahead of the field when a Lap 212 pit stop sent him back onto the track with what he thought was a loose wheel. Returning to the pits for a new set of Goodyear’s, the crew found the culprit was a broken head bolt off the brake that got caught behind the right-front wheel. The unscheduled pit stop sent Truex Jr. from a dominating lead to 21st and one lap down. After getting back on the lead lap, he was only able to fight his way through traffic, finishing 14th.
Hamlin instigated the only real action by trying to thread his way between Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson. Although there was no contact, both Keselowski and Hamlin got loose and both cars went into a spin with Hamlin collecting Larson during his spin. All three drivers brushed off the incident as just good hard racing. That brings us to the winner of the race.
Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch challenged for second place behind Truex with Kyle Busch outlasting the other drivers to win his third race of the year. This was Busch’s 37th career victory and his first at Kansas Speedway. The only two tracks Kyle has not won on are Charlotte and Pocono. Ryan Blaney (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
There are five rookies challenging for Rookie of the Year honors but it basically comes down to only two, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney. Both Elliott and Blaney generally finish high in the finishing order and are providing a very spirited Rookie of the Year race.