Late Caution by Cody Ware Bites Denny Hamlin at Kansas

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer

Shortcomings tend to follow Denny Hamlin when he least expects it and Sunday’s Advent Health 400 at Kansas Speedway was no different.

After winning two stages, Hamlin proved to be the car to beat. Then Tyler Reddick came into the picture in the final laps where he took the lead from Hamlin with nine laps remaining.

From there, Hamlin and Reddick battled hard as they were navigating lapped traffic, namely Austin Dillon, who made it difficult for both. Then Reddick became livid at the chaotic NASCAR driver, yelling over the radio that Dillon should stick to a line as his interference with the race battle allowed Hamlin to stay in striking’s distance on the leader.

Suddenly, Reddick hit the Turn 3 wall with three laps remaining in regulation, shouting that he’s out of fuel. The moment gave Hamlin and capitalization shot of taking the race lead once again, but Reddick wouldn’t be denied as he was still a few car lengths behind despite the discrepancy.

As Hamlin was coming to the white flag, 37th place runner Cody Ware, who was five laps down, lost control of his dilapidated No. 51 Ford in front of the leaders, bringing out the only natural caution of the afternoon.

CAUTION IS OUT CAUTION IS OUT CAUTION IS OUT CAUTION IS OUT

The important thing is we all stay calm.

CAUTION IS OUT!! pic.twitter.com/2MMZCrXHjS

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 19, 2026

Therefore, Hamlin’s bid for a second win of the season would have to take place in overtime. Different pit strategies aplenty, Hamlin had pressure from everyone behind him, including his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, who restarted 11th after pitting for four fresh tires.

Hamlin got the restart, but Kyle Larson dove low to get by him and Reddick for the lead. This caused Hamlin being stuck three wide with Reddick and his teammate Christopher Bell exiting Turn 1.

Then Reddick clipped Bell, which put him in the wall and then darted onto Hamlin’s path which forced both to avoid each other with Hamlin going below the apron, but neither crashed. Hamlin tried holding off Reddick for second but couldn’t match the latter’s speed coming to the white flag.

While Reddick was chasing down Larson for the win, Hamlin had a mirror full of Briscoe, who was now running in fourth after a superb restart on fresh tires. It was no match as Hamlin lost third to his teammate, worsening by making wall contact.

From there, all Hamlin could muster was a fourth-place finish after leading a race-high 134 laps.

TYLER REDDICK GETS BACK BY KYLE LARSON TO WIN AT KANSAS! What a finish. That's FIVE wins in 2026 for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing. pic.twitter.com/iirLOSys2j

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 19, 2026

“I had a big run off of turn two. 19 I think probably on four tires there,” said Hamlin. “So wasn’t a whole lot of room. I wasn’t going to lift. Yeah, just got in the wall. But it didn’t really affect the finishing position.”

To no surprise, Hamlin shared his frustration of losing another race in overtime. Specifically, taking a shot at Ware for affecting Sunday’s finish.

“It’s Cody Ware, six laps down wrecking. I don’t know. It just added up,” said a disappointed Hamlin. “I feel for the same move that (Larson) got me a couple years ago when I was on the inside. I got to learn from those mistakes that I make, not executing those last few laps.”

After nine races, Hamlin now sits second in points, trailing Reddick by 105 points heading into next Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway (3 p.m. ET on FOX).