Last Sunday, Kyle Larson was in a league of his own, securing his fifth win of the 2024 season at Bristol Motor Speedway. The race presented a challenge for many drivers and teams due to concerns over tire wear, but Larson and his #5 team took a different approach. Right from the start, Larson aggressively pushed to take the lead, even though there was a threat that his tires could wear out later in the race. But as it turned out, that concern never became an issue, as the race stayed mostly green, with few interruptions. Larson quickly caught up to his teammate, Alex Bowman, passed him for the lead, and never looked back. He dominated the race, leading from the first stage to the finish, celebrating afterward with his son Owen and taking home the winner’s trophy.
The strategy employed by Larson’s team was notably different from that of their competitors. While others were cautious, expecting tire wear to play a major role in the race’s outcome, Larson’s team seemed confident that it wouldn’t be a deciding factor. The reason for this confidence came from Larson’s feedback after the practice run.
Earlier in the year, the spring race at Bristol had been plagued by extreme tire wear, forcing drivers to adjust their strategies. Pushing the tires too hard meant they could only last for 50 to 60 laps, so teams had to be strategic about when to push and when to conserve. NASCAR wanted to replicate that scenario for the playoff race, hoping to encourage a mix of strategy and competition. They opted to use a similar Goodyear tire as before.
However, this time around, the Goodyear tires reacted differently on Bristol’s concrete surface, and Larson and his team were quick to pick up on this change. Larson noticed something was different during practice, saying, “By lap 10 in practice, you’re scanning the racetrack, looking for marbles and stuff, and I didn’t see any. So I was like, Alright, happy for sure.” His observations gave the team the confidence to race hard without worrying too much about tire degradation.
It was a bit surprising to hear Larson, a driver known for his aggressive style, appreciate a race that some might describe as uneventful. However, he explained that he preferred a race where he could go all out, rather than one that forced him to hold back and manage his tires. “I know you guys think the spring race was better, but as a driver, I would way rather run 100 percent all night long for 500 laps than run 50 percent,” Larson said. He grew up racing in series where drivers pushed hard the entire race, and he believes that kind of racing is far more exciting, especially at a track like Bristol.
Given his experience and success, it’s hard to argue with Larson’s perspective. This victory was particularly important for him and his team, especially after they had struggled in the previous few races. The win not only marked a return to form but also put them in a strong position as they looked ahead to the next round of the championship.
Before this win, Larson had been searching for the race-winning speed that had defined most of his regular season. After his victory at the Brickyard 400, he struggled to find consistent form, with only one top-five finish in the next six races. His performance in the first two playoff races had been especially concerning. At Atlanta, he was involved in a freak accident that ended his race prematurely, and at Watkins Glen, he struggled to make progress through the field.
While Larson had the cushion of bonus points from his strong regular season, he needed a standout performance at Bristol to solidify his position in the playoffs. And he delivered in spectacular fashion, claiming his first win at Bristol since 2021. Had he started on pole, he might have led all 500 laps, but even so, it was a dominant, statement-making victory for Larson and his team.
Now, as he heads into the Round of 12, Larson sits atop the points standings with a 15-point lead over Christopher Bell, the second-place driver. He’s in a strong position to extend that lead even further, with Kansas Speedway coming up next. The mile-and-a-half tracks have historically been a strength for Larson, so there’s a good chance he could secure another win this weekend, adding to his already impressive tally of six wins for the season. Keep an eye on him—he’s certainly not done yet.
