NASCAR returned to midweek racing with Thursday night's Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway. The race kicked off the mathematical second half of the series' season (race No. 19), but it was right in the heart of the playoff chase. After Thursday, seven races remain before the Field of 16 is set.
Denny Hamlin was already assured of a playoff spot before the race thanks to his four wins; he now has a series-high five wins this season after passing polesitter Kevin Harvick and then holding off Brad Keselowski late in Stage 3.
🏁🏁🏁🏁🏁
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 24, 2020
Retweet to congratulate @dennyhamlin on his latest W in a dominant season. pic.twitter.com/Cg4PQ0yI02
"I don't know if we had the best car. We definitely a top-three car all day," Hamlin told NBCSN in Victory Lane.
"This team's hitting on all cylinders right now," he added. "We can win any given week and that's something that's really to come by."
Harvick led Thursday's field to the green flag thanks to winning a random draw for the pole position. He was seeking his fifth win of the season and an expansion of his points lead.
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Sporting News tracked live race updates and lap-by-lap highlights from Thursday's race (all times Eastern).
NASCAR at Kansas live results, highlights from Thursday's race
Order of finish
| Finish (Start) | Driver |
| 1. (10) | Denny Hamlin |
| 2. (7) | Brad Keselowski |
| 3. (5) | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 4. (1) | Kevin Harvick |
| 5. (21) | Erik Jones |
| 6. (3) | Aric Almirola |
| 7. (24) | Cole Custer |
| 8. (6) | Alex Bowman |
| 9. (9) | Kurt Busch |
| 10. (15) | William Byron |
| 11. (8) | Kyle Busch |
| 12. (11) | Chase Elliott |
| 13. (23) | Tyler Reddick |
| 14. (19) | Clint Bowyer |
| 15. (36) | Ty Dillon |
| 16. (27) | Michael McDowell |
| 17. (14) | Matt Kenseth |
| 18. (37) | Daniel Suarez |
| 19. (30) | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 20. (4) | Ryan Blaney |
| 21. (31) | Corey LaJoie |
| 22. (28) | JJ Yeley |
| 23. (22) | Christopher Bell |
| 24. (32) | Quin Houff |
| 25. (33) | Josh Bilicki |
| 26. (26) | Garrett Smithley |
| 27. (16) | Austin Dillon |
| 28. (18) | Ryan Newman |
| 29. (34) | Joey Gase |
| 30. (29) | Brennan Poole |
| 31. (39) | Reed Sorenson |
| 32. (20) | Jimmie Johnson |
| 33. (13) | Chris Buescher |
| 34. (35) | Ryan Preece |
| 35. (2) | Joey Logano |
| 36. (12) | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 37. (17) | Bubba Wallace |
| 38. (38) | Timmy Hill |
| 39. (40) | BJ McLeod |
| 40. (25) | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
11:20 p.m.: The unofficial top 10: Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Aric Almirola, Cole Custer, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch and William Byron.
11:11 p.m.: Denny Hamlin takes the checkered flag after a green-flag run to the finish. That's win No. 5 for the driver of the 11 car.
10:55 p.m.: Caution No. 11 as John Hunter Nemechek wrecks. The restart comes with 22 to go.
10:45 p.m.: Caution with 33 to go for Corey LaJoie. William Byron was in the lead when it was called. He was in the lead after the pit stop.
Byron keeps the lead with 2 tires. Bowman with 2 tires. Then wit h4 tires: Hamlin Keselowski Harvick Truex Almirola Jones KuBusch Bowyer. 30 laps to go. #nascar @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 24, 2020
10:10 p.m.: A violent wreck not long after the ensuing restart brings out the red flag (which is quickly lifted). Ryan Preece's car almost lands on its roof as it slams hard into the inside wall. Preece was not injured, but he looked angry as he exited the car. It appears the incident thing started when Christopher Bell drove up into Ryan Newman's path.
A big hit for @RyanPreece_ who was able to walk away on his own at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/5ZRVm8eKax
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 24, 2020
10 p.m.: Caution after the cars of Matt Kenseth and Bubba Wallace collide. Major damage to the right front of Wallace's machine. Caution on the restart as Joey Logano goes sliding into the wall with perhaps a cut tire. The ensuing chain reaction heavily damages Matt DiBenedetto's car and causes damage for Jimmie Johnson and Austin Dillon.
22 of @joeylogano ran over some debris at @kansasspeedway and cut down his LF tire.
— Goodyear Racing (@GoodyearRacing) July 24, 2020
9:45 p.m.: Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott restart 1-2 after respective two-tire stops.
9:40 p.m.: Stage 2 is complete. Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney finish 1-2. The remainder of the top 10: Aric Almirola, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott. The final stage is scheduled to be 107 laps.
9:25 p.m.: Chris Buescher breaks up the monotony with a single-car spin. Caution with fewer than 20 to go in Stage 2.
9:20 p.m.: A long green-flag run after the caution. Martin Truex Jr. is up by two seconds over Denny Hamlin. The race is official with the completion of 134 laps.
8:55 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr. passes teammate Denny Hamlin for the lead and then pulls away — right before a caution for a Bubba Wallace spin. We were 100 laps into the scheduled 267 laps. Brad Keselowski comes out of the pits with the lead after taking just two tires.
8:40 p.m.: Stage 1 (80 laps) is complete. Kyle Busch wins it by half a second over Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman and Erik Jones make up the rest of the top 10. This is Busch's first win of any kind this season.
8:30 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is out of his car, which caught fire. He told NBCSN it was an electrical fire coming from under the dashboard. "I could see the fire, it was right beside me," he said. The car is in the garage undergoing repairs.
It's been a frustrating stretch for @JTGRacing.
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020
After three straight last-place finishes for Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. reports an electrical fire and climbs out of his car in stage 1 at @KansasSpeedway. His day is done and he'll finish last. pic.twitter.com/4Lz0iLsGwH
8:20 p.m.: Joey Logano is trying to work back through the field after being sent to the rear for an uncontrolled tire during the competition caution. The Joe Gibbs Racing trio of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. are 1-2-3 at Lap 47.
8:06 p.m.: Competition caution after Lap 25. Joey Logano leads at the time of the yellow flag. He enters the pits with everyone else.
8 p.m.: Harvick had fallen out of the lead by Lap 10, with Joey Logano taking over the point. Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. were following the new leader.
