
If there is one driver notorious for being able to find speed over the course of a long run, it's 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney. The final run at Kansas was easily the longest of the day, which played right into his hands. But despite that, he still needed it to be a little bit longer.
Team Penske entered the weekend trying to win three consecutive races after Austin Cindric's victory at Talladega and Joey Logano's win at Texas. The freshly-shaven, now beard-less Blaney was the man leading that charge for 'The Captain' at Kansas, but he was running fifth and over five seconds behind race leader Kyle Larson with around 20 laps to go.