S.M.A.S.H iRacing Cup Series: Dillon Canova Completes Kansas Sweep

By S.M.A.S.H — May 16, 2026

Kansas Speedway belonged to Dillon Canova.

After already putting his stamp on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series earlier in the night, Canova came back in the S.M.A.S.H Cup Series and did it again. In a 21-car field with a 1941 strength of field, the No. 70 controlled the Cup race, led 82 of 100 laps, and walked away from Kansas with another statement victory.

It was not a quiet win. It was not a lucky win. It was the kind of performance that makes the rest of the field understand exactly where the bar is.

Canova Takes Control

Dillon Canova started fifth, but he did not stay there long.

Once the race settled in, Canova found his way to the front and made the race run through him. He led 82 laps, posted the fastest race lap at 29.820, and finished the night with zero incidents.

That matters.

Kansas can punish drivers who overdrive corner entry, burn the right-side tires, or lose patience in traffic. Canova managed the race with pace and control, showing the kind of speed that wins races and the kind of discipline that keeps them from slipping away.

Richardson and Caryl Round Out the Podium

Lee Richardson IV brought the No. 5 home second after starting sixth and running a clean 100-lap race. Richardson did not need chaos to earn the result. He stayed composed, kept the car clean, and put together one of the strongest nights in the field.

Rob Caryl finished third in the No. 40 after starting eighth, giving him a major recovery from the previous ticker result and putting him back inside the Cup Series conversation. On a night where track position mattered and cautions were limited, moving forward and finishing on the podium was no small job.

Alex Grogg finished fourth, and Ronnie Pyland rounded out the top five.

Top Ten Finishers

1. Dillon Canova — #70

2. Lee Richardson IV — #5

3. Rob Caryl — #40

4. Alex Grogg — #21

5. Ronnie Pyland — #55

6. Austin Gum — #6

7. Cody Oconnor — #57

8. Steven L McDonald — #8

9. Chris Trammell — #9

10. Ash Rogers — #69

Oconnor Starts Strong

Cody Oconnor opened the night from the pole and led 14 laps before finishing seventh.

That finish does not fully show the strength he had early. Oconnor had speed, track position, and control at the start of the race, but Kansas has a way of stretching the field and forcing drivers to manage the full distance. Leading early is one thing. Holding off a field for 100 laps is something else entirely.

Ash Rogers also spent time out front, leading four laps and finishing tenth.

Together, Canova, Oconnor, and Rogers accounted for all 100 laps led.

A Tough but Controlled Cup Race

This was not a caution-free night, but it was still a controlled Cup Series race.

The field saw three cautions for nine caution laps, along with three lead changes across the 100-lap event. That gave drivers enough restarts to change the shape of the race, but not enough to turn the night into a reset button.

Drivers still had to earn their results over long runs.

Kansas put tire management, lane discipline, and patience on display. The drivers who kept their cars clean had the best chance to survive the full distance. The top six finishers all completed 100 laps with zero incidents, which says a lot about the standard required at the front of the Cup field.

The Bigger Picture

Canova’s Kansas night now stands as one of the strongest individual race nights of the season.

Winning one race is difficult. Winning both the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series on the same night at the same track is a different kind of statement. It shows speed across platforms, discipline across race lengths, and the ability to execute when the field is stacked.

For the rest of the Cup Series, this race becomes the measuring stick.

Richardson, Caryl, Grogg, Pyland, and Gum all left Kansas with strong finishes, but Canova left with the trophy and the message.

Final Word

The S.M.A.S.H Cup Series closed out Kansas Speedway with Dillon Canova back on top.

He started fifth. He led 82 laps. He ran the fastest race lap. He finished with zero incidents. And when the checkered flag fell, the No. 70 had completed the job.

Kansas gave the Cup field 100 laps to answer.

Canova answered louder than anyone.

This is S.M.A.S.H.