In a dramatic turn of events at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Larson once again edged out Chris Buescher—this time during Saturday’s qualifying session—for the Advent Health 400, reigniting memories of their razor-thin finish from last year. If Buescher wasn’t tired of being outpaced by Larson after losing by just 0.001 seconds in the spring race of 2023, Saturday’s results surely tested his patience.
On the 1.5-mile intermediate track, Larson delivered what he described as a “perfect lap,” registering a blistering pace of 183.730 mph with a lap time of 29.391 seconds. That effort placed him at the top of the grid for Sunday’s race, narrowly beating Buescher’s 183.374 mph by 0.057 seconds. Although that margin might sound small, it’s a world away from last year’s heartbreaking 0.001-second defeat, making this particular victory feel more commanding for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.
This pole position marked Larson’s first of the 2024 season, his first ever at Kansas Speedway, and the 22nd of his impressive Cup Series career. It also marked the 14th Kansas pole for Chevrolet and the seventh of the season for the manufacturer—signaling the brand’s continued dominance on intermediate tracks.
Larson was visibly thrilled with his performance and explained how he had strategized his lap to perfection. “The qualifying lap was really great,” he said. “I was watching SMT data and saw most drivers were playing it safe in Turns 1 and 2. In Turns 3 and 4, though, some of them started to push harder. Buescher had a good line through 3 and 4, but I had my own plan coming off the final corner. I just tried to blend the line and throttle as best I could, and luckily, it worked.”
He added that he felt his balance was “really solid” and he was able to carry the speed he wanted through the most crucial sections. “It felt like a perfect lap,” he repeated, emphasizing how crucial the smooth execution was to his success.
The rivalry between Larson and Buescher has become one of the more compelling storylines in recent NASCAR Cup Series history. Last year’s spring race ended with Larson narrowly outpacing Buescher by less than four inches at the finish line. While Buescher is undoubtedly one of the strongest competitors on intermediate tracks, Larson’s Chevrolet No. 5 has continually found a way to stay just a fraction ahead.
“It’s definitely ironic and kind of funny,” Larson admitted. “It adds to the narrative of what happened last year and probably builds up some excitement for the race tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll dwell on it too much once we’re out there, but yeah—it’s ironic, funny, and exciting all at once.”
Buescher, on the other hand, had to settle for another near-miss. Though he didn’t speak directly after qualifying, the tension was evident among his Roush Fenway Keselowski team. Coming so close yet again, particularly to the same driver, surely fuels his motivation to finally get the better of Larson when it counts most—on race day.
Behind the top two qualifiers, Christopher Bell posted the third-fastest time at 183.268 mph, just narrowly missing out on pole for what would have been the fourth consecutive time at Kansas. Bell has shown strong consistency at this track, and his position gives him a great shot at challenging for the win.
Tyler Reddick followed closely behind in fourth, clocking in at 183.150 mph. Joey Logano, who captured victory at Texas last weekend, rounded out the top five with a solid 182.871 mph. Logano’s momentum from last week, combined with a strong starting spot, makes him another contender to watch closely.
Rounding out the top 10 were Ty Gibbs, William Byron, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney—each of whom showed competitive pace and could potentially shake up the front of the field early in Sunday’s race.
Not everything went smoothly during qualifying, however. Both Kyle Busch and Josh Berry had tough sessions, each making contact with the outside wall. Their incidents forced them to settle for deep starting positions—35th for Busch and 38th for Berry—putting them in the unenviable position of having to fight through heavy traffic in Sunday’s main event.
As the countdown to the Advent Health 400 begins, all eyes will be on Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher, whose budding rivalry has taken on a new chapter. While Larson holds the advantage heading into the race, Buescher is hungry for redemption, and with so many competitive cars in the mix, the Kansas Speedway promises yet another thrilling showdown.
Fans tuning in on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET will be treated not only to one of the season’s most anticipated intermediate-track races but also to a continuation of a personal battle between two of NASCAR’s most skilled and determined drivers. Whether Larson can turn his pole into a win—or whether Buescher finally gets the last word—remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the drama at Kansas is far from over.
