Kyle Larson, the NASCAR playoffs points leader, crashes early at Kansas race thanks to flat tire

Kyle Larson had a flat on his right rear and scrubbed the wall Sunday early in the first stage of the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

After bringing out the second caution of the race, Larson told his team the steering was still good in his No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro after getting back on the track. The crash came on Lap 19 of 267.

Larson, who entered the NASCAR Kansas race as the playoffs leader, was in the 10th position at the time of the wreck.

Larson, who has five wins this season, leads the playoff points standings with 3,047. That's 15 points ahead of Christopher Bell, who was on the pole and led for most of the first stage of the Kansas race.

Tyler Reddick is in third 25 points behind Larson.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kyle Larson, the NASCAR playoffs points leader, crashes early at Kansas race thanks to flat tire