Tanner Gray roared to victory in the weekend’s opening salvo of racing at Kansas Speedway ... and only then did he get a flat tire.

The second round of the Cup playoffs begins Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Twelve drivers remain. Kyle Larson, coming off his win last weekend in Bristol, leads the points. Joey Logano holds the final transfer spot entering this three-race round.

For 26 races, the entire NASCAR Cup Series field had worked to be among the 16 drivers with the opportunity to compete for a championship when the playoffs began at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Then came the matter of surviving the Round of 16 and ensuring that their championship ambitions were more than just a fleeting fancy.