Larson steers to dominant Cup victory at Charlotte Roval; Playoff’s Round of 8 field set

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October 13, 2024

Larson John Knittel — Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

With no points pressure mounted up his sleeves, Kyle Larson cruised to a dominant victory in the seventh annual running of the Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Sunday, October 13.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, led a race-high 62 of 109-scheduled laps in an event where he started in sixth place and ran a consistent event while executing his pit strategy to perfection that kept him racing towards the front and also keeping his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet intact through every turn, straightaway, chicane and curbs.

After clinching his way into the Playoff’s Round of 8 by accumulating seven stage points between the event’s first two stage periods, Larson, who led twice earlier in the event, assumed the lead for the third and final time with 33 laps remaining during a late cycle of green flag pit stops. Then after muscling away from the field during a late-race restart with 26 laps remaining, the Californian maintained a reasonable advantage over the field and fellow Playoff rivals for the remainder of the event as he raced his way to his sixth Cup victory of the 2024 season.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, October 12, Shane van Gisbergen notched his first Cup Series career pole position with a pole-winning lap at 99.246 mph in 82.704 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Playoff contender Tyler Reddick, who posted his best qualifying lap at 99.177 mph in 82.761 seconds.

When the green flag waved and the race started, Shane van Gisbergen muscled his No. 13 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ahead with the lead from the outside lane and he led the field through the infield turns, starting from Turn 1 to the newly configured Turns 5 and 6 zones that led to the new sharp left-hand turn to Turn 7 and back on Charlotte’s oval course. With the field navigating cleanly through the infield turns, van Gisbergen retained the lead through the oval turns and the chicane areas, from the backstretch to the frontstretch, as he led the first lap ahead of Playoff contenders Joey Logano and Kyle Larson while AJ Allmendinger and Playoff contender Tyler Reddick followed suit.

During the second lap, Logano was overtaken by Larson, Reddick and Allmendinger on the track, which dropped Logano to fifth place on the course. Behind Logano, Playoff teammate Austin Cindric followed suit in sixth place as he was ahead of Brad Keselowski, Playoff contender Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace while William Byron, who is already guaranteed a spot in the Round of 8, was in 10th place ahead of Playoff rivals Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney. As Playoff contenders Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe were trying to navigate their way up the leaderboard while being mired outside the top-20 mark on the track, van Gisbergen stretched his advantage to over one second on Larson by the fifth lap mark. Meanwhile, Playoff contender Alex Bowman, whose No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 briefly came off the ground after he ran over the frontstretch’s chicane curbs earlier, was mired in 19th place ahead of rookie Carson Hocevar.

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, van Gisbergen stabilized his advantage to more than one second ahead of Larson while Reddick, Allmendinger and Logano followed suit in the top five. Behind, Cindric and Elliott battled fiercely for sixth place ahead of Keselowski, Wallace and Byron while Bell, Blaney, Suarez, Kyle Busch and Todd Gilliland trailed in the top 15 ahead of Ross Chastain, Michael McDowell, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman and Carson Hocevar. Meanwhile, Hamlin was mired in 24th place behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr. while Briscoe was back in 26th place in between Martin Truex Jr. and Chris Buescher.

Another lap later, Ryan Preece spun his No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the backstretch chicane while running in the top-30 mark, which dropped him below the leaderboard. Then during the following lap, Wallace was penalized for cutting the course while navigating his No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE through the frontstretch chicane. This resulted in Wallace serving a “stop-and-go” penalty through the backstretch chicane, which dropped Wallace from eighth to 12th on the course. Martin Truex Jr., who was running within the top-25 mark, would also be penalized for cutting the frontstretch chicane by Lap 13, which dropped him towards the top-30 mark. With the race remaining under green flag conditions, van Gisbergen stretched his advantage to nearly two seconds over Larson while Reddick, Allmendinger and Logano continued to trail in the top five.

On Lap 18, the event’s first cycle of green flag pit stops slowly started to commence as Allmendinger pitted his No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 from the top five. By then, Austin Dillon had pitted a lap earlier. Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain and Chris Buescher would all pit by the Lap 19 mark before Cindric, Keselowski, Byron, Bell, Wallace, Hamlin, Briscoe and Truex pitted during the following lap. Larson would then pit his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 from the runner-up spot on Lap 21 along with Todd Gilliland, Hocevar, Bowman, rookie Zane Smith, Stenhouse, Daniel Hemric, Noah Gragson, Harrison Burton before the leader van Gisbergen pitted during the next lap along with Daniel Suarez. With pit road closed on Lap 23 as the first stage period was coming to a conclusion, Reddick, who remained on the course, cycled his No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE into the lead.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 25, Reddick, who came into the event 14 points above the top-eight cutline in his hopes to advance into the Playoff’s Round of 8, recorded his fourth Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Playoff contenders Logano, Elliott, Blaney and Larson followed suit in the top five while van Gisbergen, Ty Gibbs, Allmendinger, Keselowski and Playoff contender Cindric were scored in the top 10. With half of the 12 Playoff contenders racking up the event’s first round of stage points, the remaining Playoff contenders that include Bell, Byron, Suarez, Bowman, Briscoe and Hamlin were scored in 11th, 13th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd and 27, respectively.

Under the stage break, some led by Reddick and including Logano, Elliott and Blaney pitted while the rest led by Larson remained on the track.

The second stage period started on Lap 29 as Larson and van Gisbergen occupied the front row. At the start, Larson muscled ahead of Kaulig Racing’s van Gisbergen and Allmendinger through the frontstretch and he retained the lead through the infield turns while van Gisbergen fended off Allmendinger for the runner-up spot. As the field navigated through the infield road course turns and the sharp left-hand turn from Turn 7 back on the oval turns, Larson retained the lead for the remaining turns and led the following lap while Playoff contenders Briscoe, Hamlin, Reddick, Logano, Elliott and Blaney were mired within a series of on-track bumps and contacts while stuck in the middle of the field.

Shortly after and during the Lap 30 mark, Reddick was collected in a jam-up and came to a full stop to avoid hitting Austin Dillon, who was sent for a spin in Turn 7 after he got bumped by Bowman. Despite sustaining little cosmetic damage to his car, Reddick, whose car briefly came off the ground after he hit both the Turn 7 curb and into team owner Denny Hamlin prior to avoiding Dillon, pitted under green to address a potential broken toe link to his No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE. With Hamlin remaining on the track despite getting hit in the left-side area and having a bent toe link to the rear end of his No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota Camry XSE, Larson retained the lead by nearly a second over van Gisbergen while Allmendinger, Bell and Keselowski were scored in the top five.

At the Lap 35 mark, Larson stretched his advantage to more than a second over van Gisbergen as both were followed by Allmendinger, Bell and Keselowski. With Cindric, Byron, Chastain, Suarez and Wallace following suit in the top 10, Bowman, Hocevar, Buescher, Stenhouse and Kyle Busch were mired in the top 15 ahead of Logano, Zane Smith, Justin Haley, Ty Gibbs and Elliott while Hamlin, Blaney, Truex, Gilliland and Harrison Burton were scored in the top 25.

Then while still on the Lap 35 mark, the caution returned due to Playoff contender Briscoe losing a right-rear tire as the tire came off of Briscoe’s No. 14 Ford Performance Racing School Mustang Dark Horse in Turn 14 just as Briscoe was pitting. During the caution period, Reddick and Gragson pitted, with the former having his bent right-rear toe link addressed. Soon after, more names led by Allmendinger and including Hamlin and Cindric pitted while the rest led by Larson remained on the track.

The start of the next restart period on Lap 38 featured Larson and van Gisbergen dueling for the lead through the first four turns until Larson muscled ahead. With Bell overtaking van Gisbergen for the runner-up spot entering Turn 5, a traffic jam ensued as Keselowski was bumped and sent for a spin by Suarez in Turn 7 while the field fanned out. With the race remaining under green flag conditions, Larson retained the lead for the following lap ahead of Bell, van Gisbergen, Byron and Bowman as Austin Dillon, who was running in 28th place, was penalized for cutting the frontstretch chicane despite getting hit by Briscoe before driving off the course.

