Kansas Speedway can potentially become the dark horse for hosting the grand finale of any major playoff round. That’s how gripping the action gets there. It’s a track that fans hold dear, and it dished out one of the most nail-biting races in 2023. It’s tough not to like Kansas – it usually serves up some real edge-of-your-seat moments compared to other tracks. But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for this Midwest racing hotspot.

The 1.5-mile track has had its fair share of controversies that have put a few dents in NASCAR’s reputation. There’s one race in particular that always springs to everyone’s mind when we circle back to Kansas – a race from 2007 that NASCAR might prefer to sweep under the rug. But today, we’re diving right into that – the 2007 LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway. Let’s roll!

The 2007 Kansas Cup Series race stirred up a hornet’s nest of confusion and frustration

The race kicked off with a string of bad luck for big names like Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart. It was like everything that could go wrong, did. Johnson had to switch to his backup car after a practice mishap, losing his pole position and starting at the back. Stewart, known for his fiery temper, let some choice words slip on live TV, catching the attention of NASCAR officials.

The race initially saw Kurt Busch in the lead, but soon the Chase drivers hit a rough patch. Kyle Busch got a nudge from Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton grappled with fender and starter issues, and Martin Truex Jr and Matt Kenseth got tangled in a massive 15-car wreck. The race was stopped twice, first for a pileup and then for rain.

The real drama unfolded after the rain. NASCAR switched the broadcast from ABC to ESPN2, a break from the usual practice of keeping overruns on the network. They then tried to wrap things up early due to looming darkness, chopping the race first to 225, then to 210 laps.

Amidst all this, Greg Biffle was tactically saving fuel, while others like Tony Stewart struggled. The race, clouded in darkness, ended under caution after Juan Pablo Montoya’s tire blew up. But who won? As they neared the finish line, Biffle’s car, low on fuel, slowed down, followed by Clint Bowyer. Jimmie Johnson zipped past them but then fell back.

NASCAR handed the victory to Biffle, ending his losing streak, despite him being slower than the pace car. This decision raised eyebrows, especially considering past rulings where cars had to maintain a certain speed. Protests erupted but were swiftly shut down by NASCAR, standing firm on their call. The whole fiasco left a sour taste for many fans.

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Despite this chaotic episode, Kansas Speedway has had its fair share of unforgettable moments, etching its name in NASCAR history.

Kansas Speedway has a treasure trove of unforgettable moments

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Rewind to the inaugural premier series race at the track in 2001, where Jeff Gordon edged out Ryan Newman and others, despite 10 cars bowing out in crashes. Then in 2004, Joe Nemechek had a weekend to remember, grabbing his final Cup victory and making history by winning both the Xfinity and Cup races at Kansas Speedway.

Fast forward to 2011, Brad Keselowski surprised everyone, starting 25th and snatching victory from Dale Earnhardt Jr., setting the stage for his championship run the next year. 2013 was a tough year for Kyle Busch. A crash dashed his championship hopes, marking a low point in his playoff campaign. 2014 was a year of firsts – the spring race and the Truck Series race were both held under the lights for the first time, a shift from their traditional Mother’s Day slot.

In 2015, Joey Logano snatched victory from Matt Kenseth in a dramatic final lap, leading to a clean sweep of that round’s three races. 2016 was a year of breakthroughs – high school senior William Byron clinched his first Truck Series win, while Kyle Busch finally conquered Kansas, a track that had long been his nemesis.

Ryan Blaney had a moment to shine in 2017, securing his first career pole in the Cup Series at Kansas Speedway. But for Kyle Larson, the same year brought heartbreak when a blown engine knocked him out of the playoffs.

The 2020 race was a stark reminder of NASCAR’s commitment to safety. A terrifying crash involving Ryan Newman, Christopher Bell, and others ended with Ryan Preece’s car airborne, yet he walked away unscathed.

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In the 2023 spring race, Denny Hamlin clinched his first win of the year with a dramatic last-lap overtake. The race was also marked by post-race fisticuffs between Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson, adding to the track’s storied history of intense racing and heated rivalries.