Charlotte Roval Turning Point: How many Hendrick drivers will land in the Championship 4?

Posted on October 9, 2024October 10, 2024 by Pat DeCola

Here’s what’s happening in the world of NASCAR with Talladega in the rearview and the Charlotte Roval (Sun., 2 p.m. ET, NBC) up next.

THE LINEUP

1️⃣ How many Hendrick drivers will land in the Championship 4?

2️⃣ Will we see a Round of 12 sweep by non-playoff drivers?

3️⃣ How ‘chaos’ of Roval reconfiguration changes the racing

4️⃣ Average points per race in regular season vs. playoffs

5️⃣ Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

Joe Scarnici | Getty Images

1. How many Hendrick drivers will land in the Championship 4?

It feels inevitable that Hendrick Motorsports will have a presence in the title hunt at Phoenix. The question is not “if” — it’s “how many?”

Sure, William Byron hasn’t won a race since the first week of April, but hey — he’s the first and only driver locked into the Round of 8 as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs roll into a Round of 12 elimination race Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Nothing is ever set in stone here, but with wins at each of the three Round of 8 tracks in the past three years, Byron’s chances at this point to make the Championship 4 for a second straight year are as good as a driver can hope to have at this point.

With one driver not sweating on Sunday and the other three all above the elimination line, it begs the question — how many from Hendrick Motorsports’ quartet advance to not only the Round of 8, but also the Championship 4?

Two (Byron and 2021 champ Kyle Larson) made it last year, so anything fewer would be a disappointment, but is three on the table? Is four?

Chase Elliott is a past champion and has been one of the season’s most consistent performers, while Alex Bowman has been arguably the best driver in the playoffs, halfway home to a surprising emergence as a serious title contender.

Right now, though, No. 24 stands out as the only playoff driver locked into the Round of 8 after navigating the chaos at Talladega unscathed. His season has been remarkable, albeit streaky, and the way the Round of 8 sets up for him will make him a tough out for his competitors.

But the most interesting twist to the playoffs has been Bowman.

The No. 48 driver’s postseason surge has emerged as one of the most compelling narratives this fall, after the midsummer rumor mill had some in the garage (incorrectly) questioning his 2025 status at Hendrick. Since then, all he’s done is lead the playoffs with 189 points through five races — 13 more points than any other driver — increasing his average points per race from 25.6 in the regular season to 37.8 in the playoffs. The 12.2-point increase is the third-largest jump among drivers in the stage era, and he’s likely to pad that even further this weekend, as Bowman leads all drivers with 146 points earned on road courses this season.

A 26-point buffer isn’t “safe” by any means, but given how much Bowman has going for him heading into arguably his best track, we can probably pencil him in for the Round of 8. The question from there becomes: will he make his first Championship 4? Right now, it’s easier to make the case that he will than he won’t.

Despite facing uncertainty heading into Talladega, Kyle Larson remains a strong candidate for a Championship 4 berth after escaping the mercurial superspeedway with a top five. The 2021 champion’s performance this season has been characterized by resilience and speed — and dominance. The five-time 2024 winner continues to be the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 title, and as one of the best road racers in the sport we can probably expect him in the Round of 8, too. He’ll be licking his chops to get to those Round of 8 tracks as well, and there’s a legit shot Hendrick drivers sweep that round outright.

Elliott’s position heading into Charlotte is perhaps the most intriguing among Hendrick drivers as the sport’s most popular driver looks to regain footing atop the stock-car racing world after missing the playoffs entirely last year. Elliott also hasn’t won since April and, though he’s found some consistency throughout most of the season, enters the weekend as the last driver in with a relatively flimsy 13-point cushion after a subpar Talladega result.

Then again, there aren’t many situations you’d feel more comfortable in than with this driver at this track in terms of advancing, so expect the only two-time Roval winner to do at least enough to advance, if not take the trophy home himself.

So, wait — that’s one driver already in the Round of 8, with the other three having extremely good chances to join him … meaning we could see Hendrick drivers making up half of the Round of 8. And, remember, that’s a Round of 8 that sets up quite nicely for all four of them.