Just past the Lap 40 mark, eight of 12 Playoff contenders were racing inside the top 10 on the track as Larson retained the lead ahead of Bell while Byron, Bowman, Suarez, Logano and Elliott followed suit from fourth to eighth, respectively, as Blaney was in 10th place. Meanwhile, Cindric and Hamlin were back in 17th and 19th, respectively, while Briscoe and Reddick were mired in 36th and 37th, respectively, with the former pitting multiple times for repairs following an on-track contact. As Erik Jones bumped Kaz Grala off the course through the frontstretch chicane as payback from an earlier contact that occurred in the backstretch chicane, Chastain was sent for a spin in Turn 7 after he got hit by Truex. Through both incidents, the race remained under green flag conditions.

By Lap 45, Larson retained the lead by more than a second over Bell as van Gisbergen, Byron, Bowman, Suarez, Logano, Allmendinger, Elliott and Blaney followed suit in the top 10 ahead of Wallace, McDowell, Cindric, Kyle Busch and Hamlin. With Reddick mired in 36th place, Briscoe’s Playoff run in 2024 came to an end as he took his car to the garage and retired in 37th place. Briscoe’s DNF also ended the final Cup Series Playoff run for Stewart-Haas Racing.

“It’s tough,” Briscoe said after being released from the infield care center. “To have all that momentum that we had to come to an end and to have it come to an end like it did is definitely unfortunate. [I] Wish we could have kept going for [the title]. Just unfortunate. We still have a lot to race for. We still can go win four more races and that’s what we’re certainly trying to do.”

Two laps later, Byron pitted from inside the top five under green along with Ty Gibbs, Hemric, Chastain, Austin Dillon, Keselowski and Justin Haley. By then, Zane Smith, Truex, Stenhouse, Harrison Burton and John Hunter Nemechek had pitted. The leader Larson along with Bell and van Gisbergen would pit during the following lap as Bowman cycled into the lead.

Amid the pit stops, Suarez, who was engaged in a fierce battle that included bumps with Logano a few laps earlier, was forced off the course in the backstretch chicane after being bumped by Wallace, where Suarez came to a full stop before continuing. In addition, Zane Smith was spared from being penalized for cutting the frontstretch chicane earlier after he got bumped by Buescher.

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 50, Bowman, who came into the Roval 26 points above the top-eight cutline, notched his second Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Allmendinger followed suit along with Logano, Elliott and Wallace while Blaney, Cindric, Michael McDowell, Kyle Busch and Larson, who clinched his way into the Round of 8 by points, were scored in the top 10. With half of the remaining 11 Playoff contenders on the track racking up the second round of stage points, the remaining contenders including Hamlin, Bell, Suarez, Byron and Reddick were mired in 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 36th, respectively.

During the stage break, some led by Bowman and including teammate Elliott, Blaney and Suarez pitted while the rest led by Allmendinger remained on the track.

With 55 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced under green as Allmendinger and Logano occupied the front row. At the start, Allmendinger muscled ahead with the lead from the outside lane and led the field through the infield turns while Wallace overtook Logano for the runner-up spot. Cindric would track teammate Logano for third place as the field fanned out while navigating through Turn 7.

With the field navigating cleanly through the backstretch chicane, trouble occurred in the frontstretch chicane as Chastain, who was mired in the top 20, was hit by Keselowski as he spun his No. 1 Busch Light Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for a second time and collected Legacy Motor Club’s Nemechek and Erik Jones. Then as Ty Gibbs retired due to a transmission issue to his No. 54 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE, the caution returned during the following lap due to debris that came off of Nemechek’s damaged No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE in Turn 2.

During the caution period, Suarez, who was placed in a “must-win” situation to keep his Playoff hopes alive, pitted and the hood of his No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was lifted as his crew went to work to diagnose a brake issue. By then, Bell was officially ruled to be clinched into the Round of 8 based on points.

As the event restarted under green with 50 laps remaining, Allmendinger rocketed away from Wallace and Logano to retain the lead entering the first turn and through the infield turns. As Larson used the fresh tires to battle Cindric for fourth place, the field fanned out and was able to navigate through Turn 7 cleanly as Allmendinger maintained a reasonable gap between himself and Wallace through the oval turns and the backstretch chicane.

Allmendinger would proceed to lead the following lap while Reddick and Elliott battled for 23rd place and a spot into the Round of 8. Meanwhile, Hamlin, who struggled earlier in the event, was up to seventh place behind Playoff contenders Larson, Logano, Bell and Cindric as Reddick, who was in 23rd place, was tracking Elliott by five points in the current Playoff standings. As both Buescher and van Gisbergen were sent spinning separately in Turn 7 during the next lap, Allmendinger stretched his advantage to more than a second over Wallace before Larson overtook the latter with 47 laps remaining.

With 45 laps remaining, Allmendinger stabilized his advantage to a second over Larson as Bell trailed in third place by two seconds. With Wallace leading Playoff contenders Logano, Cindric, Byron and Hamlin on the track, McDowell and Kyle Busch rounded out the top 10 ahead of Hocevar, Truex, Keselowski, Gilliland and Stenhouse. Meanwhile, Playoff contenders Bowman, Blaney, Elliott, Reddick and Suarez were mired in 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st and 32nd, respectively, as Larson proceeded to cut Allmendinger’s advantage to four-tenths of a second during the next lap.

Then with 43 laps remaining, Larson used a bold move beneath Allmendinger while nearly getting sideways to move into the lead in Turn 7. Larson would proceed to lead Allmendinger through the ensuing oval turns, the backstretch chicane and the frontstretch chicane while Bell started to close in on Allmendinger from third place. Meanwhile, Reddick, who had regained his racing rhythm and was trying to carve his way back up the leaderboard since having his car repaired in the pits following his second stage incident in Turn 7, continued to trail Elliott in the Playoff standings by five points as he was mired in 19th place in front of Bowman while Elliott was just ahead of Reddick in 18th place.

With 38 laps remaining, Allmendinger pitted from the runner-up spot under green as he was followed by Cindric, Logano, Kyle Busch and Buescher. By then, McDowell had pitted a lap earlier as Larson was leading by more than three seconds over Bell. Wallace and his 23XI Racing teammate Reddick would then pit during the following lap along with Gragson before Byron, Hocevar, Elliott and Bowman pitted with 36 laps remaining. Despite enduring a slow pit service, Elliott managed to blend back on the track in front of Reddick as Reddick was separated from Elliott by four competitors.

As the field reached its final 34-lap mark, the leader Larson pitted under green along with Bell and Blaney. By then, Hamlin had pitted earlier as Larson exited pit road ahead of Bell, who endured a slow service. With nearly every competitor in the field having made a pit stop, Keselowski, who has yet to pit, was leading. Keselowski, however, would pit shortly after, which handed the lead back to Larson.

With 30 laps remaining, Larson was leading by more than six seconds over Austin Dillon as Bell, van Gisbergen and Allmendinger trailed in the top five. Meanwhile, Reddick, who was scored in 20th place, trailed the top-eight cutline by five points while Logano, who was in eighth place, occupied the final transfer spot. Meanwhile, Elliott was 12 points above the cutline as he was in 13th place while Hamlin, who was in 17th place, was ahead by nine points.

The following lap, the caution flew due to the left front wheel rolling off of Austin Dillon’s No. 3 BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 just past Turn 4 and right after Dillon had pitted under green, which resulted in Dillon being assessed a two-lap penalty. By then, Reddick trailed Logano in the standings by four points while Larson was leading by six seconds over Bell. During the caution period, some including Allmendinger, van Gisbergen, Reddick, Haley and Buescher pitted while the rest led by Larson remained on the track.

