NASCAR at Kansas results: Kyle Larson's third straight win leaves Championship 4 spots up for grabs

There were three Championship 4 spots up for grabs entering the race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. After the race, there are still three spots up for grabs.

The race was won by Kyle Larson, who already punched his ticket to the Championship 4 with a win at Texas Motor Speedway last week. The win was Larson's third straight and ninth overall this year and he led for much of Sunday in all three stages.

There was an early weather delay in Stage 1, but it lasted all of about 10 minutes before the race got back underway. 

Ryan Blaney, who entered the day in second place in the standings, didn't finish the race and finished in 37th, dropping him to fifth place and one point below the cut line for the championship race with one race to go.

Overtaking Blaney's second-place spot in the standings was Chase Elliott, who finished second on the day and is 34 points above the cut line. Elliott challenged for much of the day and even led for part of it, putting on a late-race push with about 10 laps to go, but ultimately fell short.

The only major collision of the day came when Ryan Newman spun out after making contact with Austin Dillon's car late in the race. It ocurred just after Brad Keselowski had pitted, putting Keselowski even further behind and ultimately sees Keselowski six points back entering the final race at Martinsville Speedway next week.

The other two drivers in the top four at the moment are Denny Hamiln, who's 32 points above the cut line, and Kyle Busch, who's just one point over. The final three spots in the Championship 4 will be claimed next week at Martinsville Speedway.

Sporting News tracked live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from NASCAR's playoff race at Kansas on Sunday. Below are complete results from the Hollywood Casino 400.

MORE: Watch today's NASCAR race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

NASCAR at Kansas results, highlights from Hollywood Casino 400

6:39 p.m.:  Kyle Larson wins at Kansas and remains the only driver locked in to the Championship 4. It's his third win in a row and he furthers his lead atop the playoff standings.

Checkered flag at Kansas: It's yet another win for Kyle Larson, his NINTH of the season in a dominant year.

There are three open spots for the championship race heading into Phoenix.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 24, 2021

6:36 p.m.:  Chase Elliott has gone into the wall three times here in the last 10 laps. Elliott in sconed place nearly 1.3 seconds behind the leader Larson with four laps to go.

6:31 p.m.:  Elliott and Harvick in second and third right now. They've been feuding the last few weeks. Let's see if the two of them near each other escalates to anything.

6:24 p.m.:  Right now it's Kevin Harvick challenging Kyle Larson for the lead with 35 laps to go. Harvick going for his first win of the season.

LARSON VS. HARVICK!

It's on for the lead with less than 35 to go in the #HC400 ! (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/sGaoB0HwzE

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 24, 2021

6:14 p.m.:  Ryan Blaney is done for the day after hitting the wall and his team can't fix it.

Blaney done for the day. #NASCAR

— Chris Knight 👻🎃 (@Knighter01) October 24, 2021

6:11 p.m.:  Another caution as Ryan Blaney hits the wall after Austin Dillon makes contact with Blaney. Blaney entered the day second in playoff points.

Ryan Blaney crashes late at Kansas!

Austin Dillon gets loose and into the No. 12, and Blaney's day is done. #NASCARPlayoffs x NBCSN pic.twitter.com/tHNwKkXT60

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021

6:10 p.m.:  Here's how the restart shakes out after the caution from Newman's spin out:

so Byron likely will restart 14th .... KuBusch Harvick Elliott Truex Larson Hamlin Logano Bowman Blaney Bell Dillon Wallace Chastain Byron Buescher Reddick Suarez

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 24, 2021

6:07 p.m.:  The caution flag comes out with 50 laps to go as Ryan Newman spins out.

Not what Brad Keselowski wanted to see.

The caution comes out right after he pitted. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yWXquNpB6d

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021

6:04 p.m.:  Brad Keselowski pits as his engine temperatures rise.

5:59 p.m.:  Larson hits the wall but doesn't seem to be headed toward pit road anytime soon.

5:56 p.m.:  With just over 60 laps to go, the top three drivers right now are all non-playoff drivers.

With 65 laps to go, the top three are non- #NASCARPlayoffs drivers.

William Byron, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick are 1-2-3. pic.twitter.com/DFUlZgp3fh

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021

5:41 p.m.:  On Lap 178 with the restart underway, here's where the top-8 stand

as they run ... Larson-in ... Elliott +34, Blaney +30, Hamlin +27, KyBusch -27, Truex -35, Keselowski -35, Logano -50

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 24, 2021

5:31 p.m.:  Here's the restart positions for Joe Gibbs Racing entering the third and final stage.

Final Stage Restart

🔟 - @dennyhamlin
1️⃣4️⃣ - @CBellRacing
1️⃣4️⃣ - @MartinTruex_Jr
3️⃣2️⃣ - @KyleBusch #TeamToyota

— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) October 24, 2021

5:21 p.m.:  William Byron, a non-playoff driver, wins Stage 2. 

. @WilliamByron wins Stage 2, @chaseelliott 2nd.

3. @KyleLarsonRacin
4. @KurtBusch
5. @KevinHarvick
6. @TylerReddick
7. @Alex_Bowman
8. @dennyhamlin
9. @BubbaWallace
10. @RossChastain #NASCAR | #HC400

— Seth Eggert (@SethEggert91) October 24, 2021

5:17 p.m.:  With two laps to go, right now only three playoff drivers are slated to get points out of Stage 2.

5:13 p.m.:  Logano pits on Lap 146 and now WIlliam Byron reclaims the lead.

