KANSAS CITY, Kan. — There have been 36 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, with 19 different drivers visiting victory lane at the 1.5-mile superspeedway.
The first race there was in 2001 and two races have been run there every season since 2011, producing19 different pole winners and 19 different race winners.Â
At Kansas Speedway, 18 different starting positions on the grid have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series. With the first starting position being the most proficient starting spot in the field producing more winners (seven) than any other starting position on the grid (a winning percentage of 19.44%).
Seven different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race from the pole or first starting position at Kansas Speedway — Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013), Kevin Harvick (Playoffs 2013), Martin Truex Jr. (Playoffs 2017), Kevin Harvick (spring 2018), Kyle Larson (Playoffs 2021).
Denny Hamlin, who won last week at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, is the defending victor at Kansas Speedway and has won four times there.
Toyota has won the last four races at Kansas, including Kurt Busch’s last victory, which came there in 2022.
Ten of the 19 Kansas winners will be active for Sunday’s race there.
Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with five (fall 2013, 2014 sweep, spring 2018, spring 2019).
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson, who will be making his fourth start of the season this weekend at Kansas, leads all active drivers in poles with three (2003, 2007, 2008).Â
Nine of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners are active this weekend.