RYAN PREECE
Las Vegas Advance
No. 41 Bonanza Cabernet Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: South Point 400 (Round 33 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 20
● Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 267 laps/400.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 80 laps / Stage 2: 85 laps / Final Stage: 102 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Ryan Preece and the No. 41 Bonanza Cabernet Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing head west this weekend for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 267-lap race around the 1.5-mile oval will mark Preece’s 10th NASCAR Cup Series start at Las Vegas and his fourth with Stewart-Haas racing. Best among his previous nine outings was his 15th-place finish in March 2021, which came on the heels of his previous best finish of 19th in September 2020, both while driving for JTG Daugherty Racing. His first three outings with Stewart-Haas resulted in finishes of 23rd in the past two March races, and 26th in October 2023.

● Preece has three Las Vegas starts outside of the NASCAR Cup Series – two in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Best of his Xfinity Series outings was his sixth-place finish for Joe Gibbs Racing in September 2018, which bettered his 18th-place finish for owner Johnny Davis in March 2018. Preece’s lone Truck Series race at Las Vegas in March 2022 resulted in a fourth-place finish from the fifth starting position with three laps led in a David Gilliland Racing entry.

● Joining Preece at Las Vegas is Bonanza, a California Cabernet Sauvignon created by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards. The wine’s name is inspired by the “bonanza” of the great state of California, where diverse vineyard land that produces delicious Cabernet can be found. Preece got to enjoy the fruits of his labor quite literally in June 2023 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Preece competed in the ARCA Menards Series West race and dominated from start to finish. He won the pole and led twice for a race-high 50 laps, including the final 32 tours around the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course to take the victory by a commanding 9.675 seconds over runner-up Sammy Smith. It was Preece’s first ARCA victory and the first ARCA win for Stewart-Haas. From his race-winning chalice in victory lane, Preece sipped on Bonanza, soaking in the moment amid TV interviews and photographs.

● Chuck Wagner and his late parents, Lorna and Charlie Sr., opened Caymus Vineyards in 1972, starting off with 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Based at its original “home ranch” in Rutherford, California – deep in the heart of Napa Valley Wine Country – Caymus Vineyards remains a hands-on family affair. In addition to their celebrated Cabernet Sauvignons, Chuck and two of his children – Charlie and Jenny – produce diverse wines from Napa Valley, other parts of California and beyond. Said Preece about partnering with Caymus Vineyards and its Bonanza brand: “Representing Caymus Vineyards and Bonanza at Sonoma allowed me to see just how hands-on the Wagner family is when it comes to their winemaking. It’s impressive, and it’s something I can really appreciate. I’m hands-on with my racecars because I want them to be the very best. They have the same mindset at Caymus. That’s why they’re a great partner for our race team.”

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 Bonanza Cabernet Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’ve had a good stretch of runs on intermediate-style tracks. Do you feel that bodes well for your prospects this weekend at Las Vegas?

“Las Vegas is tricky because as much as the mile-and-a-half tracks are what people like to call cookie cutter, there are a lot of characteristics and other elements that play a factor in your setup, as well as how the car drives and what the strengths of it are. But I’m excited. I say that because I feel like, between Indy and Pocono and Kansas, we’ve been going down a good path that I think will benefit us going into Las Vegas. I do feel like we can go to Vegas and use it to continue building on a strong end to the year.”

What sets Las Vegas apart from the other 1.5-mile ovals in the NASCAR Cup Series?

“Vegas, with its tunnel turn and the bumps and all those things, I would say it’s definitely different from some of the other mile-and-a-halves. As grippy as it can be, it can be a challenge, so I would say it’s its own animal.”

You’re down to the home stretch of the season with just four races remaining. What do you want to accomplish before season’s end?