The start of the following restart period with 26 laps remaining featured Larson rocketing away from Bell, Byron and Cindric entering the first turn as Logano also tried to join the battle. As Larson led the field through the first four turns before navigating his way through the final three sets of infield turns, Larson slightly stretched his advantage over Bell through the oval’s backstretch and the backstretch chicane. As Playoff contenders Blaney and Hamlin were trying to navigate their way back into the top 10 on the track, Larson led the following lap while Reddick, who was mired in 24th place after he pitted, trailed the cutline by 12 points.

Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Larson continued to lead by more than a second over Bell as Playoff contenders Byron, Cindric, Elliott and Logano followed suit in the top six. With Logano losing fifth place on the track to Elliott not long ago, Reddick, who overtook Bowman for 19th place, trailed Logano in the standings by six points. Not long after, Reddick nearly got sideways as he bumped and sent Daniel Hemric for a spin in Turn 7. Amid the incident, Reddick continued in 18th place as he now trailed Logano by five points. Reddick would gain another point during the following lap as he overtook Stenhouse for 17th place and was trying to track McDowell for more.

With 15 laps remaining, Larson added an extra second to his advantage as he was leading by two seconds over Bell. Meanwhile, Reddick carved his way up to 15th place on the track, which placed him only two points behind Logano, who was still running in sixth place on the track, in the standings as he was trying to battle Kyle Busch for 14th place. Another lap later, however, Reddick’s deficit was cut to a single point as he overtook Busch’s No. 8 Lenovo Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for 14th place while Logano was being pressured by Allmendinger for sixth place.

Down to the final 11 laps of the event, Logano and Reddick were tied for the final transfer spot to the Round of 8 as Allmendinger overtook Logano’s No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse for sixth place through the backstretch on the track. Meanwhile, Reddick was trying to track down team owner Hamlin, who is only seven points above the cutline, for 13th place on the track as Logano owned the tie-breaker over Reddick. Logano and Reddick would remain in seventh and 14th, respectively, on the track for the following lap as Larson stabilized his advantage to two seconds over Bell.

Then with nine laps remaining, Reddick overtook Logano in the Playoff standings as he was in the final transfer into the Round of 8 by two points after he overtook Toyota teammates Truex and Hamlin from Turns 5 to 7. Meanwhile, Logano was still mired in seventh place and racing ahead of van Gisbergen, Wallace and Blaney while Reddick was trying to track down Hocevar for 11th place. Despite dropping to 13th place, Hamlin remained seven points above the cutline.

With five laps remaining, Larson stabilized his advantage to more than two seconds over Bell as Byron, Cindric and Elliott followed suit in the top five. Meanwhile, Logano was scored outside the top-eight cutline in the Playoff standings by four points as he was overtaken by van Gisbergen for seventh place on the track a few laps earlier while Reddick was up to 11th place. By then, Blaney and Elliott were also above the cutline by 18 and 14 points, respectively, while Bowman and Hamlin followed suit by eight and four points, respectively.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Larson remained as the leader by more than a second over Bell. As Larson proceeded to lap Suarez through the infield turns while Bell tried to close in, Larson was able to smoothly navigate his way out of the infield turns and through the final set of road course turns on the oval circuit as he then navigated through the frontstretch chicane and streaked across the finish line to claim the checkered flag by one-and-a-half seconds over Bell.

With the victory, Larson, who continues his pursuit for his second Cup Series championship ahead of the Round of 8’s commencement, achieved his sixth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2024 season. He also achieved the 29th Cup victory of his career, his second at the Charlotte Roval after winning his first in 2021 and his first victory since winning the Bristol Night Race three weeks ago.

The victory was also the 15th of the season for the Chevrolet nameplate and the 11th of the season for Hendrick Motorsports, with the organization notching its 25th Cup victory overall at Charlotte, as Larson racked up his 23rd victory while driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for team owner Rick Hendrick.

“It’s the first time in my Playoff career [that] I’ve not been like close to the [Playoff] cutline,” Larson, who celebrated with his daughter Audrey on the frontstretch, said on NBC. “It was good to kind of have a little bit of a stress-free of a weekend. I think the first time I’ve been here without crashing, maybe besides the other time we won. Good weekend. Obviously, we’re here at [owner Rick] Hendrick’s home and got so many of the people here from there, so [it’s] gonna be fun to celebrate with them. It’s known that I don’t really use the [simulator] much and I was in the Sim this week. Huge thank you, you guys. It really helped me get into a rhythm, I think, early on and help us fine-tune our car, too. Hats off to everybody there.”

As Larson continued his race-winning celebration in Victory Lane, Tyler Reddick, the 2024 Cup Series Regular Season Champion, was left relieved and smiling on pit road with his team owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin as he survived his roller coaster event by claiming the eighth and final transfer spot to the Round of 8 by four points with an 11th-place result at Charlotte. The result enabled Reddick and the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota team to maintain their championship hopes for another three weeks.

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“I thought I was going to flip [in Stage 2],” Reddick said. “This [car] was absolutely destroyed. Real hats off to everybody on this Monster Energy Toyota Camry [team]. This thing couldn’t go within four seconds of what the pace was and we just kept working on it, and we made it a lot better for Stage 3. This is how this place can be sometimes, but it’s really nice to pull this off. You just got to stay calm, got to stay focused. In those moments, man, it’s so easy to lose track of what you control. Either way, I was going to drive the car as fast as I could. It just worked out for us. This thing was able to get up back up through the field and get us to the good side of the cutline.”

Meanwhile, Logano, who recorded a race-high 17 stage points and came into Charlotte with a 13-point deficit to the cutline, was left disappointed as he fell four points shy of remaining in contention for a third Cup Series championship in 2024. This season marks the first time where Logano was eliminated from the Playoffs following the Round of 12 and it comes a year after he was eliminated following the Round of 16.

“We fought hard, for sure,” Logano said. “I think [crew chief] Paul [Wolfe] and the [No. 22] guys did a good job of executing the strategy and what we needed to do today. Just didn’t quite get enough there at the end. I fell off a little bit too much [on] that last run. Honestly, the No. 45 [team], Tyler [Reddick] and those guys did a good job [of] driving up through the field and scored more points. It’s hard not to think about Richmond a little bit right now. Just wasn’t meant to be. You can start looking back at different points in the season to gather four points pretty easily, but Talladega, we just didn’t do a good enough job there scoring stage points. It’s probably where a lot of it lies.”

Overall, Logano joins teammate Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez and Chase Briscoe as the next wave of four Playoff contenders to officially be eliminated from the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs.

“We had the speed and that’s the encouraging thing, that’s the exciting thing,” Cindric said. “Today, we needed it all. We had a great car. We had a great finish. All the things that are hard to do in a Cup race, we did all those things and capable of doing all those things in the two races prior [to Charlotte]. That’s what this [Playoff] format is. It’s difficult and for us having a better regular season, having bit better of a buffer can definitely help, but proud of everyone. Looking forward to trying to spoil some races and support our teammates to the rest.”

“We worked very hard for the last two weeks to prepare for this race,” Suarez said. “Honestly, [it was] probably the hardest I ever worked for one specific race and unfortunately, we don’t have anything to show for. Just wasn’t our day, but I can tell you something. I’m very proud of this group because we put in the work. I guarantee you something, nobody works harder to prepare for this race. Unfortunately, we don’t have anything to show for, but we have four more races and we’re going to go out there and give our best.”

On the contrary, Larson and Reddick join Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman as the remaining eight Playoff contenders who will continue the Playoff battle in the Round of 8, beginning next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Bell, Byron, Cindric and Elliott finished in the top five behind Larson at the Charlotte Roval while AJ Allmendinger, pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen, Logano, Bubba Wallace and Blaney completed the top 10 in the final running order. As Reddick finished 11th, the remaining Playoff contenders that include Hamlin, Bowman, Suarez and Briscoe ended up 14th, 18th, 31st and 37th, respectively.

There were seven lead changes for six different leaders. The race featured five cautions for 13 laps. In addition, 30 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results.

