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 experience across the observe 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 lower line so it was good to have slightly 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 house and acquired so many individuals right here from there. Gonna be enjoyable to rejoice 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 enormous thanks to the fellows there. It actually helped me get right into a rhythm early on and assist us type of superb tune our automotive. Hats off to all people there.”
Although Larson was cruising, drivers located close to the cut-off had been put underneath unbelievable stress — specifically, 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 initially of the second stage, damaging each automobiles. The crew was in a position to make repairs and he made a heroic drive via the sphere on recent tires.
With a handful of laps remaining, Reddick closed the hole to Joey Logano and overtook him on the observe — in addition to within the factors standings — for the ultimate switch spot.
Logano, a two-time NASCAR Cup champion, was one in all two Penske drivers who had been eradicated from the playoffs. Austin Cindric, who completed fourth, additionally fell from title rivalry. Daniel Suarez and Chase Briscoe had been additionally eradicated. Logano missed development by simply 4 factors.
The entire top-ten: Larson, Bell, William, Cindric, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney.
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.
Initially 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 as a result of spun automotive of Austin Dillon in Flip 7, Reddick got here in too sizzling and slammed into the facet of Hamlin. The ensuing injury pressured Reddick to make a green-flag pit cease, complaining on the radio that one thing did not really feel proper in rear.Â
When Chase Briscoe’s flat tire brought about a particles warning, each Reddick and Hamlin had been amongst those that got here to pit highway. Reddick had an prolonged cease because the crew 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 assorted methods put A.J. Allmendinger and Joey Logano out entrance for the ultimate stage.
Daniel Suarez went to pit highway underneath warning at Lap 57 for attainable 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 underneath Allmendinger at Flip 7 and by no means seemed again. A wayward wheel for Austin Dillon introduced out a late yellow, nevertheless it did little to vary 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. Christopher Bell is +13, Tyler Reddick +10, and William Byron +4. Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman begin the spherical within the elimination zone.
