Reporter provides clarity on controversial NASCAR finish at Kansas
from Larry Brown Sports, with Steve DelVecchio, and from YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
The incredible finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race led to some questions about the way the finish line at Kansas Speedway was painted, but that had no impact on the result.
Kyle Larson finished just barely ahead of Chris Buescher in what was a true photo finish at the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet crossed the finish line just 0.001 seconds ahead of Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, which was the slimmest margin of victory in Cup Series history.
One thing fans noticed about the finish is that the white finish line at Kansas Speedway did not appear to be perfectly straight. Some wondered how NASCAR could be certain which driver finished the race first based on a crooked line.
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic provided an explanation. The actual white finish line is not official, as there is a high-speed camera that overlays a digital line over it to determine the exact order in which cars cross.
The answers you’re asking for about the crooked line: pic.twitter.com/FNH8DpwhGy
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 6, 2024
Gluck also shared a photo of the cameras that are used to determine the finish line, noting that the technology is the same as what was used for Saturday’s remarkable finish at the Kentucky Derby.
And here’s a closer look at the cameras that digitally determine the line (and their view). This is exact same technology that was used at the Kentucky Derby yesterday. pic.twitter.com/wgqRHHw7iS
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 6, 2024
After Larson won, NASCAR shared a photo that showed just how close the finish was. The photo also showed two lines to prove that the white line painted on the ground is not used as the actual reference point.
So, yes, Larson’s win was legitimate — even if it was almost impossible to see it with the naked eye.
Watch: Kyle Larson wins closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history
from Ryan McCafferty, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
After a multi-hour rain delay, the NASCAR Cup Series’ Advent Health 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday was worth the wait.
UNBELIEVABLE FINISH! KYLE LARSON WINS AT KANSAS. WOW. pic.twitter.com/O7K3pOnmTw
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 6, 2024
Kyle Larson (No. 5) edged out Chris Buescher (No. 17) by one one-thousandth of a second, setting a new all-time record for the closest finish in Cup Series history. The previous record was 0.002, set twice (Ricky Craven at Darlington in 2003 and Jimmie Johnson at Talladega in 2011).
It’s the second time in 2024 that the Cup Series has seen a thriller at the line, after Daniel Suarez beat Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide finish at Atlanta in February.
Tyler Reddick’s victory in the 2019 PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona in NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series still holds the record (four ten-thousandths of a second) as the closest finish in any of the sport’s top three series.
Chase Elliott finished third, while Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five. Hamlin, looking for back-to-back victories, had led on the final restart with two laps to go but was shuffled by the field.