“We just need to continue focusing on consistency, getting the most out of practice and qualifying, and running well during the race. That means I’ve got to be on it, we’ve got to be on it with strategy and on pit road. All of it keeps coming together and, even though all of the results don’t show it, we’re getting there. This team is working really hard on putting it all together and capitalizing on that. We just want to be consistent all the way through to the end of the year.”

Would you consider yourself a Las Vegas person – the kind who hits the blackjack table and finds a good restaurant each night, or are you the kind who tries to find quiet places while keeping your body clock on Eastern Time?

“I think I’m a little bit of both. I’m somebody who likes the quiet, so when I do find a blackjack table or a roulette table, it’s pretty empty for the most part. I do enjoy playing your typical casino games. I’m a racecar driver, so I gamble every day of my life. It’s no different when I go to Vegas and decide to visit a casino to see if I can make some money.”

No. 41 Bonanza Cabernet Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Gig ’em, Stewart-Haas
Texas A&M University Partners With Stewart-Haas Racing at Las Vegas and Phoenix

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2024) – Texas A&M University has partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing, the championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas, to share its story of nearly 150 years of advancing knowledge and human achievement, preparing students to be lifelong learners and leaders, and its rich military heritage on NASCAR’s global stage.

The partnership kicks off this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where Chase Briscoe will drive the No. 14 Texas A&M Ford Mustang Dark Horse in Sunday’s South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. Then in the season finale Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway, Josh Berry will drive the No. 4 Texas A&M Ford Mustang Dark Horse with a livery reflective of Texas A&M’s commitment to celebrating and serving our nation’s veterans. Both races will be broadcast live on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“With millions of engaged fans, this partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing represents a fantastic opportunity to put the Aggie Spirit front and center and further show the nation what Texas A&M University stands for,” said R. Ethan Braden, vice president, chief marketing and communications officer at Texas A&M. “We look forward to cheering on Chase Briscoe in Aggie Maroon at Las Vegas and Josh Berry at the season finale in Phoenix, where we’ll showcase Texas A&M’s appreciation for our country and our military prior to Veterans Day. Texas A&M has a rich history of leadership and selfless service, and we are committed to serving well those who have served.”

Texas A&M University is driven by a tradition of excellence and passion to continually improve. It is a destination of choice for those who serve or have served to pursue higher education. The link with NASCAR is an appropriate one as the sanctioning body has long honored its nation’s service members, most notably with its annual NASCAR Salutes program, a tenured initiative featuring important associations with Honor and Remember, which recognizes fallen service members and their families, and Sound Off, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce veteran suicide through free and anonymous mental health for veterans and service members.

“We’re honored to partner with Texas A&M University, an institution that stands for respect, excellence and leadership,” said Joe Custer, president of Stewart-Haas Racing. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to help tell Texas A&M’s story, particularly its long history of supporting our nation’s veterans.”

Recently named the top university in Texas and the No. 11 public university in the nation by The Wall Street Journal, Texas A&M’s forward momentum is evidenced by a number of recent recognitions. In a testament to its dedication to academic excellence and innovation, the College of Engineering was named a top-10 public engineering school by U.S. News & World Report, with the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering ranked best in the nation. The college also secured the top spot for engineering research expenditures in fiscal year 2023, with $444.7 million in spending. The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering – part of both the College of Engineering and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – is also ranked No. 1 in the nation.

In addition to providing an exemplary student experience, the university is also educating the next generation of leaders who will put Texas A&M’s Core Values into practice, as reflected by the remarkable number of Aggies leading America’s companies. Texas A&M is tied for No. 1 among the nation’s public universities and No. 5 overall for the number of graduates serving as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies today.

Texas A&M Veteran Support

With roots as a senior military college, Texas A&M has proudly supported our nation’s veterans and military-affiliated students for more than a century. In addition to currently educating nearly 1,300 student veterans, many of the university’s top leaders served in the military, including Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III, a retired four-star general and former chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. Eight Aggies have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.

