Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Hollywood Casino 400

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, going into the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, September 27, at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) – the fourth race in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase.

NASCAR Cup Series Postseason Fast Facts – Race No. 4 (Kansas Speedway)

• The 2026 season marks the seventh time the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has been hosted by Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2026).
• Kansas Speedway is one of eight different tracks to host the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason:
  • Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2026)
  • Talladega Superspeedway (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012)
  • Auto Club Speedway (2009, 2010)
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway (2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Dover Motor Speedway (2018, 2019)
  • Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2020, 2021)
  • Texas Motor Speedway (2022, 2023)
  • New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2025)
• A total of 18 different drivers have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2004-2025).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads the Cup Series in victories in the fourth race of the postseason with three victories (2009, 2011, 2016).
• Seven of the current 16 Chase drivers (bolded in Chart below) have won the fourth postseason race, led by Team Penske’s Joey Logano with two wins (2014, 2015).

• A total of 19 different crew chiefs have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Chad Knaus with three victories (2009 Auto Club, 2011 Kansas, 2016 Charlotte).
• A total of 10 different organizations have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven victories (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023).
• Three times the winner of the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has gone on to win the Cup title in the same season: 2009, 2016 and 2017.

1. In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Auto Club Speedway and went on to win his fourth-straight series title in the same season. The victory was his second of four wins during his postseason run that season.
2. In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won at Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval) and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series title that same season. The win was Johnson’s first of three that postseason.
3. In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win the series title the same season. It was his first of three wins in that postseason.

• The worst finish by a driver in the fourth NASCAR Cup Series postseason race that later went on to win the title that same season was a 38th-place finish by Jimmie Johnson in 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Last season, Kyle Larson finished seventh in the fourth race of the postseason at New Hampshire and went on to win the title later that same year.
• Four times a non-Playoff driver has won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason: 2004, 2006, 2022, 2024.

1. In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the victory.
2. In 2006, Brian Vickers won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 16th in points at the time of the victory.
3. In 2022, Tyler Reddick won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway. Reddick had qualified for the postseason but was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 16, he was ranked 13th in points at the time of the victory
4. In 2024, Ross Chastain won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 17th in points at the time of the victory.

• Kansas Speedway is one of four tracks that has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason since its inception into the series in 2004, alongside Martinsville Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway.
• Kansas Speedway has occupied seven different positions on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason schedule:
• Second Race: 2022, 2023
• Third Race: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Fourth Race: 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2024
• Fifth Race: 2015, 2016, 2025, 2026
• Sixth Race: 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Seventh Race: 2020
• Eighth Race: 2021
• A total of 15 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason races at Kansas Speedway.
• Six of the current 16 Chase drivers (bolded in Chart below) have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway.
• Team Penske’s Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in postseason race wins at Kansas Speedway with three victories (2014, 2015, 2020).

• A total of 18 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway. Four of the 18 have won multiple races – Alan Gustafson, Chad Knaus, Greg Erwin, Todd Gordon (two wins each).
• A total of 10 different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with five wins (2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2025).
• Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is the most recent postseason race winner at Kansas Speedway.
• Five times the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway was won by a non-Playoff driver: 2004 (Joe Nemechek), 2006 (Tony Stewart), 2007 (Greg Biffle), 2022 (Bubba Wallace) and 2024 (Ross Chastain).
• Three times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway went on to win the series championship that same season – 2008 (Jimmie Johnson), 2017 (Martin Truex Jr.) and 2021 (Kyle Larson).

Top 16 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Standings at Kansas Speedway

 * – Based on last 36 races at Kansas Speedway (2005 – 2026).

Kansas Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK DATA & INFO

Track Size: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

Banking/Turns: 17 to 20 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,685 feet

Backstretch Length: 2,207 feet

RACE DATA & INFO

Race Name: Hollywood Casino 400
Season Race: 30 of 36 (Sept. 27, 2026)
NCS Chase Race: 4 of 10
The Purse: $11,233,037
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps (Ends on Lap 165)
Final Stage Length: 102 laps (Ends on Lap 267)

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORD DATA

Track Qualifying Record: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 197.773 mph, 27.304 secs. October 3, 2014

Track Race Record: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 152.057 mph, (02:38:02), October 21, 2018

2025 Pole Winner: Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 180.078 mph, 29.987 secs., September 27, 2025

2025 Race Winner: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 123.106 mph, (03:19:35), September 28, 2025

HISTORY

• Groundbreaking for Kansas Speedway was held on May 25, 1999.
• The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001 with the first events being an ARCA Menards Series race and an ARCA Menards Series West race on the same day – June 2.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was on September 30, 2001 and the race was won by Hendrick Motorsport’s driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet).
• During the 2012 season, between the April and October events, the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave, adding variable banking in the corners (17 to 20 degrees).
• In total, there have been 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011. Of those 39 race 21 have been Playoff events.

STARTS

• A total of 175 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 137 drivers have competed in more than one.
• Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Kansas Speedway with 37 starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Kansas Speedway with 36 starts.
• Top five in starts at Kansas all-time: Kyle Busch (37), Kevin Harvick (36), Denny Hamlin (36), Kurt Busch (33), Martin Truex Jr. (33) and Joey Logano (33).
• Six drivers all-time have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Kansas Speedway:
• Matt Mills (May 2, 2021)
• Erik Jones (May 9, 2015)
• Ryan Blaney (May 10, 2014)
• Austin Dillon (October 9, 2011)
• Denny Hamlin (October 9, 2005)
• Sheldon Creed (September 10, 2023)
• Of the six drivers that made their NASCAR Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway, Austin Dillon posted the best finish with a 26th-place result in 2011; after starting in the 26th starting spot.
• Jason Leffler leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 3.5 in two starts.
• Christopher Bell leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas with a 7.769 in 13 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Kansas Speedway (Active Drivers)

POLES

• A total of 21 different drivers have won the pole at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with five poles (fall 2013, 2014 sweep, spring 2018 and spring 2019).
• Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024 sweep) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Kansas Speedway with four.
• A total of nine of the 21 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.

