Hendrick Motorsports has been a steady force in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with its three remaining playoff drivers, William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott, flexing muscle at New Hampshire’s Round of 12 opener. Byron nabbed third, Larson seventh, and Elliott fifth, all banking stage points in both segments.

Those finishes bumped them up relative to the cutline, setting a solid foundation as the playoffs roll into Kansas and Charlotte’s Roval. Byron’s been a model of consistency, Larson’s shown flashes of his 2021 championship form, and Elliott’s grit keeps him in the hunt. Together, they’ve got Hendrick looking like a title favorite.

But New Hampshire wasn’t all rosy. Team Penske stole the show, leading 263 of 301 laps with Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney’s Fords in another gear. Hendrick’s trio held their own on the flat track, but they couldn’t touch Penske’s raw speed. It’s a wake-up call. Hendrick’s got the points, but they need wins to lock in the Round of 8.

Kansas, with its 1.5-mile banks and history of tight racing, is a golden opportunity. Larson’s a past winner there, and Byron’s shown speed on intermediates. Whatever it is, Kansas Speedway’s high-speed layout will surely test setups and nerve.

Kansas schedule

The weekend’s packed with action across ARCA, Xfinity, and Cup, and the weather looks perfect, promising a full-throttle showdown. As Hendrick aims to capitalize, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Another strong showing could cement their title path, but a slip-up might let Penske or JGR steal the edge.

The Kansas Speedway weekend is set to crank up the playoff intensity. On Friday, ARCA kicks things off with practice and qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by the ARCA 100 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Expect temps in the 70s with zero chance of rain, perfect racing weather. Saturday’s all about Xfinity and Cup prep.

Xfinity practice and qualifying hit the CW App at 10:30 a.m. ET, with Cup practice and qualifying at 1 p.m. ET on TruTV. The Xfinity race fires up at 4 p.m. on CW, running 200 laps with stages at 45, 45, and 110, and five tire sets to play with. The weather stays in the 70s, no rain in sight.

Sunday’s the main event: the Cup Series race at 3 p.m. ET on USA, with prerace coverage at 2:30 p.m. The 267-lap battle breaks into stages at 80, 85, and 102, with nine tire sets for strategy gambles.

Temps climb to the 80s, still dry, setting up a fast, no-excuses showdown. Hendrick’s drivers will need to lean on their setups and pit crews to outrun Penske’s speed and JGR’s momentum. Kansas has a knack for shaking up the playoffs. Last year’s race saw Reddick surge and Wallace falter, so every lap counts.

NASCAR Kansas odds and playoff heat

The betting odds for Sunday’s Cup race, per Caesar’s Sportsbook as of September 22, put Hendrick’s Kyle Larson as the +325 favorite, no surprise after his 2021 Kansas win and six stage points at Loudon. William Byron and JGR’s Denny Hamlin sit at +600, with Penske’s Ryan Blaney at +650 and JGR’s Christopher Bell at +800. Chase Briscoe and Hendrick’s Chase Elliott are +1000, while 23XI’s Tyler Reddick (+1400) and Ross Chastain (+1600) are long shots despite past Kansas success.

Joey Logano (+2000), Bubba Wallace (+2200), and others like Alex Bowman and Chris Buescher (+2500) face steeper climbs. Josh Berry (+3000), Ty Gibbs (+3500), and Kyle Busch (+4500) are outside bets, with underdogs like AJ Allmendinger (+10000) and Shane van Gisbergen (+50000) trailing.

These odds reflect the pressure on Hendrick to convert their consistency into a win. Larson’s favored for a reason; his intermediate track prowess is unmatched, but Byron and Elliott need to step up to keep Penske at bay. 23XI’s Reddick and Wallace, stung by Loudon’s flops, face must-win vibes, especially Wallace at -27 points.

Kansas has been kind to Hendrick before, but with Blaney, Hamlin, and Bell hungry, the fight for the Round of 8 is wide open. Hendrick’s got the tools, but they’ll need to bring their A-game to avoid a playoff stumble.