Through the Don and Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource and Support Center, Texas A&M offers resources to help students navigate the admissions process, maximize their Veteran Affairs education benefits, and meet their career and employment goals after graduation, setting the standard for student veteran support across the nation.

Texas A&M is also home to the Corps of Cadets, the largest uniformed student body in the nation, outside of the military academies. Although there is no military obligation tied to being a member, the Corps consistently commissions more officers into the country’s armed forces than any other school in the country, outside of the services academies. The Corps develops well-educated leaders of character and offers programs specifically designed to prepare graduates for leadership roles in the U.S. military, corporate America, government service and the private sector.

Stewart-Haas Racing

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and more than 100 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team avoided the potential pitfalls that come with racing on the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway and scored a 20th place finish in Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400.

It was Burton’s 13th finish of 25th or better this season.

Burton started the 109-lap race from 26th place and made his first pit stop, under the green flag, on Lap 20. He dropped from 25th to 31st place, but when other drivers pitted after the conclusion of the opening 25-lap Stage he moved up to 23rd place for the restart.

The DEX Imaging team elected to pit at Lap 36 and again at Lap 45 in Stage Two before ending that 25-lap segment in 33rd place.

Once again, he moved up when others pitted after the end of the Stage, and he restarted from 20th place.

In the final segment of the race, he ran inside the top 25 for the majority of that run and made his final pit stop at Lap 77 from 11th place.

He rejoined the race in 29th place and worked his way up to 20th at the finish.

Burton and the No. 21 Wood Brothers team now turn their attention to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and next Sunday’s South Point 400.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Bank of America Roval 400: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Concord, N.C. – October 13, 2024

Following post-race inspection at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the No. 48 has been disqualified for failing to meet the minimum weight requirement. By virtue of a 38th-place finish, the No. 48 team does not advance to the Round of 8 and the No. 22 team now advances.

Stage finishes, race finishes and points positions reflect results following post-race inspection.

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/SYLVANIA FORD MUSTANG

START: 5TH STAGE ONE: 10TH STAGE TWO: 6TH FINISH: 4TH POINTS: 10TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric finished a solid fourth in Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course but came up short of advancing to the semi-final round of the NASCAR Playoffs. Cindric rolled off the grid from the fifth position after a strong qualifying effort on Saturday and reported early on in the race that the car felt disconnected as he struggled with rear grip. With five laps remaining in the opening segment, Cindric made his first trek to pit road for four tires, fuel, wedge and air pressure adjustments. After crossing the stripe 10th to end Stage 1, the skilled road course racer stayed out at the break and restarted fifth. When debris brought out the yellow flag on Lap 36, Cindric informed his team that the car had improved slightly, but turn and drive remained pain points. He returned to the attention of the Menards/Sylvania pit crew for fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The Team Penske driver climbed back inside the top 10 as the laps clicked away, finishing Stage 2 in the sixth position and accumulating a handful of stage points. The No. 2 team opted to stay out and lined up fourth for the restart on Lap 55. With small improvements to the car, he continued to push forward, making his final pit stop of the day with just under 40 laps remaining. Cindric remained focused on the task at hand as the laps winded down, but ultimately finished fourth, shy of advancing to the Round of 8.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We had the speed and that is the encouraging thing and the exciting thing but today we needed it all. We had a great car. We had a great finish. My guys called a great strategy and we got points in both Stages, all the things that are hard to do in a Cup race, but we did those things and were capable of doing those things in the two prior races. That is what this format is. It is difficult. I think for us, having a better regular season, having a bit better of a buffer would definitely help. I am proud of everyone. I feel like we are getting into a rhythm here. I am proud of the team and looking forward to trying to spoil some races and support our teammates the rest of the way.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 14TH STAGE ONE: 4TH STAGE TWO: 5TH FINISH: 10TH POINTS: 5TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney advanced to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with a 10th-place finish at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval Sunday, marking his sixth-career trip to the semifinal round and fourth in as many seasons. Blaney enters the first race of the round fifth in the points standings and four points below the cut line as he continues on in his quest for back-to-back championships. The No. 12 Discount Tire Ford took the green flag from 14th before settling into 12th in the running order for the opening run of the 109-lap event. With pit strategies varying throughout the field in the closing laps of the stage, Blaney cycled to fourth on the leaderboard with three to go where he ultimately took the green and white checkered flag from in Stage 1. Following a four tire stop and a round of adjustments during under caution, Blaney lined up to restart Stage 2 from 30th before making his way back through the field to settle into the top-10 with 11 laps remaining in the segment. After a handful of the leaders hit pit road prior to the stage end, the 12 team opted to run the stage out again to come away with a fifth-place result in the second segment. Blaney was one of three cars to make the trip down pit road prior to the restart, miring him back in 30th to take the green flag for the final run of the afternoon. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler’s strategy call allowed Blaney to run longer than a majority of the field as he made his way up to sixth with 35 laps to go with green flag stops beginning to cycle. Blaney was eventually called to pit road with 33 laps to go while running fourth and rejoined the field just outside of the top-10. Blaney worked his way back into the top-10 with a formidable points cushion with 20 laps to go before crossing the start-finish line 10th to secure his spot in the Round of 8.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “I thought our car was fast, we just were in the stage points game all day and we had to restart 30th every run to get back up to where we finished in 10th. To be honest, I wasn’t as aggressive on some of the restarts there in the back to weave our way through because we knew our objective today. I am proud of the effort of all the 12 boys to come out here and forget last week and focus on this week which really mattered.”