• Jason Leffler won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 MPH (Dodge) driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Jason Leffler (2001), Ryan Blaney (2017) and Daniel Hemric (2019) are the only three drivers to post their first-career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Kansas Speedway.
• Christopher Bell (three straight: 2023-2024 sweep), Jimmie Johnson (two straight: 2007-2008) and Kevin Harvick (three-straight: fall of 2013-2014 sweep) are the only three drivers to win consecutive poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Youngest Cup Series Kansas pole winner: Ryan Blaney (May 13, 2017 – 23 years, 2 months, 43 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Kansas pole winner: Mark Martin (October 4, 2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).
• A total of 22 different crew chiefs have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, led by Adam Stevens and Rodney Childers (four poles each).
• A total of 14 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway; seven of the 14 are active this weekend.

• Joe Gibbs Racing leads the Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with seven poles (2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2024, 2025).
• Four manufacturers have won poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 14; followed by Toyota (11), Ford (nine), and Dodge (four).

WINS

• A total of 20 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on September 30, 2001.
• Youngest Cup Series Kansas winner: Chase Elliott (October 21, 2018 – 22 years, 10 months, 23 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Kansas winner: Mark Martin (October 9, 2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Kansas Speedway with four victories (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023).
• A total of eight of the 20 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway winners are active this weekend.

• Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin are the only four NASCAR Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway:
  • Jeff Gordon (2001 and 2002) – the first two series events at Kansas
  • Matt Kenseth (fall 2012, spring 2013)
  • Martin Truex Jr. (2017 sweep)
  • Denny Hamlin (2019 Playoff race and 2020)
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon is the only NASCAR Cup series driver to win at Kansas in his first appearance (2001).
• Not one NASCAR Cup Series driver has won their first career race at Kansas Speedway.
• A total of 19 different starting spots in the field have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• A total of nine of the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway (21.9%) have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most proficient starting spot in the field.
• Seven different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Kansas Speedway.
• Joe Nemechek (postseason 2004)
• Jimmie Johnson (postseason 2008)
• Matt Kenseth (spring 2013)
• Kevin Harvick (postseason 2013)
• Martin Truex Jr. (postseason 2017)
• Kevin Harvick (spring 2018)
• Kyle Larson (postseason 2021, spring 2025)
• Tyler Reddick (spring 2026)

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Kansas Speedway

• A total of 11 the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races have been won from the front row (26%).
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway is 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
• Michael McDowell leads the Cup Series in starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane with 30 starts; followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with 27 and Austin Dillon with 26.
• A total of 23 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kanas Speedway, led by Alan Gustafson, Chad Knaus, Chris Gabehart, Cliff Daniels and Paul Wolfe with three victories each.
• A total of 10 different organizations have won a race in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series wins at Kansas Speedway with 11 victories among four drivers: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014), Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015), Chase Elliott (two: 2018, 2025) and Kyle Larson (three: 2021, 2024, 2025).
• Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet with 17 victories, Toyota has 13, Ford with nine, and Dodge has two.
• The most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins by a manufacturer at Kansas Speedway is four straight wins by Toyota from 2022 (sweep) and 2023 (sweep).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes

• A total of 23 different drivers have finished runner-up at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Kevin Harvick (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with five second-place finishes.
• Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with four second-place finishes each.

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 44 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Kanas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 16 top fives.

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 69 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway.
• Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick lead the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 19 top 10s each.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Kansas Speedway with 18.

Average Finish:

• Rusty Wallace (five starts) leads the Cup Series in average finish at Kansas Speedway with an 8.200.
• Chase Elliott (21 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with an average finishing position with a 9.810.

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 86 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• Kyle Larson leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 1,003 in 23 starts.
• The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway was 221 of the 267 scheduled laps (82.7%) by Kyle Larson on May 11, 2025 – he started the race from the pole position.
• The most laps led by a driver that did not win in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was 173 laps of the 267 scheduled laps (64.7%) by Martin Truex Jr. on April 22, 2012 – he started sixth and ultimately finished runner-up.
• The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway was two of the 268 scheduled laps (0.7%) by Tyler Reddick on September 10, 2023 – he started the race from the fifth position.

Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Lap Leaders at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series:
• Danica Patrick’s seventh-place finish (2014) at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series is the third-highest finish by a female driver in series history.
• Best finish by a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series is Sarah Christian’s fifth-place finish (Heidelberg) in 1949.

TRACK / EVENT STATS

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway is 0.001-second – the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. The race was held on May 5, 2024 – with Kyle Larson beating Chris Buescher to the finish line.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory at Kansas Speedway

Top Five Largest Margins of Victory at Kansas Speedway

• In the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, eight have resulted in NASCAR Overtime:

• Only one of the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:

• Of the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Kansas Speedway, only the Sept. 30, 2007 event has ended under caution – for weather – Greg Biffle won the event.
• Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• The NASCAR Cup Series events from 2019-2021 had their qualifying sessions cancelled due to the pandemic.
• The NASCAR Cup Series Kansas race has never been postponed to another date due to weather conditions.

NASCAR IN KANSAS

• There have been a total of 98 NASCAR national series races among two tracks held in the state of Kansas.

• The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Kansas was on July 29, 1995 at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas. The event was a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, and it was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. (Chevrolet) driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

KANSAS DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 18 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Kansas.
• Of the 18 Kansas drivers, only two of them have won a NASCAR national series race; both have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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