5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 1st
No. 5 HendrickCars.com/McLaren Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
DOUBLE DAY: On Sunday, Kyle Larson will attempt to become the fifth driver to complete “The Double” by competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Arrow McLaren will field the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet in a car owned by Rick Hendrick. The effort, dubbed the #Hendrick1100, is sponsored by HENDRICKCARS.COM. Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 airs at 12:45 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by the Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
FIFTH IN THE FAST SIX: Larson continued his Indianapolis 500 preparation on Sunday with Arrow McLaren at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the Fast 12 qualifying session, the 31-year-old driver posted a four-lap average speed of 232.788 mph, securing a spot in the Fast 6. On his single attempt in the final round at the 2.5-mile track, Larson’s speed of 232.846 mph earned him the fifth starting position for INDYCAR’s most prestigious event.
ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE: Following a late caution at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Larson maneuvered to a fourth-place finish in Sunday’s non-points NASCAR All-Star exhibition race. The top-five finish came despite starting at the rear of the field due to his absence from qualifying while participating in Indianapolis 500 time trials.
FACTS ON THE FIVE: Larson and his No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team are having a strong NASCAR Cup Series season. Through 13 races, he leads the standings by 30 points. The Elk Grove, California, native is one of three drivers with multiple wins in 2024 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway) and has series-best marks in top-five finishes (six), laps led (649) and stage wins (seven).
CHARLOTTE STATS: Larson has achieved notable success at the 1.5-mile layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 14 starts, he has one win, two top-five finishes, six top-10s and 399 laps led. Over the last six races on the oval, he has led the most laps of any driver (379). In 2021, Larson won the Coca-Cola 600 in a dominant performance, leading 327 laps – the fifth-highest total in the event’s history. The victory marked the 269th Cup Series win for Hendrick Motorsports, surpassing Petty Enterprises as the winningest team in Cup Series history.
1.5-MILE MUSCLE: Larson’s dominance on intermediate layouts has been impressive with three victories in the last five races, including two in 2024. On 1.5-mile tracks since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, he has secured eight victories, tallied the most stage wins (21) and holds the longest active streak of races led (11).
HONOR AND REMEMBER: As part of this weekend’s 600 Miles of Remembrance, each car in the field will carry the name of a fallen service member on the windshield. U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone is honored on the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. You can check out every angle of the scheme, featuring Basilone’s name on the windshield, here.
PUTTING IN WORK: In the Cup Series, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew has the season’s fifth-best average four-tire pit stop time (10.966 seconds). The five-person crew is comprised of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).
HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: The Coca-Cola 600 is a home race for the HENDRICKCARS.COM team, which will wear its “home” white firesuits this weekend. Hendrick Automotive Group is headquartered in Charlotte with numerous dealerships located throughout North Carolina. For the week of every HENDRICKCARS.COM home race this season, there is a new hat released and only available for purchase at trackside merchandise haulers or to win at HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be available to the public. This week’s #Hendrick1100-themed hat was revealed Tuesday and can be seen here. Fans can enter for a chance to win one of five sets of the special edition hats autographed by Larson.
WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 4th
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center on Friday, May 24, at 2:45 p.m. local time.
KEEP IT ROLLING: Chase Elliott has been impressive this season. After 13 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2024, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native sits fourth in the standings, just 49 points behind the leader, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson. Elliott has secured one win (Texas Motor Speedway), and his five top-five finishes are in a three-way tie for second in the Cup field. His average finish of 9.85 is the best in the series and ranks as his best average finish through 13 races since 2019 (9.62). Additionally, Elliott ranks sixth in laps run in the top five (959), fourth in laps run in the top 10 (2,009) and fourth in average running position (11.71). The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the only driver to finish inside the top 20 in all 13 events and has completed all but one lap of competition in 2024, tied for best.
BIG 3-0-0: At just 28 years old, Elliott will make his 300th career Cup Series start Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2020 NASCAR Cup champion is in his ninth full-time season in the premier series, with 19 points-paying wins, 98 top-five finishes, 158 top-10s, and one All-Star Race victory.
QUEEN CITY PERFORMANCE: Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will mark Elliott’s 13th start in a points-paying Cup event at Charlotte. In his previous 12 races at the 1.5-mile track, the six-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award winner has five top-five finishes, six top-10s and 338 laps led. Elliott has three second-place results at the track – including two runner-ups in the Coca-Cola 600 – and a victory in the 208-lap Thursday night premier series event in 2020. The Hendrick Motorsports driver holds the longest active streak of oval races led at Charlotte, having paced the field in each of the last six events. He led 223 laps across those races, third-most in the series.
