KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Erik Jones dominated the opening stage of Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway, leading all 45 laps to notch his seventh NASCAR XFINITY Series stage win of the season.

Jones soared around polesitter Tyler Reddick on the opening start and never trailed, taking the green-checkered flag 3.983 seconds ahead of fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular Ryan Blaney in a caution-free run.

Reddick faded to third over the course of the stage, 6.987 seconds in arrears, and was followed by Austin Dillon and Christopher Bell.

Elliott Sadler was both the highest-finishing XFINITY regular and highest-running playoff driver at the end of the first stage, crossing the line in sixth for a five-point boost to his total.

Brennan Poole, Justin Allgaier, Daniel Hemric and Cole Custer completed the points-scoring drivers in the top 10 at the first stage break.

After having to start at the rear of the 40-car field due to unapproved adjustments following qualifying, William Byron fought his way through traffic to finish 12th at the end of the opening stage.

Playoff contenders who were unable to score stage points in the first stage were Ryan Reed (15th) and Matt Tifft (16th).

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.

Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

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