Kyle Larson wrapped up the NASCAR Cup Series’ Round of 12 playoff finale in style, showcasing his road-course prowess to win the Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
In the final restart, Larson, driving the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, skillfully pulled away from Christopher Bell and navigated the 2.32-mile road course with precision. He crossed the finish line 1.511 seconds ahead of Bell’s No. 20 Toyota, securing his series-leading sixth victory of the 2024 season.
William Byron, Austin Cindric, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five, but the biggest drama of the day came as Tyler Reddick overcame a double-digit deficit in the final 26 laps. Reddick’s late charge knocked two-time champion Joey Logano out of title contention.
Reddick, the regular-season champion, piloted the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota for team owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin to an 11th-place finish, locking in his spot in the Round of 8.
Joining Logano in playoff elimination were his Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, and Chase Briscoe.
On a picture-perfect day in North Carolina, Shane van Gisbergen, the race’s first-time Cup polesitter, led the 38-car field at the start of the final road-course race of 2024. He held the lead until Lap 22.
The race remained caution-free through Stage 1, where Reddick claimed the stage win. Logano, Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Larson completed the top five in that segment.
Reddick’s strong start was soon tested when he collided with team owner Denny Hamlin in Turn 7 on Lap 31. The impact, compounded by Austin Dillon spinning in the No. 3 Chevrolet, forced Reddick to pit for repairs.
Chase Briscoe, who needed a must-win performance to advance, saw his day unravel when his No. 14 Ford lost a tire, bringing out the race’s first caution for an incident. Briscoe, who had welcomed the birth of twins earlier in the week, was eliminated from title contention after finishing 37th, retiring after 43 laps.
As the race progressed, the action intensified. Drivers jockeyed for position, with Larson maintaining a solid gap over Bell. Minor incidents, including spins by Brad Keselowski and Ross Chastain, kept the race running under green.
Larson pitted from the lead with two laps remaining in Stage 2, allowing Alex Bowman to claim his first road-course stage win ahead of AJ Allmendinger, Logano, Elliott, and Bubba Wallace. Logano’s 17 stage points temporarily boosted his playoff hopes, but Reddick’s late surge sealed his fate.
Suarez encountered brake issues in the later stages, bringing his No. 99 Chevrolet to pit road, further complicating his bid for advancement.
With the victory, Larson locked in his spot in the Round of 8, while Joey Logano’s quest for a third championship came to an early end.
Source: Field Level Media
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