Larson looks to overcome early ROVAL adversity

CONCORD, N.C. – Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice session did not go as planned for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team. 

On his eighth lap of practice, the 2021 Cup Series champion hit the wall coming out of turn eight, which is where the infield section of the 17-turn layout blends into the oval section. He drove the car to the garage and later told the media that the team was going to a backup car. 

"We’ve overcome a lot this year alone and now we have something else to overcome," Larson said. "I know we have the team capable of getting through it and advancing. You never want to put yourself or the team in a tough situation. When you are, you just got to dig down and execute the rest of the way like you should."

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The 31-year-old driver will line up from the 36th position for Sunday’s road course race. That starting spot matches the deepest he has started in the field in any race this season. The other event that he started 36th was the night race at Bristol Motor Speedway where he went on to a runner-up finish.

Entering the Round of 12 finale, Larson is 15 points above the elimination line and sits seventh in the driver points standings. While having to start from the back may make stage points a tough proposition, it does potentially simplify the team’s strategy.

"I don’t think you can go for stage points (from where he’s starting). The silver lining may be you can short the stages to get your track position that way to be upfront for the end of the race. When you go for stage points, you are restarting like 26th or worse every time. I think that’s what the plan would be going forward."

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Team owner Rick Hendrick said the situation was obviously not ideal, but that he knows this group can handle the intensity that will come from the early disadvantage. 

"It’s going to be a tremendous amount of pressure because everything is going to be changing every 10 to 15 laps and stages and all that," Hendrick said. "We will just do the best we can."

Larson has overcome adversity at this track in the past. In the 2021 event, voltage issues left Larson’s advancement in peril in the Round of 12 finale. Car chief Jesse Saunders and engine tuner Steven Legendre led the effort to change the battery for crew chief Cliff Daniels’ team in the middle of stage two. A longer stop during the break after stage two saw the team fix the alternator belt before the restart of the final stage on lap 54, while keeping the driver on the lead lap. In that event, Larson went on to come back to win the race en route to the 2021 championship. 

Watch Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team battle to advance to the next round of the playoffs at the Charlotte ROVAL on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, NBC Sports App, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).