Again, the smart money is on at least two Hendrick drivers — Byron and Larson probably being the safest bets — making this year’s Championship 4. Don’t for a second count out Bowman, though, as his playoff performance has been nothing short of revelatory. And Elliott has felt on the precipice of dominance all season; it wouldn’t be the biggest shock to still see him win more than one race the rest of the way en route to his second title.

Whether it’s two, three, or even an unprecedented sweep of spots in the Championship 4, Hendrick is poised to be in serious contention to add another Bill France Cup to its arsenal. The most impressive thing, though, with just five weeks remaining in the season?

You get the sense any of them could do it.

2. Will we see a Round of 12 sweep by non-playoff drivers?

Drivers hoping for a win to claim their Round of 8 spot will have to contend with a slew of drivers outside the postseason capable of winning at the Roval.

Alright, now that you’re surely expecting a Hendrick driver to win Sunday — here I am to tell you that, well, actually, we might be about to see the clean sweep of the Round of 12 by non-playoff drivers.

As the final race of the Round of 12 looms, there’s perhaps little reason to think we’ll see anything at all that we expect to see; such is the theme of the unpredictable 2024 season. After a pair of non-playoff drivers snatched up wins at Kansas Speedway and Talladega, there’s a strong chance we see a third at the Roval; after all, Xfinity Series regular AJ Allmendinger won last year’s race.

Consider this as well: the last nine races have witnessed nine different winners from nine different teams, a feat unseen since 2001-02, and there are some road-course specialists yet to win this year circling like sharks sensing blood in the water. Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell enters as one of the top dark horses, with a streak of three consecutive top-10 finishes on road courses — the longest active run among drivers – looking to close out his long run at FRM on a high note before shifting to Spire Motorsports next year.

“The Roval is super challenging. It’s not your typical road course,” McDowell told Ford Performance. “It’s a technical challenge, tight, twisty, big curbs; the turtles, they call them. There are a lot of challenges at those places, so I’m looking forward to it. Anytime I get to race on a road course, I’m happy about it, and it’s an opportunity again to try to go there and win the race.”

Allmendinger will be looking to make his mark in Cup before once again moving back up to the full-time ranks next year. With an average finish of 2.5 at the Roval in the Next Gen car and a perfect 4-for-4 win record in Xfinity Series races here, it’s likely that barring a mechanical failure, the race winner will have to contend with him at some point.

The implications of a non-playoff sweep are potentially seismic, too. Historically, 36% of drivers ranked outside the top eight entering the Round of 12 have advanced to the next round in the stage era. A win by a hungry driver like Kyle Busch, with top-five finishes in the last three Roval races, or Chris Buescher, boasting the best average finish on road courses in the Next Gen car, could prevent one of the four drivers currently below the elimination line — Joey Logano, Daniel Suárez, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe — from advancing.

3. How ‘chaos’ of Charlotte’s Roval reconfiguration changes the racing

Drew Blickensderfer and Luke Lambert discuss Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval reconfigurations and how it will affect Sunday’s race.

4. Average points per race in regular season vs. playoffs

Regular-season success does not guarantee future gains in the playoffs — but the opposite is true, too. Just ask teammates Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson.

Driver	Regular season	Playoffs	Difference
Alex Bowman	25.6	37.8	+12.2
Austin Cindric	19.6	25.4	+5.8
William Byron	29.2	34.4	+5.2
Christopher Bell	30.1	35.2	+5.1
Daniel Suárez	21.0	22.8	+1.8
Joey Logano	23.7	24.4	+0.7
Ryan Blaney	29.1	28.2	-0.9
Chase Elliott	32.0	28.8	-1.2
Chase Briscoe	22.0	20.8	-1.2
Denny Hamlin	31.9	28.4	-4.5
Kyle Larson	34.4	28.4	-6.0
Tyler Reddick	33.1	20.6	-12.5

5. Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

Power Rankings: Why Ryan Blaney is in prime position to repeat

Paint Scheme Preview: 2024 Charlotte Roval weekend

How the race was won and lost at Talladega

NASCAR betting: 2024 Charlotte Roval race odds

How a late multicar wreck at Talladega shook up the Cup Series Playoffs field

Locked in: William Byron chats about pointing in to the Round of 8 at Talladega

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after ‘Dega win: ‘Our team needed this for sure’

Closest finishes in Cup Series history

Analysis: The year of the photo finish adds another dazzler after Talladega

Kyle Larson boosts playoff footing, savors good fortune from Talladega top five

Inside the Race: Diving into the data from the ‘Big One’ at Talladega

Playoff Pulse: Talladega lives up to billing with ‘Big One’ causing late drama

@nascarcasm: Fake texts to Talladega winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Updated championship odds after Talladega

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Staff Report

The Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Sunday (2 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is the last chance for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders to secure their spot in the Round of 8. After races at Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, only one driver has locked himself into the Round of 8 — William Byron (clinched on points) — heading into this weekend, leaving 11 playoff contenders vying for just seven positions.

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the eight-driver field of the next round: William Byron.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the ninth winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick or Chase Elliott.

Christopher Bell: Would clinch regardless of finish
Kyle Larson: Would clinch with 4 points
Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 26 points
Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 30 points
Ryan Blaney: Would clinch with 31 points
Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 42 points
Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 43 points
Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help
Daniel Suárez: Could only clinch with help
Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
Chase Briscoe: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Joey Logano or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the eighth winless driver in the standings.

Christopher Bell: Would clinch with 11 points
Kyle Larson: Would clinch with 16 points
Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 38 points
Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 42 points
Ryan Blaney: Would clinch with 43 points
Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 54 points
Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 55 points
Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help
Daniel Suárez: Could only clinch with help
Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
Chase Briscoe: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Daniel Suaáez, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe.

Posted on October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by Staff Report

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld penalties assessed to the No. 1 JR Motorsports team after Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

JRM driver Sam Mayer had taken the checkered flag in 16th place in Saturday’s United Rentals 250, but his No. 1 Chevrolet failed the post-race height requirement in post-race technical inspection, measuring too low at the rear of the car. Mayer was disqualified and credited with a last-place result and points in the 38-car field.

The three-member appeals panel determined after Wednesday’s hearing that the penalty would stand, stating: “The panel found that NASCAR used standard inspection procedures at Talladega Superspeedway on October 5, 2024, on the No. 1 NXS car and found Rule 14.17.3.2.2.2 in violation.” According to the NASCAR Rule Book, since the appeal concerned a race disqualification, the penalty cannot be appealed further.

The ruling keeps Mayer in 11th place out of the 12 drivers remaining in the Xfinity Series Playoffs, and he faces a 13-point deficit relative to the provisional elimination line. His original finishing position had initially slotted Mayer in eighth place in the postseason standings with a 10-point cushion above elimination.

The Xfinity Series resumes Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN, SiriusXM) at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course, where the playoff field will be trimmed from 12 title-eligible drivers to eight remaining championship hopefuls.

Posted on October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by Zack Albert

When Denny Hamlin emerged from the clutches of potential Round of 16 elimination to advance in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, offered a preview of what the three races in the Round of 12 might hold — featuring Kansas, Talladega and “whatever the Smith family has dreamed up for the Roval next.”

The Smith family’s Speedway Motorsports group has indeed put a new spin on the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course, with revisions that could potentially be a dream or a nightmare that shift the complexion of Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The final road-course race of the season will determine which eight among the 12 remaining playoff-eligible drivers will keep their championship hope intact.

The reconfiguration might seem subtle, and the 17-turn track’s length of 2.28 miles remains unchanged on the teams’ entry-blank forms for this year’s edition. Chase Elliott is a two-time conqueror of previous versions of Charlotte’s road-and-oval hybrid, which joined the NASCAR circuit in 2018, but his approach to this season’s revamped layout is mostly new, relying on racing-simulator seat time for his pre-race prep.

