Challenges are never insurmountable. For a driver like Kyle Larson, any racetrack challenge can be overcome in a short period of time. But NASCAR does help out sometimes. When the Hendrick Motorsports driver risked the playoffs by missing the Coca-Cola 600, the sanctioning body intervened. As Larson finally approaches the Charlotte track this year, officials have also worked on axing his previous fears around the track.
The 2.28-mile combination of an oval and a road course has some tricky features. These constantly nag the No. 5 Chevrolet a few times, although it could visit Victory Lane once. But this year, Larson is hoping to bid goodbye to these concerns with NASCAR’s help.
Kyle Larson is relying on NASCAR’s hackADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Well, the sanctioning body has whipped up a load of controversy regarding the lawsuit recently. Even then, drivers cannot help but rely on it for racetrack strategies. So Kyle Larson is hopeful the 2024 alterations to Charlotte Motor Speedway will propel him through the playoffs. Earlier in May, the speedway unveiled an extended straightaway coming out of Turn 5 and also a new Turn 6. Turn 16 also had a significantly sharper apex. According to Marcus Smith, two distinct braking zones were created to help drivers pass better.
And this update gave a boost of confidence to Kyle Larson. Although he could not turn a lap at the Coca-Cola 600, he hopes to run well at the Bank of America Roval 400. In a press conference for the Talladega race, the HMS driver explained why the Roval has scared him in the past. “I think the Roval is intimidating to me in general just because of…I don’t know. We’ve won there but at least in the Next Gen era I don’t have a good feel for it, it’s really bumpy. I just feel super on edge. You know, I’ve crashed there almost every time I’ve been there – I’ve been fast but crashed.” In the 2023 practice session, Larson crunched the Turn 8 retaining wall, inflicting heavy damage to his car.
USA Today via Reuters
Even in 2022, Kyle Larson got loose at the exit of Turn 7, hit the wall, and suffered a broken toe link in the rear suspension. But that mishap is not scaring him anymore. “Yeah, the last two times I’ve crashed there it’s been in that section. Now we’re getting rid of that section so maybe that’s good for me. But we’ll be going faster through there in the early part of that section. So if your car is not handling right, it could be a little edgy. But we’ll see. Hopefully, we’ll get through this week clean, and we can be more aggressive the next week.”
Despite his past apprehensions about the Roval, Kyle Larson has already tamed the track. And he had to tackle other issues on the road to Victory Lane.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Larson embodies the spirit of victoryRick Hendrick‘s star driver may be one of a kind. If a certain roadblock emerges at a racetrack, Kyle Larson can maneuver his way around it and even shoot for the win. After the Charlotte Roval track debuted in 2018, Kyle Larson found himself battling with its tricky turns. But he overcame that obstacle in 2021, a year when he posted a fiery 10-race winning streak on the way to the championship. And the Roval was no match for him. But it was not a stress-free ride – the voltage on his car dropped out. His car chief and hauler driver changed the battery and alternator belt on Larson’s race car under caution.
After reaching Victory Lane, Kyle Larson recalled the struggle and how he overcame it. “It wasn’t looking too good,” Larson said of the electrical problems that beset his car. “Thankfully, everybody on our 5 car did a great job of staying calm. (Crew chief) Cliff (Daniels), as always, did a great job of communicating with me what was going on, getting the battery changed, the alternator—whatever was going on to get our battery running. I knew I was going to have some sketchy moments. I had to work my way through traffic, stay calm, and we had some good restarts there at the end… It was just a fun race there and a lot of craziness all day long.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Evidently, Larson can conjure magic if he is plenty motivated. We can only wait and see if the No. 5 Chevy is able to implement NASCAR’s help and finish well at the Roval.
Source : EssentiallySports