1.5-MILE PERFORMANCE: In three premier series starts on 1.5-mile tracks this season, Elliott has one win (Texas), two top-five finishes and two top-10s. His average finish of 5.33 across those starts is best among series regulars, and he’s tied for the third-most points earned (110). Elliott has 81 career Cup Series starts on mile-and-a-half tracks, with three victories (Kansas Speedway 2018, Charlotte 2020 and Texas 2024), 24 top-five finishes and 40 top-10s. He’s paced the field for over 1,000 laps on 1.5-milers in his Cup career.
NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, Elliott has earned six wins, placing him in a three-way tie for the fourth-most victories. In that span, he holds the best average finish (12.26).
FAST FIVE: Last month at Texas, the No. 9 pit crew laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of any team in the 2024 season. The over-the-wall squad has remained the same since 2018 and currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.643 seconds) this season. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
DOUBLE DUTY: Before Elliott takes the green flag for the Coca-Cola 600, he will strap into the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon at Charlotte. It will mark his first of two starts this season for the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports team (with Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31), which will reunite Elliott with his former Xfinity Series crew chief Greg Ives. The duo won the series championship in 2014 during Elliott’s rookie season. In five Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte, Elliott has three top-10 finishes.
A HERO REMEMBERED: In Sunday’s Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte, the windshield of Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will don the name of U.S. Army Technician 5th Grade Clifford Strickland, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II. Strickland entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Colorado and was a member of the 803rd Engineers Battalion, Philippine Department, tasked with defending the Philippine Islands and training the Philippine Army. He was captured following the American surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, and forced on the Bataan Death March. He was interned in the notorious Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province, where he died July 29, 1942. Strickland’s remains were accounted for Dec. 20, 2023, and will be laid to rest in Colorado in June.
SALUTE TO OUR FALLEN: NAPA Auto Parts will trade out its classic blue, yellow and white scheme for a grayscale digital camouflage livery on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the Memorial Day weekend race. Get a look at all the angles of the patriotic scheme here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 5th
No. 24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, May 25, at 4:15 p.m. local time.
HOME SWEET HOME: Charlotte, North Carolina, native William Byron is one of only a handful of drivers born and raised in the “home of NASCAR.” After visiting U.S. Legend Cars International headquarters with his father in 2012, Byron found himself behind the wheel for the first time the next year competing in the Young Lion Division. Winning 33 of his 69 legend car events across the United States in 2013, he went on to lock up the U.S. Legend Car Young Lions national championship and the Thursday Thunder Young Lion title at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The next season, he progressed to the Legend Car Pro Division and signed with JR Motorsports’ developmental program. From that point, Byron hasn’t slowed down as he climbed the ranks before making it to the top-level NASCAR Cup Series in 2018.
CUE CHARLOTTE: Byron has seven career Cup starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval, with six of them being the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. In just his second Charlotte start in 2019, he became the event’s youngest pole sitter at 21 years, 5 months and 24 days. On the oval, Byron has three pole awards, two top-five finishes and three top-10s with 153 laps led, including a personal-best Charlotte finish of second in last year’s 600-miler. Byron has led four consecutive races on the oval – tied for the second-longest active streak – and is one of four drivers to finish both 2023 Charlotte Cup events (the oval and ROVAL) in the top 10 after scoring a pair of runner-up results. At Charlotte, the 25-year-old driver also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and one NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearance.
24 IN ‘24: Byron’s 2024 Cup Series campaign has been impressive. He is tied for the series lead in wins (three) and top-10 finishes (eight) while having the fourth-best average finish (12.46). After 13 points-paying races, the driver has spent 1,838 laps in the top 10 (sixth overall) and sits fifth in the season standings.
NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have 11 wins, which lead the Cup Series. Byron also has the second-best average finish (13.14) in the Next Gen car behind only teammate Chase Elliott. In night races during the Next Gen era, he has three wins (most), five top-five finishes (tied for the third-most) and 10 top-10s (tied for most).
1.5-MILE MAGIC: During his Cup career, Byron is no stranger to success on intermediate tracks. Since the start of 2021, he has three wins, two runner-up finishes, 10 top-fives and 18 top-10s in 26 races on 1.5-milers (not counting events held at Atlanta Motor Speedway after its reprofiling). In fact, Byron’s two Next Gen wins on 1.5-milers rank second to teammate Kyle Larson.
