Overtime scribbled over a great NASCAR Kansas finish

NASCAR’s Kansas weekend was okay, but it could have been incredible if not for the ever-stupid overtime rule giving the Cup Series another pull on the slot machine. It was a fairly boring run-up, but the end of the race found #11 Denny Hamlin racing his own car, the #45 of Tyler Reddick. It was a moment of incredible drama that then peaked as Reddick had some sort of drop-out and briefly lost control, letting Hamlin around. As Denny raced to the white flag, Cody Ware — racing for absolutely nothing — spun all by himself, leading to an overtime finish that spared Tyler Reddick (who would go on to win), screwed Denny Hamlin, and somehow allowed Kyle Larson to have a go. At least we avoided that far more unjust outcome.

The O’Reilly race was won by Taylor Gray and featured a terrifying flip by Carson Kvapil on lap 2, dampening his good run of form (he was unhurt). The ARCA race was won by Gio Ruggiero, but there was a better headline. There were four women in the field, and three of them finished in the top 10: Lanie Buice (P5), Jade Avedisian (P7), and Dystany Spurlock (P10). It was Avedisian’s first 1.5-mile track! Isabella Robusto was running 11th when Garrett “Cleetus McFarland” Mitchell’s motor blew up in front of her and spewed oil all over the track, causing Robusto to skid into the wall.