1. Kyle Larson, 62 laps led

2. Christopher Bell, one lap led

3. William Byron

4. Austin Cindric

5. Chase Elliott

6. AJ Allmendinger, 14 laps led

7. Shane van Gisbergen, 21 laps led

8. Joey Logano

9. Bubba Wallace

10. Ryan Blaney

11. Tyler Reddick, six laps led, Stage 1 winner

12. Carson Hocevar

13. Kyle Busch

14. Denny Hamlin

15. Michael McDowell

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

17. Chris Buescher

18. Alex Bowman, five laps led, Stage 2 winner

19. Todd Gilliland

20. Zane Smith

21. Harrison Burton

22. Martin Truex Jr.

23. Josh Berry

24. Brad Keselowski

25. Daniel Hemric

26. Ryan Preece

27. Justin Haley

28. Kaz Grala

29. Ross Chastain

30. Josh Bilicki

31. Daniel Suarez, one lap down

32. Noah Gragson, one lap down

33. Austin Dillon, two laps down

34. Erik Jones – OUT, Accident

35. John Hunter Nemechek – OUT, Accident

36. Ty Gibbs – OUT, Engine

37. Chase Briscoe – OUT, Accident

38. Corey LaJoie – OUT, Accident

*Bold indicates Playoff contenders

Playoff standings

1. Kyle Larson – Advanced

2. William Byron – Advanced

3. Christopher Bell – Advanced

4. Ryan Blaney – Advanced

5. Chase Elliott – Advanced

6. Alex Bowman – Advanced

7. Denny Hamlin – Advanced

8. Tyler Reddick – Advanced

9. Joey Logano – Eliminated

10. Austin Cindric – Eliminated

11. Daniel Suarez – Eliminated

12. Chase Briscoe – Eliminated

The Round of 8 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is set to occur next Sunday, October 20, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the South Point 400. The event’s broadcast time is slated to occur at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

‘Yung Money’ Banks Another ROVAL Victory

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Official Release

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October 13, 2024

Yung Money Banks Another ROVAL Victory — Kyle Larson celebrates after winning Sunday's Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The win was Larson's sixth of the NASCAR Cup Series season and the 29th of his career. (HHP/Harold Hinson photo)

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2024) – One of the world’s best racing drivers delivered a virtuoso performance on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, dominated his NASCAR Cup Series competitors and earned a convincing win in the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

Larson beat runner-up Christopher Bell to the checkered flag by 1.511 seconds on the reconfigured 17-turn, 2.28-mile circuit for his second career ROVAL™ victory and his sixth win of the season. William Byron was third, followed by Austin Cindric in fourth and Chase Elliott in fifth.

After Larson’s previous ROVAL™ victory in 2021, Larson went on to win his only NASCAR Cup Series championship.

After the cutoff race to enter the Round of 8, Larson, Bell, Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Stage 2 winner Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin and regular season champion Tyler Reddick advanced into the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series championship playoffs with four races remaining. William Byron secured advancement prior to Sunday’s race.

Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez were eliminated from championship contention following the race. All four eliminated drivers were below the playoff threshold entering the race. Logano missed out to Reddick, the Stage 1 winner, by four points for the final spot in the Round of 8.

With Larson leading a race-high 62 laps, much of the late drama centered on the race between Reddick and Logano for the final advancement spot. Even though Logano finished eighth and Reddick ended up 11th, Reddick’s 14-point advantage entering the race proved to be just enough cushion to keep his championship dreams alive.

Reddick was hampered early in the second stage when he bumped into Hamlin going around the treacherous new Turn 7, and suffered some crippling mechanical damage. With fresh tires and solid pit work entering Stage 3, Reddick managed to work his way through the field enough to keep his championship dreams alive.

Larson completed the 109 laps in 3 hours, 0 minutes and 3 seconds for an average speed of 82.817 mph on his way to his 29th career NASCAR Cup Series win. Six drivers exchanged the lead seven times, with five caution periods taking up 13 laps.

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (RACE WINNER): “It was cool to win here at home and have everyone here in Victory Lane celebrating. The crew’s families and kids, that’s what makes it special to win in Charlotte. It was a great day. Hendrick Motorsports is just two minutes away. It makes it great when you can win here. Everyone sacrifices so much time, when they have these photos from today it’ll be great for them to look back on. It’s extra special to win here for sure.

“[There are] no statements that we’re trying to send. I think the field knows we are strong. It’s nice to win and gain five more points into the next round. I’m excited to get through today and help ourselves in the next round.”

CLIFF DANIELS, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (WINNING CREW CHIEF): “We have a strong amount of respect for all the teams in the Round of 8. I think our No. 1 competitor is ourselves. Yes, the competition is going to be there. We need to stay tunnel visioned. The opening race in each round haven’t been kind to us. It’s going to take handling the little details. The No. 5 is always the beneficiary of the other three teams working together so well. It always evolves. I’ve been thankful to be in this position with Kyle and the No. 5 team. We’ve been surrounded by some great leadership along the way. Having four teams in the Round of 8 doesn’t happen by accident. I’m very thankful to be a part of it.

[Larson has] had the intensity and desire to be as good as ever right now. He was very determined to go in [the simulator]. I was the one trying to get him out of it. He wanted to find the cadence of hitting each corner. He came in with a mission that day and it certainly paid off. … Phoenix, for Hendrick Motorsports, started the day after Phoenix last year. It hurt last year to get beat for the championship. The day after that race, we started coming up with plans [to win].”

RICK HENDRICK, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (WINNING TEAM OWNER): “You always talk about getting them into the Round of 8, but it’s so hard to do. You saw people above and below [the cutline] have trouble. The next three tracks are very good for us. Kyle set a blistering pace and we got everyone into the next round. Every year, you want to get better and better. Our teams have been better together. Bill France said, ‘Your mind will take you places your body won’t go,’ and I’m getting there. I’m living a dream. Nothing fuels you more than getting to that championship race and not winning.

“Every race this year, we’ve been looking toward Phoenix. We talked about it in the off-season, early in the season, and now, we want to finish the job. … Having all four in the final eight was the goal and we accomplished it. Now, we have to go out and win races and do the best we can. I’m thinking about the next three races right now.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, NO. 20 JOE GIBBS RACING TOYOTA (RUNNER-UP): “It was good but not great. It’s weird. You wouldn’t think dirty air is a big deal on these road courses but it is. Hopefully, we get a re-do in Phoenix.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (THIRD PLACE): “It was kind of all we had. It was a good day, but I definitely wanted more. It feels good [to finish third]. I mean, we’ve always been pretty good in this round. The way it’s laid out, I really don’t know why, but we’ve executed really well and not made many mistakes. That’s the key and I feel like in this next round, continuing to bring more speed will be critical. We’ll see where we are from there.”

Additional Quotes:

FIFTH PLACE: CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET: “Really proud of everyone in Hendrick Motors[ports to have four of the last eight standing. I hope everyone is really proud because that’s a hard thing to do. Obviously I’d love to win the race but I was pretty proud of that effort. We had to take the stage points but you put yourself in an uphill battle. Glad to be moving on. You get to the Round of 8, it’s anyone’s ballgame.”

EIGHTH PLACE: JOEY LOGANO, NO. 22 TEAM PENSKE FORD: “We fought hard, for sure. We just didn’t get quite enough at the end. Tyler did a good job going up through the field. Congrats to them, they fought hard. It just wasn’t meant to be. You can think through the season and find four points in a lot of places.”

10TH PLACE: RYAN BLANEY, NO. 12 TEAM PENSKE FORD: “We were in a decent spot coming into the game. We did the stage-point game. Appreciate everyone on this No. 12 team. I look forward to the next three weeks. I think they line up for us well.”

11TH PLACE: TYLER REDDICK, NO. 45 23XI Racing TOYOTA: “Me and my boss [Hamlin] got together [in the second stage]. This thing was absolutely destroyed. A big thank you to the team. We kept working on it and got it better for Stage 3. You just have to stay calm and focused. It’s so easy to lose track of what you can control. It just worked out for us and got us to the good side of the cutline.”

14TH PLACE: DENNY HAMLIN, NO. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing TOYOTA: “Seven is the same as 100. It’s such a tough spot to be in when you were up like we were. You can’t be as aggressive as you want to but you can’t give away positions, either. Great job by our team.”

