CONCORD, N.C. - This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports heads to the 1.25-mile track of WWT Raceway for the third time in NASCAR Cup Series history.
Sitting just outside of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois, WWT Raceway's layout of two different corners is very similar to that of Darlington Raceway. While the banking may not be as steep, the two different ends of the racetrack provide a challenge for competitors. The tighter turns one and two are banked at 11 degrees while the more sweeping turns three and four only have nine degrees of banking. In terms of the overall layout of the track, it most closely resembles that of Phoenix Raceway or New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
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While no Hendrick Motorsports driver has won at the 1.25-mile circuit, both Kyle Larson and William Byron led laps in 2023's main event. For Larson it was a team effort for the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team to move up the running order. During the opening segment, their driver was barely hanging on to a top-30 spot. Through several massive adjustments during the race, Larson was able to move up the running order and earn a top-five result.
Byron's pace was more consistent than Larson's early in the day. However, during a stage three restart, the No. 24 entry lost several positions and immediately pitted for new tires afterwards. While the loss of track position hurt Byron, he was able to recover to finish eighth. Corey LaJoie, substitute driving for Chase Elliott, finished 21st while Alex Bowman came home 26th after a mechanical failure on the race's final restart dropped the No. 48 Ally Racing team down the order.
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KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW FOR ST. LOUIS
Data provided by Racing Insights
Larson, No. 5 team
At 8.4738, Larson's average running position is the second-best in the Cup Series. The group has also earned 162 stage points this season, 30 markers more than the next-closest team. He'll aim to win for the first time at the Illinois track this Sunday.
Elliott, No. 9 team
The No. 9 team's 9.64 average finish currently sits as the best in the Cup Series. While Elliott has yet to break through for multiple wins in 2024, his consistency has been impressive. He has yet to finish outside the top 20 in any race this season and is tied for the most laps completed (4,102) during the campaign.
Byron, No. 24 team
Coming off of his first stage victory of the season and a solid third-place showing at the Coca-Cola 600, Byron and the No. 24 team will look to continue their momentum in St. Louis. In the last nine races, Byron has earned seven top-10 results.
Bowman, No. 48 team
Were Bowman able to finish inside the top 10 this weekend, it would be a sixth-consecutive top-10 result for the No. 48 Ally Racing team. His current streak of five is the longest active run in the Cup Series. Watch for Bowman to be in the mix on Sunday afternoon.
Hendrick Motorsports
Heading into the race, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers sit inside the top eight spots in the regular season points standings.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Since the start of the 2023 season, Hendrick Motorsports' 16 victories are the most of any organization.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TV COVERAGE
Saturday, June 1
9:30 a.m. ET: Practice - FS1
10:15 a.m. ET: Qualifying - FS1
Bowman will be in Group A while Larson, Elliott and Byron will be in Group B.
Sunday, June 2
3:30 p.m. ET: Cup Series race - FS1
STAGE LENGTHS
Stage 1: Lap 45
Stage 2: Lap 140
End of Race: Lap 240
WILL THE RACE BE ON THE RADIO?
Yes, listeners can find both events on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
WHERE CAN I STREAM THE BROADCAST?
Fans can watch all the action with the FOX Sports Live app. For live updates and additional content during the race, head over to X and follow @TeamHendrick for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
HOW CAN I FIND FS1?
The channel number may vary depending on the location. Use this link to enter your zip code and select your television provider for assistance in finding what channel number FS1 is on your provider.