Carson Hocevar Triumphs in Thrilling NASCAR Truck Series Race at Kansas Speedway Ahead of Cup Series Showdown

NASCAR Saturday at Kansas: Truck Series Thrills and Cup Series Anticipation

Yesterday, Kansas Speedway delivered high-octane action for NASCAR fans, centering on the Craftsman Truck Series’ Heart of Health Care 200 and setting the stage for today's Cup Series AdventHealth 400. Here’s all you need to know for your race weekend fix.

Carson Hocevar Steals the Show in the Truck Series

Carson Hocevar powered his Chevrolet to victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Heart of Health Care 200. The race, run at a brisk average speed of 110.827 mph over 134 laps, featured tight battles and strategic gambits across the 1.5-mile oval[1][3].

Top 5 Finishers:
- Carson Hocevar (Chevrolet)
- Layne Riggs (Ford)
- William Byron (Chevrolet)
- Corey Heim (Toyota)
- Giovanni Ruggiero (Toyota)[1][3]

Hocevar, starting from fourth, navigated a competitive field and capitalized on a late-race long green-flag run. The defining moment came in the final laps, with Hocevar fending off Riggs and Byron as they charged hard, but couldn't reel him in.

Key Moments and Strategy

Hocevar's team nailed the pit stop cycle, gambling on a two-tire stop while his closest rivals opted for four. This pit call put him up front with track position in the decisive closing stint. The clean air gave Hocevar the edge, while others struggled to make up ground.

The race had its share of drama — a multi-truck tangle in the midpack brought out the lone safety car and set the field for the final dash. Overtaking was fierce, especially on restarts, with Corey Heim making notable advances through the pack.

Driver of the Day

No surprises here: Hocevar’s flawless execution and aggressive, mistake-free driving under pressure made him the standout. Layne Riggs, surging from 16th to 2nd, deserves an honorable mention for threading through chaos and maximizing every restart[1].

Behind the Scenes: What the Drivers Said

Hocevar praised his crew over the radio:
> “We gambled on the call, and it paid off. Feels great to win at Kansas — we had the balance in the sweet spot.”
Layne Riggs reflected on his charge:
> “That was some of the hardest racing I’ve ever done. We had speed — just needed a little more track position at the end.”

Team and Technical Highlights

Hocevar’s victory underscores Chevrolet’s continued strength on intermediates, while Toyota squads, led by Heim and Ruggiero, looked fast in the long runs. Tire degradation was a factor; crews walked a tightrope between pace and longevity with Goodyear’s Kansas compound.

Cup Series: Qualifying Sets the Stage for Sunday

Kyle Larson snatched pole for today’s AdventHealth 400 Cup race with a blistering 183.730 mph lap — his first pole of 2025 and first at Kansas. Chris Buescher joins him on the front row[5]. Larson’s pick of the coveted first pit stall could prove pivotal for track position.

Championship Picture

Truck Series points will be updated post-race, but expect Hocevar and Heim to strengthen their title campaigns after another solid outing. In Cup, all eyes are on Larson as he looks to convert pole position into a vital win and points gain[5].

Up Next

The NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 goes green today at 3:13pm ET. Expect a tactical dogfight given Kansas’ high tire wear and multiple racing grooves. Weather forecast calls for sunny skies and fast conditions — perfect for another Kansas classic[5].

Stat Corner

- Average speed in the Truck race: 110.827 mph[1]
- Margin of victory: less than a second
- Hocevar: Led most laps and scored maximum driver rating points on the day[1]

Get ready for more speed, strategy, and side-by-side racing — Kansas rarely disappoints.