TICKETS:

Tickets to upcoming speedway events, including the Nov. 6-9 World of Outlaws World Finals, are available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

MORE INFO:

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CHEVROLET NCS: Larson Drives Chevrolet to Fourth-Straight Win of the Season at the Charlotte ROVAL

By

Official Release

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October 13, 2024

NASCAR CUP SERIES
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY R.C.
ROUND OF 12: ELIMINATION RACE
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
OCT. 13, 2024

Larson Drives Chevrolet to Fourth-Straight Win of the Season at the Charlotte ROVAL
Four Team Chevy Drivers Advance to the Round of Eight

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10:
POS. DRIVER
1st – Kyle Larson
3rd – William Byron
5th – Chase Elliott
6th – AJ Allmendinger
7th – Shane van Gisbergen

WITH 32 NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES COMPLETE:
Wins: 15
Poles: 10
Top-five Finishes: 63
Top-10 Finishes: 129
Stage Wins: 22

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson drove Chevrolet to its fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season in the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. The victory – Larson’s sixth this season and 29th all-time in the division – marks his second trip to victory lane at the North Carolina circuit, with his first coming in his championship-earning season.
The 32-year-old Elk Grove, California, native delivered Chevrolet its 15th NASCAR Cup Series victory this season; its fifth win in seven NASCAR Cup Series races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course; and its 866th all-time in NASCAR’s top division – all of which are series-leading feats.
The victory marks Chevrolet’s 10th victory in 15 road course races in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen era – recorded by six drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations.
Entering the NASCAR Cup Series’ Round of Eight, Chevrolet leads its manufacturer competitors with four drivers continuing in title contention, with Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates – William Byron, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman – advancing following the conclusion of the elimination race.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 1st

“It was a great day, for sure. This place has not been easy on me. This is probably the most difficult track out of the road courses for me. I put in a lot of work this week; a lot of studying and a few hours in the sim. It’s cool to win here with Cliff’s (Daniel, crew chief) family and everybody’s family. Just a great day for the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy team. Execution from start to finish was amazing.”

Was it easy for you, or was it as easy as it looked?

“Honestly, there at the end, it wasn’t as easy as I was expecting. I felt like when (Christopher) Bell was behind me earlier….once we got to a certain point of the run, I could really pull away. Then there at the end, he was really matching me, and I was driving pretty hard. So, I was nervous that I was going to start fading some more and he was going to get better and get close to me. But thankfully, I could push a little bit and get some time back in other areas where I was good. We just had a great race car, a comfortable race car, which is what you need here. A lot more comfort than I have had in the past.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 VALVOLINE CONFETTI CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 3rd

How was that race from your perspective?

“It was an OK day for the No. 24 Valvoline Confetti Chevy team. I feel like the whole day, we were just trying to find a little bit more pace. We could get better in some areas, and then other areas, we just struggled. It seemed like the back chicane, we just struggled changing direction there. It was kind of all we had. It was a good day, but we definitely wanted more. We just weren’t quite good enough.”

Next week is certainly a different track. Moving into the next round with a third-place finish has to be good momentum..

“Yeah, it feels good. We’ve always been pretty good in this round. The way it’s laid out, I don’t really know why, but we’ve just executed really well and not made many mistakes. That’s the key and I feel like in this next round, trying to continue to build more speed will be critical, and we’ll kind of see where we are from there.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 UNIFIRST CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 5th

What does this say about your team and how prepared you were in 2024?

“Yeah, really, really proud of the effort today by this No. 9 UniFirst Chevy team. We put ourselves in the worst possible position you could for a good finish. To get back into the top-five there, it was definitely a solid day. It’s nice to get through to the Round of Eight. There was a little bit of craziness here and there, but it’s nice to make it happen.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 18th

You advanced to the Round of Eight. You have to be pretty pumped about that, right?

“Yeah, for sure. It’s hard to be pumped after running 18th at, what I would say, is one of my better or best racetracks. But at the same time, it feels really good to have all four Hendrick Motorsports Chevy’s make the Round of Eight. It’s really cool for Ally to get them this far. We’re going to keep on digging.”

DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 31 CIRKUL CAMARO ZL1

Finished: 25th

“Not the finish we wanted today. We had a really good No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet, on top of a solid strategy by [crew chief] Trent Owens. Unfortunately, we got spun and never caught a caution to get new tires.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 CHOICE PRIVILEGES CAMARO ZLE

Finished: 31st

Is there disappointed that your team didn’t make the playoffs, or is this just something to build off of?

“Honestly, the fact that we’re out of the playoffs, that hurts a little bit. But for me personally, it hurts way more the way we got eliminated. This entire No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevy team works really hard to bring really fast racecars to the track each weekend. This weekend, we just didn’t have it. I feel like we were going to make a little headway and we were right there, and then we had brake issues.

It’s just painful. It’s painful to be out the of the playoffs this way.. that’s the part that’s more painful than anything. If we would have finished fifth and I was out of the playoffs, I would be happy. We worked really hard, but for some reason it didn’t show today.”

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

NHRA AT DALLAS: Team Chevy Race Report | Notes & Quotes

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Official Release

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October 13, 2024

CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX
ENNIS, TEXAS
TEAM CHEVY RACE REPORT | NOTES & STATS
OCTOBER 13, 2024

TEAM CHEVY FACES TOUGH TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS IN DALLAS WITH JOHN FORCE RACING

Jeg Coughlin, Jr. Captured Chevrolet’s 399th Wally trophy since 1970 in Pro Stock, with Greg Stanfield Capturing the Factory X Victory at Texas Motorplex

Notes:

Jeg Coughlin, Jr. defeated Greg Anderson to claim Chevrolet’s 399th Pro Stock victory since 1970. Coughlin, Jr.’s win Sunday was the 106th victory of his career and this of 2024.
Austin Prock, driver of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, raced to the semifinal round of Sunday’s Texas NHRA Fall Nationals after claiming his 13th No. 1 qualifier this season but didn’t make the run after facing issues on the burnout versus Ron Capps.
Despite the early exit to his FallNationals, Prock still maintains the Championship standings lead heading into the penultimate event of the 2024 season, the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nov. 1-3.
Brittany Force, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, raced to Round 2 after claiming her 50th career No. 1 qualifier at the Texas Motorplex, but fell to Tony Schumacher.
Prock raced his 13th also this season, tying J. Force with the most Funny Car No. 1 qualifiers in a single season. Additionally, Prock’s run of 3.813 seconds E.T. at 333.09 mph set a new track record Friday night in Q2 at Texas Motorplex, and was the eighth quickest Funny Car run in NHRA history, the best since 2017.
B. Force raced to her 50th career NHRA No. 1 qualifier with her stout Q2 run of 3.667 seconds E.T. at 338.19 mph Friday night.
Jack Beckman, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, faced vertigo-like symptoms Sunday morning that did not subside and was unable to compete in Sunday’s Texas NHRA FallNationals. Heading into race day Sunday, Beckman had qualified No. 3 and was competing on behalf of team owner and 16-time champion John Force in the Countdown to the Championship.
Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, captured his sixth No. 1 qualifier of 2024 and 130th of his career after his Friday evening Q2 run of 6.524 seconds E.T. at 208.99 mph held strongly through Saturday’s sessions to take the top spot.
Greg Stanfield, in his Chevrolet COPO Camaro, defeated Jesse Alexandra to claim the Holley EFI Factory X Wally trophy during the Texas NHRA FallNationals.

Quotes:

AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE AAA/CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“I honestly don’t know what to say. This isn’t the end we had planned for our weekend with the AAA Camaro. My foot went all the way to the floor, so there was a good chance it broke the throttle cable or that the throttle link had disconnected. It was a quick disconnect. It was activated by ai, and I stopped and noticed that the throttle arm was moving and there was no change in RPM. So, I got on the radio, told them what was going on, and we tried reconnecting it, but we weren’t able to.”