RUDY RUNS CLT: Sunday will mark Rudy Fugle’s fourth time atop the pit box for the Coca-Cola 600 as he looks to build on the No. 24’s team’s runner-up showing in 2023. In his three previous starts, the crew chief has three top-five starting positions, including one pole award, with two top-five finishes and two top-10s. The Livonia, New York, native has also called eight Truck Series races at the Charlotte oval with two wins (2013 and 2019), two poles, four top-five finishes and six top-10s. In trucks, his drivers have led 29% of all laps raced (310 of the 1,077) and completed 100% of the laps. One start came with Byron in 2016 when the duo won the pole and led 25 laps en route to a 10th-place finish.
LIBERTY U PATRIOTIC SCHEME: Liberty University will be back on Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend for the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. As part of NASCAR’s annual “NASCAR Salutes” program, the Liberty University Chevy will sport a special patriotic paint scheme as a part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance to honor those who have served and continue to serve in branches of the U.S. military. The special scheme includes blue and gray digital camouflage down the sides of the car. To see Byron’s scheme for this weekend’s race, click here.
MAJOR TOBY LEWIS: This weekend, the No. 24 Liberty University patriotic paint scheme will feature a tribute to Marine Corps Maj. Tobin’s service began in 2008, and he received numerous awards including the National Defense Service Medal. He was selected to the MV-22 Osprey and was deployed in the Red Sea, the Philippines and Australia. Prior to his time in the Marines, Lewis attended Liberty University where he was a Military Aviation major who also walked on the school’s soccer team.
PIT PROWESS: After 13 points races in 2024, the No. 24 pit crew continues its success from last year. The five-person crew ranks third in the Cup Series in the category of fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.849 seconds). It consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
HOME TRACK FEEL: In addition to Byron, two other No. 24 crewmembers are North Carolina natives who claim Charlotte Motor Speedway as their home track: mechanic Jacob Bowman from Pilot Mountain and jackman Bishop from Pinehurst.
48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 9th
No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
CLT ON TAP: This weekend, NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway where driver Alex Bowman has one top-five finish, four top-10s and 228 laps led in 12 Cup Series starts. In the last six Charlotte oval races, the 31-year-old driver has led the second-most laps (228) behind only Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (379). In the 2020 Coca-Cola 600, Bowman led 162 of 400 laps but finished 19th following a late-race strategy call.
2024 NUMBERS: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team sits ninth in the Cup Series standings, 121 points behind the leader. Bowman has posted four top-five finishes in 2024: at Daytona International Speedway (second), Bristol Motor Speedway (fourth), Circuit of The Americas (fourth) and Talladega Superspeedway (fifth).
HALFWAY THERE: At the midpoint of the 2024 Cup Series regular season, Bowman’s eighth-place performance at Darlington Raceway on Mother’s Day marked his fourth consecutive top-10 finish to give him eight in 13 races. Bowman is tied for the series lead in top-10s with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. It matches his personal best for most top-10s through 13 starts, set in 2022. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet ranks sixth in average finish among series regulars (12.7) and is tied for third in top-five finishes (four).
ALLY PATRIOTIC: For the fourth consecutive year, primary sponsor Ally has developed a patriotic paint scheme with Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports in support of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance. On Sunday at Charlotte, the No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will honor Army Capt. Arthur “Bo” Felder, who passed away while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. Described as a “gentle giant” at 6’4” and 290 pounds, Felder joined the Army while in high school. Raised in a family with military service dating to World War I, he was deployed to Bosnia and Honduras before going to Iraq where he served as command of Headquarters Company of the 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard.
LIVE FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Join Bowman with views from his driver’s seat this weekend during NASCAR’s longest race. On Sunday, fans can ride along for all 600 miles of competition by tuning into NASCAR’s in-car camera on the No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Visit nascar.com/drive to experience the race from Bowman’s perspective.
PACKAGES FOR OUR TROOPS: On Wednesday, Bowman, the No. 48 team, sponsor Ally and United Service Organizations (USO) volunteers held a fifth annual packing event (2019, 2021-2024) for soldiers ahead of the Coca-Cola 600. The group assembled approximately 2,000 care packages for deploying service members from the state of North Carolina as they wait to be sent to their assignment. Packages included cards, snacks and hygiene kits for those serving overseas.
