“Options Create Aggression”- Legendary Crew Chief Warns the Entire NASCAR Grid Against “Benign Looking” Kansas

Returning to Kansas for the second time this year, this visit is all about the playoffs. It’s a real challenge to predict a winner this time around because most drivers appear to be in a do-or-die position. However, it’s not always about speed or strategy. Earlier this season at Kansas, we saw how Denny Hamlin swiftly moved Kyle Larson out of the way, despite Larson leading most laps.

While the track may seem straightforward, we’ve also witnessed one of the wildest races with 12 cautions here earlier this year. The most intriguing aspect is that perhaps nothing about the track has changed, yet no solid predictions can be made. Amid uncertainties, NASCAR veteran shared jaw-dropping perspectives on this 1.5-mile track.

NASCAR veteran’s insights into Kansas Speedway

Do you remember the water spout incident? Certainly, it’s the same track where Joey Logano experienced an unusual bump on the surface. Logano was surprised when NASCAR officials went out to investigate and ended up drilling into the track, causing water to shoot out.

Adding to the surprise, the track is quite wide, and drivers often opt for the outside row near the fence to build up speed and momentum. However, as we witnessed in 2008 at Kansas Speedway, Carl Edwards’ attempt to ride the same wall run didn’t pan out successfully, which ultimately cost him a win.

During a discussion about the track, Steve Letarte shed light on the challenges and potential game-changing factors at play. He began by cautioning, “Don’t let the benign-looking mile and a half very simple race track fool you. Darlington looks crazy, Bristol looks crazy, beware of the track that looks straightforward and that is Kansas. This track is fast it’s sweeping, it has options, and options create aggression.”

“You see ar right here two, three, four wide on the restarts, the team estate parkers I think that makes this track just so crazy. It looks simple from the tower, it’s one and a half mile shaped race track. It’s anything but when we put cars on it,” Steve concluded.

Letarte also revealed his top four contenders for victory, surprisingly omitting one of the most accomplished Kansas drivers from the list.

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It’s evident that predicting the winner in NASCAR is challenging, as underdog drivers often surprise with victories. A recent example is Chris Buescher, who won three races in the last couple of races. However, Steve Letarte offered his favorites for Kansas.

Letarte said, “Well until I see something different every single track we go to, I’m going to list [Kyle] Larson, [William] Byron, [Denny] Hamlin, and [Martin] Truex [Jr.] as the four favorites. They have the most raw speed and raw speed makes everything else easier.”

Interestingly, Letarte didn’t include Kyle Busch in his list, despite Busch’s prior successes at Kansas in 2016 and 2021. But indeed, Bubba Wallace’s previous victory at Kansas cannot be overlooked. What sets this year apart is that Bubba Wallace is now a part of the playoffs, potentially adding another layer of competitiveness to his performance.

Considering these factors, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single favorite for the upcoming Kansas race. NASCAR’s unpredictability keeps us guessing. Who do you think has a chance of winning at Kansas this weekend? Comment below.

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