“To me, I kind of look at it like it’s a new race track, truthfully,” said Elliott, the 2020 Cup champion. “That section of the track is going to change the entire flow of the lap there, so I’ve been kind of approaching it as a new track with my preparation. I’ve spent some time in the simulator, just trying to really memorize the track and where the little bumps are. Typically, those track scans are pretty good. I think that’s probably one of the best things about the simulator is that a driver can go and get familiar with the track layout, surface content, roughness, so on and so forth. It’s really about all I feel like I can do until we get some time on track. Obviously, we have extra practice next week, so hopefully that’s enough to find a good rhythm and get a good flow for qualifying and then obviously for the race.”

Cup Series and Xfinity Series teams competing at the Charlotte Roval are scheduled for extended practice time Saturday, with Cup teams splitting up into two groups with two 20-minute sessions each. What they’ll find are two altered areas — one in the Turns 6 and 7 complex that leads from the infield section back onto the oval, and another revision that sharpens the Turn 16 frontstretch chicane before the start/finish line.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

The infield reconfiguration stands to be the most dramatic. A longer straightaway now connects Turn 5 to Turn 6, where an elevation drop into the right-hand bend promises to compromise drivers’ visibility. That sets up a significantly tighter Turn 7, a slow left-hander that may open the door for bold passing opportunities — an area that former Roval winner Ryan Blaney termed as a “dive-bomb central” type of curve.

“I have not been to the track physically; I’ve just run it at the sim, but yeah, Turn 6 is like 100% blind,” said Alex Bowman, fifth in the Cup Series standings and plus-26 relative to the playoff-elimination line. “You can’t see it until you’re there, which is pretty interesting. At least in the sim, your lift mark is before you can see the corner, so that’s definitely different. And Turn 7 is like making a U-turn on a one-way street, so it’s going to be chaos, for sure.”

Said 2022 Roval winner Christopher Bell: “It’s going to be big. We’re going to have a new calamity corner, that’s for sure.”

MORE: Cup Series standings | Power Rankings

The modifications to the frontstretch chicane are more slight, but the arcing entry to that portion of the course now sways more to the left, closer to the outer pit-road barrier. That change is designed to create a sharper angle on the right-hand Turn 16, another alteration that could promote passing on the last set of bends before the flagstand.

“Honestly, I think the frontstretch chicane is going to be a slower corner, so I feel like you might have some more outbraking potential there, so I think it’s good,” said Blaney, who won the first Charlotte Roval event in 2018. “I think it’s good they changed it up. Whenever you add passing zones, that’s good for a race. It’s the same for everybody. It’s going to be different for everyone and just who can adapt to it the quickest. I’ve done some sim work. I’ve got another session this week and we’ll see where it goes.”

Sunday’s 400-kilometer, 109-lap Roval event will wrap up what’s already been a treacherous round for a solid chunk of the postseason field. Kansas Speedway opened the Round of 12 and produced a non-playoff spoiler with Ross Chastain’s first victory of the season. That theme continued at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend with another new winner outside the playoff grid in Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who threaded through one of the biggest crashes in Cup Series history to prevail.

The Charlotte road-course layout has undergone a handful of tweaks and tucks in its brief NASCAR history, but one feature has been constant — all six Roval races thus far have been playoff elimination events. Some drivers are welcoming that challenge along with the track’s newfangled look.

“It’s going to be interesting,” said Daniel Suárez, 10th in the standings and facing a 20-point deficit to the elimination line. “I’m happy that SMI (Speedway Motorsports) and everyone in NASCAR is allowing these kind of changes, because if you think about it, we’ve been racing already at the Roval for a handful of years, and it’s been amazing. We all have enjoyed it so much, but a little change like this always, in my mind, will spice things a little bit. So I’m happy. I’m happy that we are always continuing to think outside the box a little bit. I think this makes the sport exciting.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Press Release

Daytona Beach, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2024) – NASCAR and LegacyHistoryPride — a provider of authentic fashion and apparel that celebrates and supports America’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) — announced today the launch of a new fashion collaboration blending the spirit, culture and legacy of HBCUs with the fast-paced world of America’s No. 1 motorsport.