CHRIS CUNNINGHAM, CREW CHIEF OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“It is unfortunate for our PEAK team and our championship hopes, but we’ve been through this before and we are not giving up. This is what was best for Jack (Beckman) and his health. That comes first.”

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“Amazing effort from my HendrickCars.com team this entire weekend! Our car ran strong through qualifying, and we earned my 50th No. 1 qualifier. On race day, our performance remained strong, making two solid passes but the second round resulted in a hole shot loss which as a driver, weighs a lot because I must admit I let my team down. This is something I will continue to work on and aim to improve in Las Vegas. Our team does not quit. We will pull ourselves out of our most challenging season with a positive note on the west coast.”

Up Next:

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Nov. 1-3 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals. Eliminations air Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage of qualifying and the race stream live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Bank of America ROVAL 400

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Official Release

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October 13, 2024

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

AJ Allmendinger qualified third for the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
On the opening lap, Allmendinger fell to fourth but battled hard with the No. 45 on the next lap for third place. He remained quiet on the radio, and the team came to pit road under green on lap 18 for a scheduled four tires and fuel stop. After pitting, Allmendinger saved his tires and finished the first stage in eighth place.
The No. 16 stayed out during the stage break and restarted in third place for Stage 2. The caution came on lap 36, and Allmendinger reported from third place his Chevy was loose. Allmendinger came to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help the handling of his car. He restarted in 19th place on lap 38 and drove up to fifth by lap 47. As the leaders came to pit road, Allmendinger took over second place, where he finished the second stage.
After staying out during the stage break, Allmendinger restarted the final stage in first place. He maintained position, reporting he fired off sideways, until the caution came on lap 56. The team stayed out under caution to restart in first on lap 59. On lap 66, Allmendinger took over second place after battling with the No. 5. The team came to pit road for a scheduled green flag pit stop on lap 70. As the field continued to cycle through, Allmendinger was scored in fifth on lap 77. The caution came on lap 81; Allmendinger was scored in third. He came to pit road for tires and fuel to restart in 23rd on lap 83. Within 10 laps, Allmendinger had taken over the seventh position. He went on to finish in sixth place.

“Really, really good day and weekend for out No. 16 team. Andrew [Dickeson] and the 16 crew did a great job preparing the car. We had good speed weekend. Didn’t quite have enough to be the No. 5 or No. 20 so we tried something different with strategy. We knew it would be an up hill battle from there but it was a lot of fun passing all those cars and bringing home a sixth place finish.” – AJ Allmendinger

SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 13 WeatherTech Camaro ZL1

Shane van Gisbergen qualified on the pole for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 securing Kaulig Racing’s first NASCAR Cup Series pole position.
Van Gisbergen maintained a 1.700-second lead on the field, as he worked on perfecting his entry and exits through the 17 turn course. The No. 13 team opted to pit on lap 22 for fresh tires and fuel, re-entering the field sixth with two laps remaining in the stage. The No. 13 WeatherTech Chevrolet took the green and white checkered flag sixth to end the first stage.
The No. 13 WeatherTech team started the second stage second. From the start of the stage, Van Gisbergen battled to catch the leader. A caution came out on lap 36, and the No. 13 opted to stay out and restarted second with 11 laps remaining in the stage. Van Gisbergen dropped to third on the first lap of the restart as he battled for the remainder of the stage to catch the leaders. Reporting his WeatherTech Chevy Camaro was lacking rear grip, the No. 13 team opted to pit for fresh tires, fuel and adjustments, with three laps remaining the stage. Van Gisbergen re-entered the field 16th and completed the stage 15th.
The No. 13 WeatherTech team opted to stay out to start the final stage. Van Gisbergen took the green flag in 11th. The caution quickly came out on lap 56 of the race, and No. 13 team chose to stay out, restarting the stage 12th with 50 laps remaining in the race. On lap 62, Van Gisbergen was spun by a competitor in turn 7, dropping Van Gisbergen back to 23rd. Van Gisbergen re-entered the top 20 with 39 laps remaining in the race. He climbed into the top 10, reaching seventh with 35 laps remaining. A caution flew with 28 laps remaining in the event, and the No. 13 opted to come to pit road for fresh tires and fuel. Van Gisbergen restarted the final stage in 24th with 26 laps remaining in the race. He quickly worked his way into 17th, just two laps into the restart. The No. 13 WeatherTech Chevrolet worked its way back into the top 10 with 16 laps remaining in the event. Van Gisbergen battled to gain more positions and ultimately took the checkered flag seventh.

“Well that wasn’t the day we were hoping for, but this track was really fun! My WeatherTech Chevrolet was fast, and we started there on the pole, which was really cool and even led most of the laps there in Stage One. Wish we could’ve gotten a better result but proud of my Kaulig Racing team and all the hard work they put in to preparing for this weekend! Get to Cup Race again next weekend in Las Vegas, so looking forward to that.” – Shane van Gisbergen

DANIEL HEMRIC
No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

Daniel Hemric qualified 27th for the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
By lap five, Hemric began steadily improving, recording top-15 lap times in the No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet. He short-pitted the stage for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment, before finishing 28th in the first stage.
Hemric started the second stage from 21st place. The first non-stage caution of the day came out on lap 35 for debris on the track. Hemric pitted for four tires, fuel and a left-rear adjustment, before restarting 29th. Avoiding a spin on the restart, Hemric made his way into the top 20 in the No. 31 Cirkul Chevy. Short-pitting from 17th, he went on to finish the second stage in 26th place.
Hemric stayed out during the second stage break to start the final stage from 17th. As green-flag pit stops began, Hemric made it as high as ninth, before pitting on lap 76 for tires and fuel. When a caution came out on lap 81, Hemric stayed out and restarted 18th. On lap 89, the No. 45 dove under the 31, spinning him in the process. The race remained green, as Hemric dropped back to 30th place, hoping for a caution. The caution never fell, but Hemric was able to work his way back up to 25th, where he finished the race.

“Not the finish we wanted today. We had a really good No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet, on top of a solid strategy by [crew chief] Trent Owens. Unfortunately, we got spun and never caught a caution to get new tires.” – Daniel Hemric

About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Toyota Racing – NCS Charlotte ROVAL Post-Race Report – 10.13.24

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Official Release

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October 13, 2024

THREE TOYOTA DRIVERS IN THE ROUND OF 8
Bell clinches early, while Hamlin and Reddick battle through adversity to claim their spots

CONCORD, N.C. (October 13, 2024) – Three Toyota drivers advanced to the Round of 8 with their results at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday evening. Christopher Bell clinched his spot early in the final stage and finished second – his series-leading 20th top-10 finish of the season.

Toyota’s two other drivers in the Playoffs – Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick – both had to battle through adversity after a mid-race incident, as both spent time below the cutline. However, after work on pit road, both Hamlin and Reddick were able to earn top-15 finishes, which was enough to move them on in the Round of 8.

Going into the next round, Bell is the two seed, 13 points above the cutline, Tyler Reddick is third overall, 10 points to the good, while Hamlin is sixth, eight points out – with Las Vegas Motor Speedway next up.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
Race 32 of 36 – 109 Laps, 252.88 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Kyle Larson*
2nd, CHRISTOPHER BELL
3rd, William Bryon*
4th, Austin Cindric*
5th, Chase Elliott*
9th, BUBBA WALLACE
11th, TYLER REDDICK
14th, DENNY HAMLIN
22nd, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
34th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
35th, ERIK JONES
36th, TY GIBBS
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

How does this result feel?

“It feels alright. It feels good – I’ll be honest. Happy for this DEWALT Toyota team. We had a goal today to win the race, and that’s what we came here to do, and it was close – me and the 5 (Kyle Larson) seemed like we were pretty evenly matched once we got out to our equal spacing. I would make a bad lap, and he would pull away, and he would make a bad lap, and I would close in. Hopefully, we get a redo in Phoenix.

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 9th

Strong qualifying effort led into a strong run today. Can you talk about your race?