Byron is the leader ... 14 cars on lead lap: Byron Elliott Larson KuBusch Harvick Reddick Bowman Hamlin Wallace Chastain Dillon Bell Logano Blaney

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 24, 2021

5:08 p.m.:  Because of Joey Logano, there are only five cars on the lead lap currently with 23 laps to go in Stage 2.

5:06 p.m.:  Kyle Busch hits the wall and is now back on pit row.

LAP 132: @KyleBusch is back on pit road. #NASCAR | #HC400

— Seth Eggert (@SethEggert91) October 24, 2021

4:59 p.m.:  More than halfway through Stage 2 and Kurt Busch is in the lead as Byron and Elliott both head to pit road.

4:51 p.m.:  Elliott has the fastest lap of the day and it shows. Currently got nearly a 1.1 second lead on Lap 106.

4:44 p.m:  The wind is playing a factor and the temperature has dropped significantly from the beginning of the race. May start to see that affect what goes on on the track.

4:42 p.m.:  Chase Elliott retakes the lead here eight laps in to Stage 2.

4:40 p.m.:  Now a must-win for one of either Brad Keselowski or Martin Truex, Jr. to stay in the hunt for one of the three remaining Championship 4 spots.

4:30 p.m.:  Stage 1 comes to a close with Kyle Larson firmly in the lead. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott all get points.

4:26 p.m.:  Important context on what's at stake today and what it'll take to clinch a spot in the Championship 4:

A driver only clinches today if the driver is 56 points above FOURTH (not fifth as is shown since that is cutline to make it) after today. That accounts for a driver below the cutline winning at Martinsville. Blaney could possibly but not likely. https://t.co/jgDhD2DH8G

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 24, 2021

4:18 p.m.:  With 25 laps to go in Stage 1, Kyle Larson holds nearly a 2.4 second lead over the second place William Byron at the moment.

4:11 p.m.:  Brad Keselowski, currently sixth in the playoff standings, suffers a setback. Hits the wall and gets a flat rear tire.

Brad @Keselowski hits the wall and cuts a tire!

He safely gets to pit road, but the #NASCARPlayoffs contender has a setback in Stage 1. TV: NBCSN pic.twitter.com/a6NoXA0Knr

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021

4:06 p.m.:  Chase Elliott has taken his first lead of the day with 34 laps gone. Wlliam Byron in second and Kyle Larson in third.

4:02 p.m.:  Bubba Wallace and Kyle Busch go to the rear. Wallace for an uncontrolled tire and Busch for pitting when pits are closed.

3:56 p.m.:  Kyle Busch has a flat front right tire and is headed to pit road.

A problem for @KyleBusch !

The No. 18 is slow off of Turn 2! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nWRJP5uwfK

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 24, 2021

3:52 p.m.:  Action is officially back underway here with 16 laps gone. Still Kyle Larson in first, but just barely.

3:41 p.m.:  Turns out it'll be a shorter delay than expected as the weather and lightning seem to have left the area. Drivers heading back to their cars.

NASCAR is told the drivers to be able to get back in the cars, that with the weather moving away, they can lift the lightning hold.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 24, 2021

3:36 p.m.:  It's a lightning delay in Kansas City, stopping the action for at least the next half hour.

3:30 p.m.:  The racers are brought to pit road on the caution due to the weather, stopping the action, at least temporarily.

Caution is out at @kansasspeedway due to rain.

Cars have been brought to pit road. (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/RWIm7tlA1o

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 24, 2021

3:25 p.m.:  All of the members of Team Hendrick honored their former team members who died in a plane crash 17 years ago today.

A powerful tribute from @TeamHendrick .

All of the team members turned their hats backwards on Lap 5 to remember the ten people who died in a plane crash on their way to Martinsville 17 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/dumpOGLSkB

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021

3:24 p.m.:  A caution comes out due to rain on the 11th lap of the day. Drops apparently getting heavier.

3:21 p.m.:  Through five laps and Kyle Larson has been steadily in the front of the pack.

3:19 p.m.:  The second of three round of 8 races is officially underway.

3:08 p.m.:  The flyover is complete and with the cue for the drivers to start their engines, action is almost underway.

' @ericstonestreet brought the ENERGY!

Great command to start engines, and now we're ready to go @NASCAR racing on NBCSN! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7TwsqLBX41

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021

NASCAR start time today

• Time:  3 p.m. ET (TV time)

The green flag for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series playoff race on Kansas Speedway's 1.5-mile intermediate track is scheduled to drop at 3:18 p.m. ET (2:18 p.m. local time) Sunday. The track has lights, so the race can finish after sunset if there is a delay.

What channel is NASCAR on today?

• TV channel: NBCSN (TSN in Canada)
• Live stream: NBC Sports.com   | NBC Sports App | fuboTV ( 7-day free trial )
• Radio:  MRN

NBCSN's programming will begin at 2 p.m. ET with the "Countdown to Green" prerace show hosted by Marty Snider with Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett. Race coverage will begin at 3 p.m. Rick Allen will have the play-by-play call while Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will provide analysis.

Snider, Parker Kligerman and Dave Burns will be the pit reporters.

NASCAR Cup playoff standings 

A playoff driver who wins a race in the Round of 8 automatically qualifies for the Championship 4 race Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway.

x-Advanced to Championship 4 race.

NASCAR starting lineup at Kansas

Here is the complete NASCAR starting lineup for the Hollywood Casino 400.