“I feel like we are in a pretty decent spot. I was really happy with our speed at Kansas and I thought that was huge at a place we have struggled at. We hadn’t been the best there the last few years but to go there and have race-winning pace was really impressive for our group. Hopefully we can carry that over to Vegas and Homestead and learn from the spring at Martinsville. I think we are in a good spot. We just have to go perform. It is a new week next week and I am looking forward to getting started.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 4TH STAGE ONE: 2ND STAGE TWO: 2ND FINISH: 8TH POINTS: 8TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano’s eighth-place finish in Sunday’s Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval came up just short of clinching a spot in the semifinal round at the time of the checkered flag, but a disqualification levied to the No. 48 team following post-race inspection advanced the No. 22 team to the Round of 8. NASCAR’s ruling is subject to appeal and a decision on whether an appeal will be submitted is expected on Monday, October 14.

After starting fourth for Sunday’s 109-lap event, Logano settled into fifth for the opening run of the afternoon despite battling issues with rear grip in the early going. Crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call to run the opening stage to the end with every point making a difference on the playoff battle, allowing Logano to come away with a second-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four tire stop and a round of adjustments under caution, Logano lined up 27th to take the green flag for the second segment and quickly gained 11 spots while leading all other cars on his same strategy. The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford charged back into the top-10 with 10 laps remaining in the stage as Wolfe kept Logano on track through the end of Stage 2 to come away with another second-place effort. Logano was kept on track during the stage break in an effort to maintain track position for the final run of the afternoon, taking the restart from the inside of row one with 55 laps to go. Wolfe called him to pit road from sixth with 39 laps to go for a four tire stop and enough fuel to make it to the end, allowing Logano to race back into the top-10 with 30 to go while scored five points above the cut line. Logano was locked into a tight battle with the No. 45 for the final transfer spot and worked his way up to fifth with 26 to go. The points lead began to shrink in the closing laps as the two were tied for the eighth and final spot with 12 laps remaining. Logano ultimately came away with an eighth-place finish and was scored four points below the cut line when the checkered flag waved.

The NASCAR Cup Series opens the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 20. Coverage of the South Point 400 begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Keselowski Finishes P23

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2024) – The RFK Fords had plenty of speed, but were sparce on luck during Sunday’s 109-lap Roval Cup event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chris Buescher ultimately led the way with a 17th-place finish; forced to battle back from getting spun out just over halfway through the race after having worked his way up to 12th.