FOUR TIRES FAST: In 2024, the Ally Racing team ranks fourth in the Cup Series in four-tire pit stop average at 10.958 seconds, giving Hendrick Motorsports three of the top-four spots. The five-man No. 48 crew is composed of jackman Allen Holman, tire carrier Brandon Grier, front-tire changer Donnie Tasser, rear-tire changer Andrew Bridgeforth and gasman Jacob Conley.
SAVE A (FURRY) LIFE THIS MEMORIAL DAY: 2024 marks the fourth consecutive year Ally and Bowman have supported Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. This weekend’s beneficiary of the pair’s $4,800 donation is the Charlotte Humane Society, located just 22 miles southeast of Charlotte Motor Speedway. To learn more, visit the shelter this weekend or go online to view its dogs and cats available for adoption.
HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /
| 2024 | All-Time | Charlotte | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Races | 13 | 1,358 | 75 |
| Wins | 6* | 307* | 21* |
| Poles | 4* | 250* | 19 |
| Top 5 | 19* | 1,251* | 70* |
| Top 10 | 28* | 2,140* | 113* |
| Laps Led | 973 | 80,730* | 6,026* |
| Stage Wins | 8 | 106 | 8* |
*Most **Most (tie)
1,100 MILES: For the first time in his NASCAR Hall of Fame career, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick will be a car owner for the Indianapolis 500, doing so with the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson. The entry, fielded through a unique partnership with the Arrow McLaren INDYCAR Team, will see the 2021 Cup Series champion become the fifth driver to attempt “The Double” by racing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
HENDRICK HOMECOMING: On Friday and Saturday, Hendrick Motorsports will hold “Hendrick Homecoming” to celebrate the team’s 40th anniversary in NASCAR. The free fan event, which takes place over the same weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 at nearby Charlotte Motor Speedway, will feature appearances by past and present drivers, along with games, displays, giveaways and more. For information on the two-day event, click here.
FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The organization holds the all-time NASCAR Cup Series records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race wins (307), pole positions (250) and laps led (80,730).
WINNING TRIO: Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron (three wins), Larson (two) and Chase Elliott (one) have tallied six Cup Series victories through the first 13 points-paying events of 2024. Based in Concord, North Carolina, the organization has won at least six races in 19 of the last 24 seasons. Six victories matches the team’s second-best total (1996 and 1997) at this point in a season. Hendrick Motorsports’ best start came in 2007 when it recorded nine wins in the first 13 races.
PIT POWER: Hendrick Motorsports holds four of the top-five spots for the fastest average four-tire pit stop in 2024. The No. 9 team leads the way (10.643 seconds), with the No. 24 team in third (10.849 seconds), the No. 48 team in fourth (10.958 seconds) and the No. 5 team rounding out the top five (10.966 seconds).
MILE-AND-A-HALF MOJO: In this season’s three races on 1.5-mile intermediate tracks, Hendrick Motorsports has been victorious every time. Larson won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and Kansas Speedway in May. Elliott went to victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Across the three events, Hendrick Motorsports tops the board for all teams in laps led (378) and stage wins (four).
NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Hendrick Motorsports’ eight wins on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen car is more than double the total of any other Cup Series team (three wins). Since 2022, Larson has a series-best four wins on 1.5-mile tracks and Byron two, making them two of the four drivers with multiple wins on intermediates. Teammates Alex Bowman and Elliott have each earned one Next Gen triumph on this type of track. Over the last 12 races on 1.5-milers, Larson and Byron are the only repeat winners.
BLACKJACK: Hendrick Motorsports has 21 wins at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval, tied for the third-most Cup Series victories at any track by an organization. The team also holds the top-two spots on the list with its win totals at Martinsville Speedway (29) and Dover Motor Speedway (22).
DEEP SIX: Six drivers have combined for Hendrick Motorsports’ record 12 wins in the Coca-Cola 600. Jimmie Johnson’s four wins (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2014) are part of his track-best eight wins on the oval. Next on the list is Jeff Gordon, now the team’s vice chairman, with three victories (1994, 1997 and 1998). Darrell Waltrip was the first Hendrick Motorsports driver to win the prestigious event, which he did back-to-back in 1988 and 1989. Casey Mears (2007), Kasey Kahne (2012) and most recently Larson (2021) each have one win.
