WATCH: Kyle Larson falls victim to bump-and-run by Denny Hamlin at Kansas in 2023

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin will compete again at Kansas Speedway this weekend, the track where last year, Hamlin nudged Larson in a dramatic move to win his first race of the season. While NASCAR is preparing for its first race of the 2024 playoffs' Round of 12 at Kansas, the Hollywood Casino 400, NASCAR on NBC took to their official X handle to revisit last year’s final lap competition between Larson and Hamlin at the track.

The 2023 AdventHealth 400 was notable for recording the most lead changes ever in a 400-mile event. Following a caution on Lap 124, Larson surged ahead on the restart after most competitors had fitted their final fresh tires. However, Hamlin, piloting the #11 Toyota Camry, pursued the #5.

On the final lap, Hamlin made contact with Larson’s #5 Chevy, causing the latter to collide with the wall, securing his fourth victory at Kansas and first in the Cup Series since the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022. Accompanying a video of the dramatic final lap, NASCAR on NBC posted on X:

""RUN DENNY!” Denny Hamlin got into Kyle Larson for the win at Kansas in the spring of 2023. #NASCAR"

In the 2023 Hollywood Casino 400, the season's next race at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin, who began the race from 14th, ultimately finished in second place, trailing behind Tyler Reddick, a driver from his own 23XI Racing team. Reddick, starting in the fifth position, skillfully navigated the track, securing sixth place in Stage 1 and fifth in Stage 2.

Larson starting from the second position led the pack to win Stage 1 but concluded the race in fourth place.

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NASCAR veteran Clint Bowyer tips Christopher Bell over Kyle Larson as his pick for the 2024 championship

Kyle Larson with five wins this season has established himself as the frontrunner for the championship. However, Clint Bowyer believes it could be Christopher Bell's year. In a conversation with Shannon Spake on NASCAR, when asked about his championship favorite, Bowyer said:

"Of course, you have the five-ball in Kyle Larson… Christopher bell is very quiet. We all know that. Quiet interviews, quiet on the racetrack, quietly gets those results, quietly in the championship, 4 almost every time you look over your shoulder. That being said, I said at the beginning of the year it’s Christopher Bell’s year." [08:30 onwards]

"He’s gonna quietly win the championship and everybody is going to go, where the hell did that come from? [...] Kyle Larson is the one who he’s gonna have to beat we all know that. […] I think this time Christopher Bell gets it done," he added.

Bell has secured three race victories this season and placed in the top 5 in four of the last five races. He is currently second in the playoff standings. He will enter the Kansas race with an average finish of 14.1 on this track.