“NASCAR fashion is surging right now and we’re excited to leverage that momentum to continue driving support of the African American community and HBCUs through this new collaboration with LegacyHistoryPride,” said Brandon Thompson, NASCAR’s vice president of diversity and inclusion. “We hope students and alumni are equally excited to sport the collection.”

The officially licensed collection features a custom-designed, co-branded “pit crew jersey” for twelve different HBCUs, including Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Grambling University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Morgan St. University, N.C Central University, Norfolk State University, Prairie View A&M University, VA State University and Winston-Salem State University.

LegacyHistoryPride™ designed the unique racing-inspired jerseys, each including a number that represents the year the institution was founded. The jerseys retail for $90 and are now available online at shoplhp.com/collections/nascar and on campus at select university bookstores.

“This collaboration goes beyond products—it’s about amplifying, celebrating, and honoring the schools that have profoundly impacted countless lives,” said Tahir Murray, CEO & Founder of LegacyHistoryPride. “We view this partnership as a chance to share our commitment to creating opportunities and building stronger communities through the lens of fashion.”

This partnership continues NASCAR’s commitment to the HBCU community, following initiatives like the NASCAR Campus Lab Program – a groundbreaking program that offers HBCU students real-world experience in the sports industry, which was launched in 2023 by NASCAR’s Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Howard University graduate, Caryn Grant.

This collaboration also celebrates the achievements of trailblazing HBCU students and alumni in NASCAR, such as Winston-Salem State University senior Rajah Caruth, who won his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 2024; John Cohen, a Grambling State University alum and owner of the New York Racing Team; Brehanna Daniels, a Norfolk State University standout and the first Black woman to compete as a pit crew member; and Thompson himself, a Clark Atlanta University alum.

Posted on October 9, 2024October 13, 2024 by Brandon White

The next chapter of the intense, three-way battle for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title will take place at one of the series’ most iconic venues: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Since the facility opened to the public in 1940, Thompson has served as a hub for Modified competition in the northeastern United States. During the early days of the Modified Tour, Thompson hosted many as five races in one year alone.

Many notable names have claimed checkered flags at Thompson. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans won the series’ first four races at Thompson in 1985, with names like Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Jeff Fuller, Steve Park, Ted Christopher and Justin Bonsignore later embarking on winning streaks of their own at the track.

As has been the case throughout most of its lifespan on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule, Thompson serves as a crucial, late-season tilt for the championship. A strong race at Thompson will be essential for the three championship contenders before they close out 2024 with two straight events in the south.

Below is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Patrick Emerling enters Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park with momentum, having won three of the last four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races. (Photo: Jaiden Tripi/NASCAR)

World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Patrick Emerling’s emergence as a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship contender began during the series’ second trip to Thompson in August.

No one in the 27-car field could match the blistering pace set by Emerling in Rich Gautreau’s No. 1, which led all 150 laps from the pole. That victory was the first of three Emerling has accumulated over the last four events, with the consistency putting him just 16 points back from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points lead.

Despite this, Emerling still has work to do if he wishes to overtake Ron Silk in the championship hunt. Not only does Silk lead all drivers in the Modified Tour this season with four victories, but the defending champion has enjoyed plenty of success at Thompson while driving for Haydt Yannone Racing, having won two of the last three events there.

Nestled in between Silk and Emerling in the championship battle is Justin Bonsignore, who won six consecutive races at Thompson from 2018-19. Bonsignore is chasing redemption to go along with a 13^thThompson victory, as a missed shift in last year’s fall race on the final restart directly cost him a shot at the title.

The three championship contenders will still have to deal with plenty more talented drivers in Sunday’s World Series 150 at Thompson. Matt Hirschman is among those names, as he is searching for his first visit to Thompson’s Victory Lane after his father Tony earned eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins at the facility between 1989-2005.

Other drivers set to compete at Thompson on Sunday include Jon McKennedy, Woody Pitkat, Chase Dowling, Matt Swanson, Anthony Nocella and Tim Connolly.

