Byron sits at No. 2 in the Cup Series standings, while Bell improved to No. 3 with his runner-up finish in Kansas. Chase Elliott stood pat at No. 4, and Ryan Blaney jumped up to No. 5 in the standings by ending Sunday's race in the No. 3 spot.

He started on the pole, won both stages, earned the bonus point for the fastest lap of the race, led 221 of 267 laps and took the points lead. Larson’s victory was his third of the season, the earliest he has scored three wins in a Cup season.

Kansas is the best track in NASCAR. The 1.5-mile oval’s asphalt has aged exceptionally with the rough-and-tumble midwest winters for great tire wear, and the progressive banking creates multiple racing lanes. It’s a three-lane track on its worst days and can produce four- and even five-wide racing immediately after restarts.