HISTORICAL HIGHS: In the 2021 edition of the Coca-Cola 600, Hendrick Motorsports earned its 269th Cup Series win, passing Petty Enterprises to become the all-time winningest team in the sport’s top series. Hendrick Motorsports finished first, second, fourth and fifth that night, marking the first time a single organization placed four drivers in the top five in the Memorial Day weekend event.
600 MILES OF REMEMBRANCE: The Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway remembers the men and women who gave their lives in service while defending the United States of America. The name of a fallen service member will appear on the windshield of every Cup Series car in the Coca-Cola 600 field.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on “The Double”: “We had a good qualifying session at Indy last weekend and we’ll get one final practice in on Carb Day (Friday). It’s cool, and I want to thank Hendrick Motorsports for getting the (No.) 5 team up here (to Indianapolis) Friday to be a part of it. Hopefully, the weather cooperates this weekend. We want to be sure to get in a good practice and qualifying on Saturday at Charlotte so we have a great chance to battle for the win at the end of 600 miles Sunday night.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Charlotte prep: “We are certainly looking forward to getting to Charlotte for the 600. What a special weekend and what an awesome opportunity for really everyone on the (No.) 5 team, everyone at Hendrick Motorsports that’s part of the Cup effort, and of course, a part of the INDYCAR effort as well. Yeah, just a lot to look forward to. It’s a big challenge, and we certainly want to prove that we’re up for the challenge. A lot of belief in our team is in our process and the work ethic we’re putting in to make sure we can have a successful weekend and give Kyle a good car to go race with for 600 miles on our end. Wishing everybody up there in Indy a lot of luck for the 500 and really pulling for those guys.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to the Coca-Cola 600: “Hopefully we can have a good run this year and have pace. But more than anything, I would like to just finish one of these things (the Coca-Cola 600) and get to the end. It is such a long race and a lot can happen in 600 miles. I’ve been a part of some (600s) where they’re really wild and crazy, and I’ve been a part of a couple where we’ve ran the whole thing almost green. I would just like to have a good, clean race and log a lot of laps and make it to the end.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing the Coca-Cola 600: “I think the biggest thing is just how long it is, and the extra stage points available are a big deal. The last two years we crashed out early and I think that probably put us on the back foot a little. So, focusing on getting qualified well and having a good car and being able to execute, stay up front and get as many stage points as possible is the key focus for us. It’s a long race and a race of attrition in a lot of ways. All those things make it difficult and hopefully, for us, we’ve learned from our recent experiences, which will help us navigate things on Sunday.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the importance of execution at Charlotte this weekend: “We’ve had the (Coca-Cola) 600 circled for this year for sure. We have really high hopes but more recently we want to get back on track. We want to start the weekend strong and then finish strong. We don’t want to over extend ourselves or make mistakes that take us 10 spots back. We’re preparing for a chance to win, and I think there’s a good chance we will. Everyone is approaching this race that way though. We hope we’re that team, but if not we just really need to execute the weekend. That’s generally our strong suit, but we’ve gotten off track a little. We’re going to put that gritty mindset to work and finish the best we can.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on why the Coca-Cola 600 is special: “It’s a huge weekend being Memorial Day weekend. The Coca-Cola 600 is a hometown race for William, and it’s in the backyard of Hendrick Motorsports. This is our longest race of the year on top of that, but to me it’s almost easier to run the extra miles because we get the extra stage. Every stage is the same, not one stage being significantly longer than the others like we typically have. It’s pretty straightforward. You can really get in a good rhythm. I don’t really notice the difference in length other than sitting on the box a little bit longer. You just want this one more than some of the others.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Charlotte: “It’s always special to race here in Charlotte. It’s such a big week ahead of the Coca-Cola 600, and there’s a ton going on at the Hendrick Motorsports campus with Hendrick Homecoming, especially with it being our company’s 40th anniversary. In honor of Memorial Day, this weekend we recognize Army Capt. Arthur “Bo” Felder on the windshield of our No. 48 Ally Chevy. The 600 is a challengingly long race, but I’m excited to return to tackle it. Hopefully our Ally Racing team can qualify well Saturday and we can get a good run at it Sunday.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s approach for this weekend: “We had a pretty good run last year (at Charlotte Motor Speedway). It was Alex’s first race back after his injury. We didn’t get to practice or qualify that race — got kind of boxed in and had a difficult day on pit road trying to get around people. I think if we can go back there and qualify well and get a good pit stall, we should have some high expectations for this weekend.”