The complete entry list for the World Series 150 can be viewed here.

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park could serve as a crucial turning point in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship on Sunday. (Photo: Nick Grace/NASCAR)

RACING REFERENCE

Race	World Series 150
Date	Sunday, October 13, 2024
Track	Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Layout	0.625-mile asphalt oval
Location	Thompson, Connecticut
Start time	4:30 p.m. ET
Laps	150
Posted Awards	$97,884
Tickets	At track
How to watch	FloRacing

Schedule: Sunday, October 13 … Final practice from 12:20 to 12:40 p.m. ET … World Series 150 pres. by FloSports at 1 p.m. ET.

Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the World Series 150 pres. by FloSports.com is limited to 30 starters, including Provisional Positions.

Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires per caution.

Posted on October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by Staff Report

World Series 150

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

Entry list

Car No.	Driver	Organization	Crew Chief	Chassis	Sponsor
00	TBA	Jody Lauzon	Steve Mendoza	Chevrolet	Spafco Race Chassis; BNP Machine
1	Patrick Emerling	RGM AZ, LLC	Dale Hedquist	LFR	Fleetworks, Inc
3	Tyler Rypkema	Boehler’s Racing Equipment	Greg Fournier	Boehler Racing	USNE; Northeast Drilling
4	Tim Connolly	Connolly Racing	Cale Gale	FURY Race Cars	Connolly Companies, LLC
15	Joey Cipriano III	Fueled Up Motorsports	Ryan Plourde	FURY Race Cars	Dependable Energy
16	Ron Silk	Haydt Yannone Racing	Phil Moran	FURY Race Cars	Blue Mountain Machine; Future Homes
17	Anthony Nocella	Michele Davini	Chris McTaggart	LFR	Sontag Motorsports; Bells Septic, Xtreme Autobody
18	Ken Heagy	Robert Pollifrone	Greg Gorman	FURY Race Cars	Buoy One Seafood & Market
22	Kyle Bonsignore	Kyle Bonsignore	Cam McDermott	FURY Race Cars	Chalew Performance; MTT; Munns Auto
36	Dave Sapienza	Judith Thilberg	Gregory Kleila	FURY Race Cars	Sapienza Racing; Eastport Feed
44	Chase Dowling	Lawney Tinio	Daniel Gamache	LFR	Harshaw Paving – Olivas Market
46	Craig Lutz	Goodie Racing	Douglas Ogiejko	FURY Race Cars	Riverhead Building Supply
51	Justin Bonsignore	Kenneth Massa Motorsports, LLC	Ryan Stone	FURY Race Cars	Phoenix Communications, Inc.
54	Tommy Catalano	Catalano Motorsports	Rick Kluth	Troyer	FX Caprara; USNE Power
56	Trevor Catalano	Catalano Motorsports	David Catalano	Troyer	USNE Power
60	Matt Hirschman	Pee Dee Motorsports LLC	Mike Stein	LFR	Elite
64	Austin Beers	KLM Motorsports	Ron Yuhas	Troyer	G&G Electrical Supply, Lumiere Electrical, Dell Electric, AP Marquadt & Sons, Hughes Motors, Andrew James Interiors
79	Jon McKennedy	Jonathan McKennedy	Johnathan McKennedy	FURY Race Cars	Jon McKennedy Racing
82	Woody Pitkat	DWR Racing Corp.	Nick Walsh	LFR	Horton Avenue Materials, Gunsmoke Stables Racing, Infinity Homes
84	Tyler Catalano	Catalano Motorsports	JJ Vece	Troyer	USNE Power
89	Matt Swanson	John Swanson	Gary Casella	FURY Race Cars	Cervaolos Auto; Casella Snowplows; Mullys Auto Repair
110	Bob Reis	Reis Racing	Cody Egner	Troyer	Ironlisting.com; B.R. Machineworks; Sterling Lubricants; Simpson Safety;
128	Mike Marshall	Taylor Charbonnier	Kevin Ledoux	Troyer	MLM Diagnostics; Jusczak Electric

Posted on October 8, 2024October 9, 2024 by Zach Sturniolo

CONCORD, N.C. — AJ Allmendinger carries a perfect four-for-four record in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval into this weekend’s Round of 12 finale.

