Kyle Larson delivered a stellar performance for Hendrick Motorsports, capturing his fifth victory of the 2024 NASCAR season at Bristol Motor Speedway. This win marked a significant achievement, especially when compared to his performance at the spring event earlier in the year. After the race, Larson explained what made this race different and why it stood out from his earlier run.
In the spring race at Bristol, during the Food City 500, Larson had a solid performance, finishing in 5th place and earning 44 points. However, he and his team struggled to maintain tire longevity, which limited their ability to stay at the front for long stretches. Despite quick pit stops and maintaining speed throughout that race, they couldn’t quite break through to victory lane. Fast forward to the recent Bass Pro Shops Night Race, and things played out quite differently.
During the post-race media interaction, Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass asked Larson about the pivotal moment in the race when he realized he could extend his tire life and complete 100 laps on a single set, which was a significant improvement over the 40 or 50 laps he had managed in the spring race. This adjustment proved to be a game-changer for his performance at Bristol.
Larson reflected on the difference, saying:
“I would say probably by lap 10 in practice… I didn’t see any [marbles], so I was like, all right. I was happy for sure because I know you guys probably think that the race in the spring was better, but as a driver, I would way rather run 100% all night long for 500 laps than run 50%. I don’t think that’s much of a race.”
The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team worked flawlessly, and Larson’s skill was on full display as he dominated the track, leading for 462 of the 500 laps. This marked an incredible milestone as he led more laps in a single race at Bristol than any other driver since Cale Yarborough in 1977. Additionally, Larson set a new record for Hendrick Motorsports, surpassing Jeff Gordon’s previous mark for the most laps led in a single race for the team. His ability to maintain control and push his car to the limit for such a long duration was a testament to his skill and the preparation of his team.
Larson’s dominance began early, as he passed his teammate Alex Bowman on Lap 34 to take the lead. He went on to win the first stage and secured the lead again after a pit stop on Lap 131, taking the second stage as well. His pit crew performed efficiently throughout the race, with another fast four-tire change on Lap 333 that allowed him to emerge from the pits ahead of the competition. The Goodyear tires, which had caused difficulties in the spring race, performed significantly better in this event, enabling Larson to maintain his advantage over the field.
Reflecting on his experience, Larson shared his thoughts on racing at Bristol:
“I grew up racing different stuff, you know, where you do push the whole race, but I don’t know. I think that version of Bristol is way more exciting.”
Larson completed the 500 laps in just 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 53 seconds, a swift and efficient race that further underscored his dominance at the track.
After the race, Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels, offered insight into the improved race conditions. He explained that the differences between last fall, the spring race, and the recent event were largely due to track and tire temperatures.
“What happened from last fall to this spring to again today has a lot to do just with ambient temps and track temp… The hotter that tire gets, it starts to have a little bit of oil that comes out of the surface and tacks it up and then that lays it down into the surface a lot better. Plus, we had two, three days worth of racing on the track here before we got on track,” Daniels said.
Daniels emphasized that replicating the conditions from the spring race would be difficult due to the unpredictable nature of weather and track surfaces at concrete tracks like Bristol.
“I think it would be very hard to recreate this spring again because the element of surprise. I do think it’s a real thing at the concrete tracks,” he added.
As the Cup Series Playoffs continue, all eyes will be on the Hollywood Casino 400, scheduled for Sunday, September 29, at Kansas Speedway. Larson, now with five wins under his belt this season, will look to maintain his momentum and continue his push toward the championship title. With his team’s strong performance and his ability to adapt and improve, Larson is poised to be a formidable contender as the playoffs progress.
