Kyle Larson Sidesteps Buescher Again, Tops Qualifying for Kansas Pole Position
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson proved once again why he remains one of the most formidable qualifiers in NASCAR, edging out Chris Buescher for the second time in as many weeks to claim the pole position at Kansas Speedway.
Larson, piloting the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, clocked a blistering lap of 29.306 seconds (184.189 mph) during Saturday’s qualifying session. The performance not only secured him the top spot for Sunday’s race but also marked his second consecutive pole over Buescher, who came within a fraction of a second of toppling Larson but ultimately settled for the outside of the front row.
“I felt like we were really close last week, and we just found a little more speed in the car today,” Larson said. “Kansas has been good to me in the past, and getting that clean air early is huge. We’re going to try to stay up front and make the most of it.”
Larson’s qualifying mastery comes at a critical point in the season, as teams push for consistency and momentum heading toward the summer stretch. His ability to beat Buescher again — after a near-identical front-row battle in the previous event — underscores the continued strength of Hendrick Motorsports’ intermediate-track program.
Buescher, driving the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, expressed mixed feelings about once again falling just short. “We’re close — painfully close,” Buescher said. “The car has speed, and we know we can run with them. It’s just about putting it all together when it counts. Kyle’s just been able to dig a little deeper these last two weeks.”
Behind the front row, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron rounded out the top five, setting up a competitive grid for Sunday’s 400-mile event. The Kansas Speedway’s 1.5-mile layout is known for multi-groove racing and late-race drama, which could shake up the running order.
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