And yet the driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet is not sporting the same bravado about the road-course-oval hybrid as he has in past years.

“I go into this weekend probably with the least amount of confidence that I ever been going into the Roval,” Allmendinger said Tuesday during a media availability. “You know, I looked at Talladega as a race I was like, I’ve probably got more of a chance to win there than I do at the Roval.”

MORE: Charlotte Roval schedule | Xfinity Playoffs standings

His candor offers a stark contrast from what’s become the expectation from Allmendinger, whose 14 road-race victories in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series are most all-time across the sport’s three national series, including a weekend sweep of last year’s Roval races.

Entering Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 (4 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Allmendinger sits eighth in the Xfinity Series Playoffs standings, the final car above the elimination line by a mere seven points, with teammate and fellow road ace Shane van Gisbergen lurking 10 points beneath that provisional divider. Eleven times, Allmendinger has gone to Victory Lane after an Xfinity road-course race. None of those have come in 2024 after five attempts, his best finish a third-place effort on Sept. 14 at Watkins Glen International. SVG, on the other hand, has won three times.

“I’ve struggled with being loose in the Xfinity car. That is at every road course that I’ve went to,” Allmendinger said.

Van Gisbergen’s advantage at the Xfinity level, Allmendinger noted, is his ability to use the heal-toe method of shifting, using his right heal to brake and toes to blip the throttle while downshifting and utilizing his left foot on the clutch. That clutch usage also allows SVG to skip gears if he so chooses, matching RPMs with the gas pedal. That experience stems from his days becoming a three-time champion in Australian Supercars, where another one of Allmendinger’s former teammates — two-time Cup winner Marcos Ambrose — laid the foundation for stock-car success on road courses.

“The thing is, Shane and I, when we talk about the cars, I think we feel them fairly close to the same of what we fight. He’s just worked through it better and obviously he’s had really good success,” Allmendinger said. “[…] So we feel the car the same. But some of these race tracks, he’s figured out what to do. He’s really good at rolling corner speed, and that’s what I’ve noticed. So like Sonoma was a place that, following him, I tried to drive exactly like he was doing, and I just didn’t have lateral grip, and he makes it work. …

“I haven’t figured out what that is, what I struggle with. You know, I can pinpoint it; just haven’t figured out what that is and how to make it better.”

Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images

Having a teammate like van Gisbergen has been helpful for Allmendinger, though, if not for anything but motivation knowing SVG can still win despite similar struggles.

“I’m a fan of motorsports, so you get a three-time champion of the elite series of where you’re coming from,” Allmendinger said. “I mean, we all see what he can do. We saw what he did in Chicago. So on the road course side of it, it’s good for me to see, like, hey, like he’s still getting the speed out of the car, so I just got to figure that out. […] I guess you could always look at it (like) there’s rivalry a little bit with your teammate, but it’s not — I don’t look at us as a rivalry, right? Like, I just see what he’s doing. It’s like, yeah, I need to be better. Like, on the road courses, I’d like to get there. So he’s definitely pushing me and I enjoy that part of it.”

What lies ahead this weekend is a reconfigured Roval, changed this year to feature a longer straightaway between Turns 5 and 6 to set up a sweeping right-handed Turn 6 into an extremely tight left-handed hairpin at Turn 7 leading back to the banked turns of the oval. Additionally, the frontstretch chicane gets a new look as its Turn 15 entry dives further left to set up a sharper, near-90-degree right Turn 16 before a 90-degree left back to the start/finish line. The anticipated outcome, Allmendinger believes, is more excitement, which he sees ahead for some ambitious passing opportunities. Highest alert on Allmendinger’s radar, though, is the hairpin.

