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On Sunday, the stars of the NASCAR<\/a> Cup Series will take to the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway for the running of the AdventHealth 400 (2 p.m. ET. Fox, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you need to know ahead of the ninth race of the 2026 Cup Series season.<\/span><\/p>\n Hamlin only has the one win at Las Vegas earlier this season, but his five top 10s in the first eight races and series-best 444 laps led point to a driver who has been as consistent as any in the series so far.<\/span><\/p>\n He has a track-record four wins at Kansas and a 12.6 average finish in 35 career starts in the \u201cSunflower State.\u201d With seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his last nine races there, all signs point to Hamlin having a shot at his second win of 2026 on Sunday.<\/p>\n If Bowman is finally going to get his season heading in the right direction, there is no better place than Kansas. He has six top 10s in the last seven races and possesses a 9.75 average finish in 16 starts at the 1.5-mile track in Hendrick Motorsports equipment.<\/p>\n Bowman\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>return from a four-race absence<\/a> Coming off his\u00a0<\/span>first career Cup Series win<\/a>\u00a0in his 131st start at Bristol, Gibbs heads to Kansas with six consecutive top 10s and currently sits fourth in the standings. As consistent as he has been, though, that run could be put to the test on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n In seven career starts at Kansas, Gibbs has five finishes of 25th or worse and has only led a total of five laps. With that said, he was fifth at Las Vegas earlier this season and has been fast everywhere the series has visited. There is no reason to believe that Kansas will be any different.<\/p>\n It is still hard to believe that the two-time series champion is mired in a 32-race winless streak dating back to his most recent victory in the 2025 Kansas spring race. If history is any indication, that drought could end on Sunday.<\/p>\n Not only has Larson led the most laps (761) at Kansas since 2021, but he is the only repeat winner in the last 11 visits to the 1.5-mile track with three triumphs in that span. It may turn out to be another heavyweight bout<\/a> between Larson and Hamlin at the track, but don’t be surprised if Larson is the one back in victory lane.<\/p>\n Through the first eight races of 2026, Toyota has won six times. Four of those six came from Tyler Reddick, while Hamlin (Las Vegas) and Gibbs (Bristol) added a couple more.<\/p>\n Ryan Blaney (Phoenix) and Chase Elliott (Martinsville) have been the only drivers so far to spoil the Toyota party. Chevrolet should be in contention this weekend judging by its Las Vegas performance, but Toyota will likely be standing in its way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nFavorite: Denny Hamlin (+450, per DraftKings)<\/h2>\n
Underdog: Alex Bowman (+5500, per DraftKings)<\/span><\/h2>\n
\ndue to vertigo ended prematurely at Bristol when he was caught up in a multi-car crash in Stage 2 and finished last (37th).\u00a0<\/span>He provided an encouraging health update<\/span><\/a>\u00a0earlier this week, but as the last of the full-time drivers in points (36th), Bowman needs a turnaround immediately and Kansas could be the perfect starting point.<\/span><\/p>\nTy Gibbs looking to build off early-season momentum<\/h2>\n
Kyle Larson returns to site of most recent Cup Series win<\/h2>\n
Toyota looking to continue early-season dominance<\/h2>\n