“What a good day. What a good weekend really. Just a solid day. We showed up with a lot of speed. I look at the track record here, and we run pretty decent here. It is just execution, hard work put in. All-in-all good day for our Leidos Toyota Camry, just have to keep it going.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 11th

You won stage one and then had to recover from the incident early in stage two. I think you get the big air award for that.

“Yeah, I thought I was going to flip, but I think I was behind the 19 (Martin Truex Jr.) – trying to work the move to the inside. I got clear of him – I saw the 3 (Austin Dillon) spun and everyone on the binders coming to a stop, and of course, me and my boss (Denny Hamlin) get together. It was like I was going to do a front flip – this thing was absolutely destroyed. Huge props to everyone on this Monster Energy Toyota Camry. This thing couldn’t go within four seconds of what the pace was, and we just kept working on it. We were a lot better in stage three. This is how this place can be sometimes, but it is really nice to pull this off.”

What is it like for you watching your team work on the car under the clock?

“It is tough. You just have to stay calm. You just have to stay focused. In those moments, it is so easy to lose control. Either way, I was going to drive the car as fast as I could. It just worked out for us that this thing was able to get back through the field and get us to the good side of the cut line.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 14th

Seven points to the good. Can you talk about your race?

“Seven is the same as 100 (laughter). It is such a tough spot to be in, when you are up like we were because the only thing that can hurt you is a really detrimental day, so you can’t be as aggressive as you really want to, but you can’t bleed a bunch of track position either. Great job by this whole Sport Clips Toyota team. Chris Gabehart (crew chief) and the team did an awesome job of keeping us in it, and luckily, we were able to come away with a top-15 there.”

What did you think of the start of stage two with the incident?

“Really, the biggest thing – it just messed up the alignment and bent the toe link or something in the rear. We lost some car speed there with that, but glad it didn’t lead to a detrimental day, and now these tracks coming up – now we race.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Ryan Blaney Advances to Playoff Round of 8 (Charlotte ROVAL Post Race Quotes)

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Official Release

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October 13, 2024

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series | Post Race
Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Sunday, October 13, 2024

UNOFFICIAL FORD FINISHING RESULTS

4th – Austin Cindric
8th – Joey Logano
10th – Ryan Blaney
15th – Michael McDowell
17th – Chris Buescher
19th – Todd Gilliland
21st – Harrison Burton
23rd – Josh Berry
24th – Brad Keselowski
26th – Ryan Preece
28th – Kaz Grala
30th – Josh Bilicki
32nd – Noah Gragson
37th – Chase Briscoe

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 10th | Advanced to Round of 8)

“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.”

WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?

“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.”

ANOTHER YEAR YOU HAVE ADVANCED TO THE ROUND OF 8:

“I definitely think we have been lucky to have a good group behind me, and each Round of 8 has kind of been with a whole different group of people. First it was Todd Gordon and then Jeremy Bullins, and now Jonathan Hassler and I have been able to win races with those guys and get to the Round of 8 to get a shot at Phoenix. It was nice to do it last year to just get there and then to perform well. It is all about the hard work from the fellas on the 12 group and I am lucky to work with really good people and I am excited. I hate it though that Austin and Joey didn’t advance. I guess the 22 is in on owners points but I would have loved to have all three of us still in it, but we will keep fighting.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Menards/Sylvania Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 4th | Eliminated from Playoffs)

THAT WAS YOUR BEST FINISH SINCE YOUR WIN AT GATEWAY, WHAT MORE DID YOU NEED?

“A better performance and finishes at Talladega and Kansas. 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.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 8th | Eliminated from Playoffs)

WHAT IS THE SENTIMENT NOW KNOW HOW HARD YOU FOUGHT AND CAME UP JUST SHORT OF ADVANCING?

“Yeah, we fought hard for sure. Paul and the guys did a good job executing the strategy of what we needed to do today. We just didn’t get quite enough at the end there. We fell off a little too much that last run. Honestly, the 45, Tyler, and those guys did a good job driving up through the field and scored more points. It is hard not to think about Richmond a little bit right now. The positive of it is that we are still in the owners championship, so we can confuse all the fans from here on out about drivers and owners championships. The money is in the owners, so we will keep fighting for the money.”

LISTENING TO YOUR RADIO, COLEMAN WAS GIVING YOU UPDATES OF WHERE TYLER WAS, DID YOU FEEL HELPLESS?

“A bit of it is, yeah. Tires were coming behind you with two of the best with AJ (Allmending) and SVG coming at me. I was just trying to maintain the best I could and honestly was praying for a caution because that was the only thing that could stir it up enough to where a lot of what-ifs can happen. Congrats to them. They fought hard, changing toe links and all that and were still able to make it. It just wasn’t meant to be. You can start looking back at different points in the season to gather four points pretty easily. One race in particular. Talladega we didn’t do a good enough job scoring Stage points and that is where a lot of it lies.”

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 Ford Performance Racing School Ford Mustang Dark Horse

(Retired early due to damage on Lap 41 | Eliminated from playoffs)

“It is 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 is 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 is four really good tracks for us so I feel really good about it. I wish we were racing for a championship still. It is just one of those days. Honestly, kind of one of those weeks with everything that has happened. I am ready for Monday.”

WHAT ARE YOUR EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW AS YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES COME TO AN END?

“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 is coming to an end. I know what that means for Stewart-Haas not to be racing for a championship anymore. That was keeping a lot of people, honestly, in the building. Hopefully, the repercussions aren’t too bad, but we have four races left, and we are going to give it everything we’ve got.”

WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE?

“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 7 we all kind of get 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 front stretch chicane, I hit the 3 car just because I literally couldn’t turn. It is an unfortunate way for it to all come to an end. It is 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.”

YOU’VE EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST OF HIGHS THIS WEEK AND THE LOWEST OF LOWS?

“Yeah, it has definitely been a tough week with the highest of highs but then everything that Marissa 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 okay. I would have loved to keep racing for a championship. It is unfortunate that 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.”

Rick Ware Racing: Bank of America Roval 400 from Charlotte

By

Official Release

-

October 13, 2024

RICK WARE 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 (2.32-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)

RWR Race Finish:

● Kaz Grala (Started 31st, Finished 28th / Running, completed 109 of 109 laps)
● Corey LaJoie (Started 28th, Finished 38th / Engine, completed 3 of 109 laps)

RWR Points:

● Corey LaJoie (31st with 457 points)
● Kaz Grala (35th with 187 points)

RWR Notes:

● This was Grala’s first NASCAR Cup Series start at The Roval.
● This was LaJoie’s sixth NASCAR Cup Series start at The Roval. His best finish remains 12th, earned in October 2022.

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 at 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:

“It was such a long race and, in these cars, you’re working hard every lap. I’m not sure what else we could’ve done. Our balance was just a little too far off at the end but it really just comes down to track position on the road courses, and we never quite had the chance to take advantage of that.” – Kaz Grala, driver of the No. 15 Meat N’ Bone Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“I hate that our day ended so soon. I would’ve liked to have given the folks from Schluter Systems more of a race to enjoy. Just wasn’t out day. We’ve got a good group of guys and three more races to show what we can do.” – Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 51 Schluter Systems 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 race begins at 2:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR to Expand Campus Lab Program Starting Next Semester at Winston-Salem State University

By

Official Release

-

October 13, 2024

The Initiative Launched in 2023 at Daytona-based HBCU Campus will be Available in Florida and North Carolina Starting in 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2024) – After a successful kick-off semester at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, NASCAR announced today the expansion of the Campus Lab Program. Starting in the spring semester of 2025, students at Winston-Salem State University will also have the opportunity to join the program that targets highly motivated students interested in pursuing careers in the fast-paced sports industry and will provide them with hands-on experience through a specialized curriculum.

“The goal of the NASCAR Campus Lab Program is to provide exposure to the motorsports industry, and we were able to accomplish that over the past year and a half since launching the program”, said Caryn Grant, Senior Director of NASCAR Diversity and Inclusion. “As a result, we’ve introduced career opportunity, experience and guidance that has positively impacted participants, including a student from the inaugural cohort at Bethune-Cookman University who earned a spot in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and was then hired at NASCAR. We look forward to continuing to develop future professionals at Winston-Salem State University and making a similar impact.”