“It’ll be interesting to feel in real life, the hump that they got going over into the first right-hander there in the new part of the section of the race track,” he said, “because on sim, the hump is pretty extreme. So it’s kind of where you get on the brakes. It kind of reminds me a little bit — not maybe as extreme downhill — but like Chicago, down right by the the city section there by all the hotels and stuff. So it’ll open it up, especially in Xfinity, I think, for wheel-hopping over that rise. But yeah, I can definitely see using the bumper in the right-hand section. But the problem is, if you do that, you’ve got the next hairpin left-hander. So I think desperation and stuff, there’s gonna be a lot of dive-bombs at the hairpin. I think that’s kind of where we’re gonna see a lot of the action.”

MORE: Allmendinger, SVG highlight Cup entry list | Top road winners in Cup history

And while his confidence may have lowered slightly in the Xfinity car at the Roval, he fully intends on defending his victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday (2 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App). In four Cup road races this season, Allmendinger has finished sixth twice (Circuit of The Americas and Sonoma Raceway) and failed to finish twice, crashing out at Chicago and losing a transmission at Watkins Glen.

“I’m showing up to win the race, but I only put the expectations on me to go run well,” Allmendinger said. “Look, it’s hard to win Cup races. It’s hard to run top five in Cup races. Like, the ultimate goal to me, still, is to show up. If we can run top five, top six, that’s a great day. And if we get it right, I know we can win. But on the Xfinity side of it, for sure, it’s just — because if you take SVG out, I don’t win any of the races this year. It’d be different if SVG was winning and I’m running second and I’m like, ‘yeah, just got to figure out a way to beat my teammate.’ But like, literally, if he’s not in the race, I still don’t win any of those races.”

Posted on October 8, 2024October 8, 2024 by Press Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – JR Motorsports announced today that Virginia native Connor Hall will be the new driver behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet for the organization’s championship-winning Late Model program in 2025. Additionally, as previously announced by JRM, Bass Pro Shops will be back on board as the primary partner for 20 Late Model events throughout the upcoming season.

“We are very happy to be able to have someone of Connor’s caliber and experience join us in our Late Model program,” said JRM’s Senior Vice President of Motorsports L.W. Miller. “Seeing his many successes over the past several seasons makes us very excited to watch him continue that success in a JR Motorsports Late Model in 2025. Everyone at JRM is looking forward to seeing what he and Bryan (Shaffer) can do together in the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.”

Hall, the current points leader in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car division and the 2023 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National Champion, succeeds Carson Kvapil in the seat as Kvapil moves full-time to the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season with JRM.

“To me, JR Motorsports has the No. 1 Late Model program in the country, and it’s a dream come true to be able to wake up every day and work toward the common goal everyone at JRM has, which is to win more races and championships and carry on the legacy of this team,” Hall said.

“The opportunity to represent JR Motorsports, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops, Dale, Kelley and L.W. means a lot to me. I am super-excited to work with Bryan, Slim and the rest of the team as well. I respect them a ton and am very eager to establish that working relationship.”

The 27-year-old Virginian will get behind the wheel of the No. 88 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet for the first time early in 2025.

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Staff Report

TALLADEGA, Ala. — The No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Sam Mayer was disqualified Saturday evening in post-race inspection after the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Talladega Superspeedway.

Mayer’s No. 1 Chevy failed the post-race height requirement, measuring too low in the rear following the conclusion of the United Rentals 250. Mayer, who started the race in 12th, took the checkered flag in 16th before the violation. JR Motorsports will appeal the ruling, the team announced in a Monday statement on its social platforms.

RELATED: Official race results | Race recap

Mayer, one of 12 Xfinity Series Playoffs drivers fighting for Round of 8 positioning, was fourth in the playoff standings entering Talladega. Ahead of Saturday’s elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course, Mayer currently sits 11th in the standings, 13 points beneath the elimination line. Eight drivers will advance to the Round of 8 after Saturday’s event to inch close toward the Xfinity Series championship.

Additionally, one lug nut was found unsecured on Chandler Smith’s No. 81 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, which will result in a monetary fine.

The Xfinity Series will conclude the Round of 12 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).