Brad Keselowski’s Castrol/TravelCenters Ford was one of the fastest in the field. The No. 6 driver qualified eighth and was running in the top five before getting spun out while running fourth on lap 38. Keselowski would work his way back through the field, only to get spun out once again by the same car with only a handful of laps remaining; relegated to the 23rd-place finish.

“We had a really fast car,” said Keselowski after the race. “I hate that we didn’t get the finish that we deserved, but the effort was there and I’m proud of our team for bringing such a fast car to this track.”

6 Recap
Keselowski qualified eighth on Saturday and was running there when the team pitted for the first time on lap 19. He would ultimately finish the first stage ninth and restarted inside the top five when the field took the green for stage two. Keselowski had moved his Ford to fourth position with sites on third when the No. 77 made contact from behind and send him spinning around. By the time he collected his car, he was in 34th position.

Patiently and methodically the NASCAR champion maneuvered his No. 6 Ford back through the field and was running in 12th position with 20 laps to go, before getting spun out on the backstretch chicane with a handful of laps remaining. He was able to collect his car and battle back to 23rd, picking up positions up until the final lap of the race.

17 Recap
Buescher and the No. 17 Fifth Third Team did not fare as well in Saturday’s qualifying and were forced to start the race from 28th position. However, the Prosper, Texas native wasted little time moving through the field. He finished stage one in the 21st position and restarted P16 for stage two.

He moved all the way to 12th, before finishing stage two P20 after pitting late. He restarted stage three P14 and had moved to 13th, before getting spun on lap 63 and falling all the way back to 32nd. He eventually was able to rebound for the 17th-place finish.

Up Next
The Cup Series returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend, with race coverage set for 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

*The No. 48 was later disqualified in post race inspection, bumping Keselowski up to 23rd.

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Bank of America Roval 400

Date: Oct. 13, 2024
Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval (2.28-mile, 17-turn road course)
Format: 109 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/25 laps/59 laps)

Race Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

SHR Finish:

● Josh Berry (Started 36th, Finished 23rd / Running, completed 109 of 109 laps)
● Ryan Preece (Started 34th, Finished 26th / Running, completed 109 of 109 laps)
● Noah Gragson (Started 32nd, Finished 32nd / Running, completed 108 of 109 laps)
● Chase Briscoe (Started 25th, Finished 37th / Accident, completed 41 of 109 laps)

SHR Points:

● Chase Briscoe (12th with 3,030 points, 68 points below top-eight cutoff)
● Noah Gragson (25th with 521 points)
● Ryan Preece(26th with 506 points)
● Josh Berry (27th with 505 points)

Playoff Standings to Begin Round of 8:

1. Kyle Larson (4,052 points) +33
2. Christopher Bell (4,032 points) +13
3. Tyler Reddick (4,029 points) +10
4. William Byron (4,023 points) +4
5. Ryan Blaney (4,019 points) -4
6. Denny Hamlin (4,015 points) -8
7. Chase Elliott (4,014 points) -9
8. Joey Logano (4,012 points) -11

Failed to Advance to Round of 8:

9. Alex Bowman (3,075 points)
10. Austin Cindric (3,070 points)
11. Daniel Suárez (3,047 points)
12. Chase Briscoe (3,030 points)

Race Notes:

● Kyle Larson won the Bank of America Roval 400 to score his 29th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his sixth of the season and his second on the Roval. His margin of victory over second-place Christopher Bell was 1.511 seconds.
● There were five caution periods for a total of 13 laps.
● Thirty of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Sound Bites:

