For Hendrick Motorsports drivers, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (Roval) has been a track of favorable outcomes and championship triumphs. This unique 2.280-mile, 17-turn circuit has often served as a pivotal location for the team’s success in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
In 2020, Chase Elliott dominated the Round of 12 elimination race on the Roval and parlayed that win into a championship run. The following year, in his debut season with Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson replicated Elliott’s achievement by winning at the Roval and later claiming the title at Phoenix Raceway.
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At 2:00 PM on Sunday, the drivers will approach the 2024 Bank of America Roval 400. ET, all four Hendrick competitors—Elliott, Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman—find themselves above the playoff cut line. However, each faces distinct objectives entering the race.
Drivers' Differing Paths to the Round of 8
William Byron is the only Hendrick driver to have secured his spot in the Round of 8. After a strong third-place finish at Talladega, Byron clinched his position on points, allowing him to approach the Roval with less pressure.
Kyle Larson, following his fourth-place finish at Talladega, needs to collect just 16 points in Sunday’s race to advance, regardless of the race’s outcome. Larson’s path is relatively straightforward—finishing stages in points-paying positions should see him safely through.
Alex Bowman, sitting 26 points above the cut line, will likely focus on scoring points in the race’s early stages to solidify his position in the next playoff round.
Chase Elliott, however, faces a more precarious situation. Elliott, who is now eighth in the rankings and only 13 points ahead of Joey Logano in ninth, could need to adopt a bold strategy on Sunday in order to guarantee his advancement.. The pressure is high, and Elliott knows a slip could cost him a spot in the playoffs.
Adjustments to the Track Present New Challenges
Complicating the drivers' efforts are significant alterations to the Charlotte Road Course layout. The new Turn 6 now directs drivers toward the Turn 1 condominiums on the NASCAR oval, an uphill turn where drivers cannot see the apex before reaching the braking zone.
Turn 7, a tight hairpin, has already been dubbed a potential "calamity corner" by Christopher Bell, who currently sits second in the playoff standings and won the 2022 Roval race. The front stretch chicane at Turn 16 has also been tightened, adding another element of difficulty to an already challenging track.
Chase Elliott, recognizing the impact of these changes, has approached the race as if it were on a brand-new track."That portion of the song is going to influence the basic process of the loop there definitely," he stated."I’ve been paying cash in the computer to study the layout, soil happy, and track bumps."
Drivers will have their first on-track practice session on Saturday, where each competitor will receive 40 minutes to adapt to the revised course before qualifying.
Larson and Others Prepare for the Unknown
Kyle Larson, who also used the simulator to prepare, expects the adjustments to create additional passing opportunities but warns of potential chaos, particularly at Turn 7. The changes include an additional merging zone, but they also run the risk of causing pandemonium if cars react slowly.
Thanks to his strong points position following Talladega, Larson enters this race with more breathing room than in previous years. Nevertheless, he emphasizes the need for precision and flawless execution on Sunday.
Ford Drivers Face High Stakes
The postseason obstacles facing Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, and Joey Logano are more severe.
Blaney, the reigning series champion, is the only one above the cut line, sitting 25 points clear.
Briscoe and Cindric, trailing by 29 and 32 points, respectively, will likely need a win at the Roval to advance. Cindric admits that his predicament is easy.It makes things quite simple when he says, "We are going to look at that with the concept of completing the race." "It greatly simplifies the planning and tactics for the race,"
Though it’s not the scenario they hoped for, Cindric and his fellow Ford drivers are prepared to give it their all as they fight for survival in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
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