CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Larson claimed his sixth victory in the Cup Series this season, effectively securing his spot in the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs during the race held at The Roval, the innovative hybrid road course and oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Larson dominated the track, leading a total of 62 laps in his No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, finishing with a considerable lead of 1.511 seconds over his rival, Christopher Bell.
“It was nice to have a somewhat stress-free weekend,” Larson remarked after his triumphant outing.
This victory marked Larson’s second in the playoffs, making him the first driver eligible for the championship to win in this round. The elimination race reduced the field from 12 contenders to eight, which included the elimination of Team Penske’s Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez from Trackhouse Racing, and Chase Briscoe of Stewart-Haas Racing.
All four of Hendrick’s drivers—Larson, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott—safely advanced to the next round, which also includes reigning Cup champion Ryan Blaney from Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell, and Tyler Reddick, the regular-season champion representing 23XI Racing.
Notably, Blaney is the sole Ford driver remaining in contention for the Cup championship.
Tyler Reddick had a challenging race, winning the first stage but later spinning with Austin Dillon in the second stage, forcing him down to 37th place, below the cutline. He managed to recover, ultimately finishing 11th and securing his playoff position.
Michael Jordan, Hamlin’s business associate in 23XI Racing, was seen warmly congratulating both Hamlin and Reddick in the pit area for their progression in the playoffs.
In a narrow elimination, Logano secured eighth place but fell short by just four points, preventing his advancement to the next round. Notably, the elimination of two Penske cars came just a day after they celebrated winning the IMSA sports car championship at Road Atlanta.
Briscoe, the first driver eliminated from contention, faced a mechanical failure that forced him to retire with 66 laps remaining, signaling the end of Stewart-Haas Racing’s championship pursuit. The team plans to reduce its fleet from four cars to one next season without Tony Stewart involved as an owner, while Briscoe will transition to drive for Gibbs in 2025.
“It’s disheartening not to still be racing for a championship,” Briscoe expressed. “It’s tough not just for me personally, but also for all the employees at Stewart-Haas, who were all engaged in the journey with the 14 car. The camaraderie we felt over the past few weeks made it all the more thrilling to be a part of this.”
NASCAR’s race was also a notable event with the attendance of Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, who joined Donald Trump Jr. during the pre-race driver meeting and on the starting grid. Former President Donald Trump was present at the Coca-Cola 600 held at the same venue earlier in May.
Following driver feedback, NASCAR implemented a modification to the course before the race, switching out the 4-inch “turtles” for smaller 2.25-inch curbing. This adjustment aims to alleviate the harsh impacts drivers experience when going over the curbs, as some competitors, including Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, reported feeling disoriented after their cars hit the track again.
Additionally, NASCAR reiterated its regulations concerning track limits, emphasizing that drivers must complete the full course without shortcuts. Any violations related to cutting corners could lead to stop-and-go penalties assigned at specific locations on track.
Looking ahead, the third round of the playoffs will commence next Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Kyle Larson not only aims to defend his title but also hopes to replicate his spring victory at this venue.
