Kansas Speedway notebook: Late-race troubles spoil Jamie McMurray’s day

Jamie McMurray, a Joplin, Mo., native, who didn’t qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, made a run at becoming the first driver from Kansas or Missouri to win a Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

McMurray was running strong through three-fourths of the race and led three times for a total of 27 laps, but he settled for 25th after a late-race penalty.

He was flagged for speeding entering pit lane on lap 192 and was sent to the back of the pack.

McMurray worked his way back toward the front and sat fifth again with 12 laps remaining before losing his brakes and blowing a tire in the closing laps. He completed 263 of 267 laps.

Larson continues to show rookie mettle

The only car mounting a serious challenge to Joey Logano down the stretch was Kyle Larson’s No. 42 Target Chevrolet.

While Larson came up short of Victory Lane, he did extend his lead as the Sprint Cup Series’ top rookie.

“That’s kind of the goal we set out each week is to be the highest-finishing rookie and to be in the top 10,” Larson said. “The way we’ve been running, we want to be in the top five now every week.”

Larson tied his top career finish and hasn’t finished worse than sixth in the last four races. He’s finished in the top five eight times in 30 races.

Yost delivers “start your engines” by video

It’s no secret that Royals manager Ned Yost is a huge racing fan. He was close friends with the late Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time NASCAR Cup champion.

He wasn’t at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, but Yost did have a presence.

Yost filmed a prerace video, saying he was sorry he couldn’t be there because “we’re a little tied up” before exalting drivers to “start your engines” for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400.

He called it an “honor and a privilege.”

Roberts revels in Speedway respite

Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, the senior U.S. senator from Kansas, took something of a break from the campaign trail Sunday at Kansas Speedway to take part in arguably the greatest week in Kansas City sports history.

“The Royals are incredible — awesome,” Roberts said. “I was there at the playoff game (Tuesday). That was miraculous and, boy, the crowd was electric. It’s so good for Kansas City, so good for Kansas and Missouri — this whole area. Then we have this happening here. It’s a great day for racing being here at the Kansas Speedway.”

He was introduced at the prerace driver’s meeting, met with soldiers from Fort Riley, Kan., and mingled among the roughly 65,000 spectators on hand for the Hollywood Casino 400. It was a nice respite with one month remaining before Election Day.

“You bet,” Roberts said. “There are a lot of people here who are friends and a lot of people coming up to me expressing their support. It’s always a good thing and, to me, it’s a great day for everybody to be out here.”

Chiefs represented at Speedway

With the Chiefs on the road at San Francisco, no players could be on hand for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.

But that doesn’t mean the Chiefs weren’t represented.

Five Chiefs ambassadors — Ed Budde, Deron Cherry, Dave Lindstrom, Chris Penn and Walter White — were on hand for the Hollywood Casino 400.

This story was originally published October 5, 2014 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Kansas Speedway notebook: Late-race troubles spoil Jamie McMurray’s day."