Kyle Larson took a commanding victory on the reconfigured Charlotte Roval, forward of Christopher Bell and William Byron. Larson then took daughter Audrey for a journey across the monitor in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after she retrieved the checkered flag for him.
“It is the primary time in my playoff profession I’ve not been near the reduce line so it was good to have somewhat little bit of a stress-free week,” mentioned Larson. “I feel it is the primary time I have been right here with out crashing. Good weekend … Clearly, we’re right here at Hendrick’s dwelling and obtained so many individuals right here from there. Gonna be enjoyable to have a good time with them. Figuring out that I do not actually use the sim a lot and I used to be within the sim this week, so large thanks to the blokes there. It actually helped me get right into a rhythm early on and assist us form of tremendous tune our automobile. Hats off to all people there.”
Although Larson was cruising, drivers located close to the cut-off had been put beneath unimaginable stress — particularly, Tyler Reddick, who had a curler coaster of a race. It began with a Stage 1 win for the 23XI Racing driver, solely to then crash into the facet of his boss Denny Hamlin at the beginning of the second stage, damaging each automobiles. The staff was capable of make repairs and he made a heroic drive by way of the sphere on recent tires.
With a handful of laps remaining, Reddick closed the hole to Joey Logano and overtook him on the monitor — in addition to within the factors standings — for the ultimate switch spot.
Logano, a two-time NASCAR Cup champion, was eradicated, however not for lengthy. Following post-race inspection, Alex Bowman was disqualified for failing to satisfy the minimal weight requirement. The penalty places him out of the playoffs and Logano again in.
Austin Cindric, who completed fourth, additionally fell from title rivalry. Daniel Suarez and Chase Briscoe had been additionally eradicated alongside Bowman, however HMS might attraction.
The highest-ten finishers: Larson, Bell, William, Cindric, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney.
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Race rundown
Van Gisbergen led from pole place early within the race, however as anticipated, those that did not want stage factors selected to pit simply earlier than the stage finish. This allowed Reddick to win the opening stage, which turned essential afterward.
Firstly of Stage 2, Reddick and the others who did not short-pit had been now deep within the pack. It did not take lengthy for bother discover him. As the sphere stacked up because of the spun automobile of Austin Dillon in Flip 7, Reddick got here in too scorching and slammed into the facet of Hamlin. The ensuing harm compelled Reddick to make a green-flag pit cease, complaining on the radio that one thing did not really feel proper in rear.
When Chase Briscoe’s flat tire brought on a particles warning, each Reddick and Hamlin had been amongst those that got here to pit street. Reddick had an prolonged cease because the staff to repair the toe hyperlink in the suitable rear. Sadly for Briscoe, he was unable to proceed, ending Stewart-Haas Racing’s 2024 title run.
Alex Bowman went on to win Stage 2, and different methods put A.J. Allmendinger and Joey Logano out entrance for the ultimate stage.
Daniel Suarez went to pit street beneath warning at Lap 57 for potential brake points. The hood was raised on the No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet and brake fluid was poured in.
With 43 laps remaining, Larson moved into the race lead with a dive beneath Allmendinger at Flip 7 and by no means regarded again. A wayward wheel for Austin Dillon introduced out a late yellow, nevertheless it did little to alter the result as Larson marched onward to his twenty ninth profession victory.
Because the factors reset for the Spherical of 8, Larson is atop the championship standings with a 33-point buffer on the cut-line.