Winston-Salem State University is located in North Carolina. It is the only HBCU and only public university to offer a motorsports management degree program. Currently, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rajah Caruth is a full-time student at WSSU pursuing a degree in motorsports management. He made history earlier this year as the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race.

Students accepted to the NASCAR Campus Lab Program will get real-world experience developing a marketing activation while managing a set budget provided by NASCAR, compete in a case study competition, get a behind-the-scenes view of careers throughout the industry, be paired with a mentor from NASCAR’s Black employee resource group, and receive resume and interview tips from human resources professionals.

Upon completion of the program, NASCAR will provide participating students with a scholarship prize, and at least one eligible student will earn a spot in the highly competitive NASCAR Diversity Internship Program for the upcoming summer. NDIP was launched in 2000 and since then more than 500 college students have participated in the industry’s longest-running diversity initiative.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with NASCAR in establishing this innovative campus lab, which will provide our students with hands-on exposure to the motorsports industry,” said WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown. “This partnership opens the door to unique career opportunities, allowing our students to engage in STEM fields, business, and marketing. Together, we’re breaking new ground and paving the way for a more diverse future in racing while positioning our students for successful careers in the motorsports industry.”

The NASCAR Campus Lab Program is open to sophomores and juniors at Winston-Salem State University within the college of arts, sciences, business and education who have a demonstrated interest in working in the sports industry. Applications for the spring 2025 cohort will open October 8 and close November 1.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X and Snapchat.

About Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. It is ranked the No. 1 university in North Carolina for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment. For more information, visit www.wssu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Unlocking Power: The Ultimate Guide to EGR Delete for Duramax

By

SM

-

October 13, 2024

When it comes to optimizing the performance of your Duramax diesel engine, few upgrades spark as much conversation as the EGR delete. If you’re serious about maximizing horsepower, lowering exhaust gas temperatures, and keeping your engine running smoothly, an EGR delete might be on your radar. But what exactly is an EGR delete, and how does it impact your truck’s overall performance? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about EGR deletes, why they’re so popular among diesel enthusiasts, and most importantly, how to approach this upgrade the right way. From understanding the key components to investing in quality parts, we’ve got you covered.

Dynovox offers a specially curated collection of EGR delete kits designed specifically for Duramax trucks. Whether you’re looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly kit or a premium package, we’ve got the right option to match your needs.

Explore Our Duramax EGR Delete Kits

What You’ll Need for an EGR Delete on Your Duramax

Upgraded Up Pipe
The first thing you’ll need is an upgraded up pipe, often referred to as the LB7 up pipe. This pipe has a small leg that bypasses the EGR cooler and sends the exhaust directly to the turbo.
Cold Side Intake Tube
You’ll also need a 3-inch cold side intake tube, which connects to an upgraded Y-bridge.
Y-Bridge
An upgraded Y-bridge is essential for improving airflow after the EGR delete.
Heater Hose and Clamps
Finally, you’ll need a ½-inch heater hose and two clamps to bypass the EGR cooler, which will no longer be necessary after the delete.

What is the EGR System and What Does It Do?

EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It’s a system found on almost every vehicle, except for certain models like the first-generation Duramax (LB7). The EGR system introduces exhaust gases back into the intake manifold, where they are burned a second time before exiting through the exhaust as cleaner emissions. This is designed to reduce pollutants and protect the environment.

So, What Does an EGR Delete Do?

The EGR delete essentially stops the recirculation of exhaust gases back into the engine. Once the exhaust is burned, it’s sent straight out of the system, which helps reduce the load on the engine. This also prevents carbon build-up in the engine, improving overall performance. One thing to note is that EGR deletes are illegal in all 50 states and should only be used for off-road purposes. However, it’s your vehicle, and ultimately, it’s up to you.

Explore Our Duramax EGR Delete Kits

The EGR Delete Kit: What’s Inside?

Now let’s talk about the EGR system parts you’ll be dealing with and how they work together. The EGR cooler cools the exhaust gases before they’re recirculated into the engine. You also have the EGR valve, which regulates the air being reintroduced. Over time, the EGR valve gets clogged with soot and grime, reducing airflow and negatively affecting performance.

I have some parts of the EGR system here to show you what it looks like. First, the Y-bridge sits in the valley of your engine and connects to the intake. It can get clogged with nasty build-up over time. In my case, after 150,000 miles, I had about a quarter of an inch of thick build-up in the Y-bridge. This gunk re-enters your engine and can cause all kinds of problems.

Why Should You Consider an EGR Delete?

When you perform an EGR delete, all that soot and carbon build-up will be eliminated. Instead of reintroducing exhaust gases back into your intake system, they’re expelled right out through the exhaust. This not only prevents internal engine contamination but also improves overall engine efficiency.

Once you block off the EGR system using a blocker plate, the exhaust gases no longer pass through the cooler or valve. However, be aware that installing a blocker plate will trigger a check engine light. To get rid of this, you’ll need to install a high-flow cold-side charge pipe and possibly consider tuning your engine with EFI Live or another custom tuning option. The tuning will help trick your engine’s computer into thinking the EGR system is still functioning properly.

Don’t Skimp on Quality!

Don’t buy the EGR delete kits without considering quality. The kits you might find on aftermarket for $98–$150 aren’t worth it. Sure, they might save you a few bucks, but they’re prone to causing problems like cracked up pipes, exhaust leaks, and boost leaks over time. You’ll end up spending more money fixing these issues than you would if you invested in a higher-quality kit in the first place.

I’ve seen a lot of people make this mistake, and trust me, it’s not worth the headache. Once you block off the EGR cooler and install the up pipe, you’ll be adding extra pressure to the system. Cheap kits won’t be able to handle this pressure for long, and you’ll eventually end up with cracked bellows or leaks.

Your Best Option: Upgraded Y-Bridge and High-Flow Charge Pipe

If you’re going to do an EGR delete, do it right. The best approach is to upgrade to a high-quality Y-bridge, which allows for better airflow. The upgraded Y-bridge is a bulletproof solution that improves engine breathing and reduces the chances of boost leaks. Paired with a high-flow charge pipe, you’ll see improvements in exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs) and turbo spool-up times, though the difference won’t be extreme.

Explore Our Duramax EGR Delete Kits

Conclusion

An EGR delete can be a great upgrade for your Duramax, but only if you do it right. Invest in quality parts, such as an upgraded Y-bridge and charge pipe, to prevent issues down the road. While it’s not the cheapest option, it’s the best way to protect your investment and ensure your truck performs at its best.

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

Larson steers to dominant Cup victory at Charlotte Roval; Playoff’s Round of 8 field set

‘Yung Money’ Banks Another ROVAL Victory

CHEVROLET NCS: Larson Drives Chevrolet to Fourth-Straight Win of the Season at the Charlotte ROVAL

NHRA AT DALLAS: Team Chevy Race Report | Notes & Quotes

TEAM CHEVY FACES TOUGH TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS IN DALLAS WITH JOHN FORCE RACING

Notes:

Quotes:

Up Next:

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Bank of America ROVAL 400

Toyota Racing – NCS Charlotte ROVAL Post-Race Report – 10.13.24

Ryan Blaney Advances to Playoff Round of 8 (Charlotte ROVAL Post Race Quotes)

Rick Ware Racing: Bank of America Roval 400 from Charlotte

NASCAR to Expand Campus Lab Program Starting Next Semester at Winston-Salem State University

Unlocking Power: The Ultimate Guide to EGR Delete for Duramax

What You’ll Need for an EGR Delete on Your Duramax

What is the EGR System and What Does It Do?

So, What Does an EGR Delete Do?

The EGR Delete Kit: What’s Inside?

Why Should You Consider an EGR Delete?

Don’t Skimp on Quality!

Your Best Option: Upgraded Y-Bridge and High-Flow Charge Pipe

Conclusion

SpeedwayMedia.comOnline Resource for Motorsports Information

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