“The steering rack or something broke. I don’t really know, to be honest. Realistically, we probably weren’t going to move on anyway, but on those restarts in turn seven, we all kind of got stacked up and they all kind of stopped in front of me and it ripped the wheel out of my hand. I could turn to the left, but as soon as I got to the right-hander, my car just went straight. I about hit the wall on the backstretch chicane, and then on the frontstretch chicane, I hit the 3 car just because I literally couldn’t turn. It’s an unfortunate way for it to all come to an end. It’s part of it, part of racing. We just didn’t have a very good three weeks when it all boils down to it. We have four more races left to try to go win and send Stewart-Haas Racing out with a win. It’s tough to have all the momentum that we had, and to have it come to an end like it did is unfortunate. I wish we could have kept going for it. I am sure all the guys that get eliminated wish they could keep going for it, right? We knew, I think as a team even, going into it that if we could get through this round we could get to the final four, but we weren’t able to get through this round. It’s unfortunate. We still have a lot to race for. We can still go win four more races and that is what we will try to do. It’s four really good tracks for us, so I feel really good about it. I wish we were racing for a championship, still. It’s just one of those days. Honestly, kind of one of those weeks with everything that has happened. I am ready for Monday. It stings. Not even really for myself, just all the employees at Stewart-Haas. They were all kind of living through the 14 car, and the environment we have had these last few weeks has been really exciting to be a part of. I hate that it’s coming to an end. I know what that means for Stewart-Haas not to be racing for a championship anymore. But we have four races left, and we are going to give it everything we’ve got. It has definitely been a tough week with the highest of highs, but then everything that Marissa (Briscoe, wife) was going through, and the playoffs, too. The racing is one thing, but I am more worried about my family, at the end of the day, and making sure Marissa is OK. I would have loved to keep racing for a championship. It’s unfortunate the way the week ended, but life could be a lot worse. I have three healthy kids at home and a wife that is hopefully getting healthy, and I get to drive racecars for a living, so at the end of the day you can’t be upset just because you don’t have a chance to race for a championship. I still have an incredible life and I am certainly blessed.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Ford Performance Racing School Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“It was kind of nasty today. We finally had a mistake-free day and didn’t get wrecked at the end or have anything silly happen. And we kind of steadily just raced smart and finished way better than we probably should have. So, a lot of work to do still, but it was nice to get a decent result.” – Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“Tough day.” – Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 10 Beef-a-Roo Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the South Point 400 on Sunday, Oct. 20, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The seventh race in the 10-race NASCAR Playoffs starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Hard-Fought Day for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BetMGM Chevrolet Team at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL

Finish: 32nd
Start: 22nd
Points: 28th

“Our No. 3 BetMGM Chevrolet team fought hard at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, but nothing went our way today. Our luck was unbelievable. We got turned around in Stage 1 and lost a lot of track position. We worked our way back through the field and were running sixth in the final stage and in position for a good points day. Unfortunately, after the final stop of the day, NASCAR held us for two laps when we lost a tire on the track. From that point forward, we were on a lap of our own just hoping to catch a caution or two to get back on the lead lap but the rest of the race ran green. It could have been a good points day for the No. 3 team if we wouldn’t have had so many issues. We’ll regroup and head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch Scores Stage Points En Route to 13th-Place Finish for the No. 8 Lenovo Chevrolet Team at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL

Finish: 13th
Start: 11th
Points: 20th

“Overall, it was a solid day for the No. 8 Lenovo Chevrolet team. Early in the race we didn’t have any grip in the front and we were struggling to get off the corners. We made a pit stop and improved the drive off and ability to turn, but by the end of Stage 1, we were struggling with lack of grip again. About halfway through the race, crew chief Randall Burnett and the Lenovo guys made the decision to tweak our pit strategy. We needed to do something different than the guys who were running ahead of us because we weren’t going to get ahead of them by doing the same thing that they were. We finished ninth in Stage 2 and then stayed out for track position. We made our last pit stop and cycled out in the 14th position, which was about where we were running when we tried our strategy play. We passed Denny Hamlin on the last lap to move up a position, but we wanted more out of our day.” -Kyle Busch