Kansas Advent Health 400 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Kyle Larson
Kansas Fantasy Outlook – Kyle Larson’s a super-elite performer at Kansas and the road to victory lane might very well go thru the #5. At this mid-west 1.5-mile track, Larson smoked the field last spring en route to victory lane, he’s won the last two spring races, has the best Next Gen average finish (6.3), he’s averaged leading the most laps per race (62.3) and has a 4.3 average Speed Ranking minus fall 2024. Since 2025 at high-speed 1.5’s, Larson has the best Track Type Total Speed Ranking and a 4.8 average finish minus Charlotte 2025. At Las Vegas this spring, Larson finished 6th and had the 5th best Total Speed Ranking. Since then, you better believe Hendrick has learned some things to better fine tune the new Camaro so there’s no doubt he’ll be dangerous.
Kansas Track History – Kyle Larson has performed at a super-elite level at Kansas and in the Next Gen minus fall 2024, Larson has a 3.4 average finish, the best Driver Rating and his average Speed Ranking is 4.3. Last fall, Larson was a contender throughout. In the race, Larson started 3rd, finished 2nd in Stage #1, finished 3rd in Stage #2, had a 4.5 average running position, earned the 4th best Driver Rating and then finished 6th. In terms of speed stats, Larson ranked 3rd for Total Speed Rankings and 3rd for Speed Late In A Run. Last spring in his most recent Cup win, Larson put on a display of domination. In the race, Larson won the pole, won the two opening Stages, earned a near perfect Driver Rating, had a 1.4 average running position, led 221 laps and of course finished 1st. In terms of speed stats, Larson had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 6th for Speed Late In A Run. In fall 2024, Larson finished 26th but you can quickly disregard that result. On lap 19 while running in 10th, Larson had a tire go down and slammed into the wall hard. Over the five races prior to that, Larson had results of 1st, 4th, 2nd, 8th and 2nd.

Denny Hamlin
Kansas Fantasy Outlook – Denny Hamlin is a super-elite performer at Kansas who’s always tough to beat. Hamlin’s a 4-time winner and in the Next Gen, Hamlin ranks #1 for Next Gen Speed Rankings, has the best Driver Rating and his average finish minus last spring is 3.4. Las Vegas is a good barometer for who’ll be good at Kansas and this spring at “Sin City”, Hamlin raced his way to victory lane in impressive fashion and was tied for the best Total Speed Ranking. Also, let’s not forget he also won there last fall so Hamlin currently has the last two wins at high-speed 1.5’s. Going back to last year at high-speed 1.5’s over the last five races, Hamlin has a 2.0 average Speed Ranking.
Kansas Track History – Denny Hamlin has been one of the premiere performers at Kansas and in the Next Gen, Hamlin has the best Speed Ranking and over the combined races minus last spring his average finish is 3.4. Last fall, Hamlin was impressive but came short of victory lane. In the race, Hamlin won the two opening Stages, led 159 laps, had a 1.9 average running position but finished 2nd when the checkered flag waved. In the race, Hamlin dominated but then late in the race on lap 253 during a caution, the #11 team had a slow pit stop that dropped Hamlin from 1st back to 7th. Hamlin rallied hard late but came up short. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Hamlin ranked 1st. Last spring, Hamlin may have very well had something for Larson, but he had major clutch issues which eventually marked his demise. In the race, Hamlin started 14th, finished 7th in Stage #1, finished 8th in Stage #2 but then finished an asterisk mark 36th. In the last Stage during the Keselowski caution around lap 195 while running in 4th, Hamlin’s clutch failed, marking the end of his race. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Hamlin ranked 4th with his speed over the segments being 13th, 1st and then 3rd. In fall 2024, Hamlin finished 4th in Stage #1, had a slow pit stop early in Stage #2 that dropped him from 6th back to the mid-teens, finished just outside the top ten in Stage #2 and then finished 8th when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Hamlin ranked 2nd for Speed Late In A Run and had the 7th best Total Speed Ranking. In spring 2024, Hamlin was the class of the field but finished an asterisk mark 5th. In the race, Hamlin led 71 laps, earned the 2nd best Driver Rating and had a 6.3 average running position. If a late caution didn’t come out, Hamlin was poised to win. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 2nd for Speed Late In A Run. Over the four races prior to that, Hamlin had results of 2nd, 1st, 2nd and 4th.

Chase Elliott
Kansas Fantasy Outlook – Chase Elliott, last fall’s Kansas winner should be high on your radar. Elliott was elite in both 2025 races and at Kansas in the Next Gen, Elliott has the 4th best Driver Rating and ranks 5th for both average finish (10.1) and Next Gen Speed Rankings. This spring at Las Vegas, Elliott was fast, finishing 2nd and ranking 4th in terms of Total Speed Rankings. Going back to 2025 on this track type, Elliott has the 4th best average finish (9.7) and the 6th best Track Type Total Speed Ranking.
Kansas Track History – Kansas has been a great track for Chase Elliott. Elliott’s a 2-time winner and since that first 2018 win minus a misleading result in spring 2022, Elliott has a 6.0 average finish. In terms of the results column recently, Elliott has finished in the top 11 in 6 of the last 7 races. Last fall, Elliott had a great race and of course emerged victorious with a last lap pass when the #11 and #23 squared off. In addition to finishing 1st, Elliott had a 4.2 average running position, led 24 laps, earned the 3rd best Driver Rating and ranked 5th in terms of Total Speed Rankings. Last spring, Elliott ranked among the best but finished an asterisk mark 15th. In the race, Elliott finished 2nd in Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, led 29 laps but then in the last Stage around lap 195, Elliott had a slow pit stop that dropped him from 1st to 12th, and he just wasn’t the same back in traffic, and didn’t bounce back. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Elliott ranked 6th with his speed over the segments being 6th, 3rd, 1st and then 15th. In fall 2024, Elliott started in the back but rallied to finish 9th (11th best Speed ranking). In spring 2024. Elliott finished 3rd. In the three races prior to that, Elliott had results of 6th, 7th and 11th.

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Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Predictions & The Low Tier