CONCORD, N.C. – Following the Round of 12 finale in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Kyle Larson has joined William Byron in the next round in the driver championship. Meanwhile, the Nos. 9 and 5 teams have each advanced along with the No. 24 in the owner playoffs.
Byron’s victory at Texas already had him locked into the Round of 8, but he completed a fantastic Round of 12 with a second-place result at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Larson’s 30 points was more than enough to move him through to the next round. The No. 9 team’s 42-point day (second-most in the field) helped the group secure a spot in the Round of 8 on the owner’s side.
Shifting to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports has eight wins at the 1.5-mile track. The organization has won the last three spring races with Larson, Byron and Alex Bowman each picking up victories. In the 2023 spring event, the team swept the top-three spots in the finishing order.
Get the lowdown on how each of the Hendrick Motorsports playoff drivers and teams are positioned for the opening race in the Round of 8. Be sure to tune in to catch the action from Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, NBC Sports App, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
William Byron, No. 24
POINTS POSITION: First with 4,041 points.
POSITION TO ELIMINATION LINE: +20
PREVIOUS RACE RESULT: Second at the Charlotte ROVAL.
LAS VEGAS OUTLOOK: Byron was the winner of the most recent race at Las Vegas in March, leading 176 laps en route to the victory. Along with the win, he has two top-five finishes and four top-10s in 11 starts at the Nevada venue. The 25-year-old driver has been the best driver on 1.5-mile tracks this season with two wins (Las Vegas and Texas Motor Speedway), four top-five finishes and an average finish of 4.40. In addition, he has led 283 laps and scored 281 points in those races. Byron has been remarkably consistent in the six postseason races with one win (Texas), four top-five finishes, five top-10s and an average finish of 5.50.
SPRING RACE LAS VEGAS RESULT: Finished first.
Kyle Larson, No. 5
POINTS POSITION: Fourth with 4,024 points.
POSITION TO ELIMINATION LINE: +3
PREVIOUS RACE RESULT: 13th at the Charlotte ROVAL.
LAS VEGAS OUTLOOK: In 14 starts at Las Vegas, Larson has one win, six top-five finishes, 10 top-10s and an average finish of 10.5, which is his best mark at the four remaining tracks on the schedule. In five starts there at Hendrick Motorsports, he has a win and three top-two finishes. This season on 1.5-mile tracks, the 31-year-old driver has two runner-up finishes, three top-fives and 347 laps led. In the playoffs, Larson has been one of the strongest cars and has been in contention for the win late in five of the six races. His 274 laps led in the playoffs are the second-most in the series.
SPRING RACE LAS VEGAS RESULT: Finished second.
No. 9 team
POINTS POSITION: Eighth with 4,002 points in the owner standings.
POSITION TO ELIMINATION LINE: -19
PREVIOUS RACE RESULT: Ninth at the Charlotte ROVAL.
LAS VEGAS OUTLOOK: Elliott has three top-five finishes, five top-10s and 178 laps led in 12 starts at Las Vegas. While the team enters with very little in the way of playoff points, the No. 9 group has been one of the best teams since the postseason started. Through six races, Elliott has five top-10 finishes, no finish outside of the top 11, an average finish of 8.00 and 226 points. Crew chief Alan Gustafson has two runner-up finishes at Las Vegas, with one coming in his first start there with driver Kyle Busch in 2005 and another with Elliott in the 2021 playoff race.
SPRING RACE LAS VEGAS RESULT: Finished 29th (with driver Josh Berry).
OVERALL DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE
1-Byron: 4,041 points
2-Martin Truex Jr.: 4,036 points
3-Denny Hamlin: 4,032 points
4-Larson: 4,024 points
---------------------------------------------
5-Chris Buescher: 4,021 points
6-Christopher Bell: 4,016 points
7-Tyler Reddick: 4,016 points
8-Ryan Blaney: 4,014 points
OVERALL OWNER CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE
1-No. 24 team: 4,041 points
2-No. 11 team: 4,032 points
3-No. 5 team: 4,024 points
4-No. 17 team: 4,021 points
-------------------------------------------------
5-No. 20 team: 4,016 points
6-No. 45 team: 4,016 points
7-No. 12 team: 4,014 points
8-No. 9 team: 4,002 points