It’s elimination time! The stakes are higher than ever at Bank of America ROVAL 400 as the Cup Series title contenders will be reduced to eight. The 17-turn, 2.28-mile track has produced chaotic races in the last six years, but the tight confines of the course have been criticized for the lack of passing zones. Speedway Motorsports is hoping that will change this time around after altering the layout, which could lead to a more interesting outcome.

While plenty of drivers have not taken to the changes too kindly, Kyle Larson seems to be an exception. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has struggled at the ‘Roval’ but is looking for an exciting race at the hybrid road course/oval track this time.

Kyle Larson is hoping for better luck at the Roval

Kyle Larson will have a point to prove at the Charlotte Roval. The 32-year-old has been testing the new layout on the simulator, hoping to familiarize himself with the track ahead of the final Round of 12 race. While acknowledging that the changes made to the hybrid course will add a new level of ‘chaos’, the California native hopes it will also present drivers with overtaking opportunities that didn’t exist before and make the race more exciting for the viewers.

Sharing his views about the new modifications made at the Charlotte Roval, Kyle Larson said, “I actually thought that maybe I’m in the minority but I like the new section.” Highlighting his expectations from the 2024 Bank of America Roval 400, the HMS driver went on to say, “It’s still going to be a difficult racetrack too. I’m actually excited about the Roval this weekend and see if what I’ve learned can translate. I do look forward to this weekend, I hope to have a clean weekend, one where I don’t crash. I feel like I’ve crashed at the Roval a lot in my career.”

The Charlotte Roval has been a tough challenge for Kyle Larson, especially with the Next-Gen car. Since 2018, he hasn’t managed a finish better than 13th, and crashes have been a recurring issue. In the inaugural race, Larson limped across the line after a late-race wreck ruined a dominant run. In 2022, a collision with the wall broke his No. 5 Chevy’s right rear toe link, knocking him out of the playoffs. Last year, despite a practice crash, Larson made it to the Round of 8 but couldn’t crack the top 10.

With a top-five finish at Talladega, Kyle Larson now sits third in the driver standings, a solid 56 points above the elimination cutline. This gives the Hendrick Motorsports driver some breathing room as he heads to the Charlotte Roval, likely poised to advance to the Round of 8. With his position secured, the No. 5 team can shift focus from stage points to racing for a victory. While competitors like Denny Hamlin might be wary of the Roval’s recent modifications, Larson hopes the changes could finally work in his favor this time around.

Hamlin criticizes Charlotte Roval’s changes ahead of the high-stakes race

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Unsurprisingly, the modification made to Charlotte Roval’s layout hasn’t gone down well with plenty of playoff-eligible drivers in the Cup Series. Talladega Superspeedway saw NASCAR’s biggest crash in history with 28 cars being involved in a wreck, prematurely ending the race for several contenders. This has made the 2024 Bank of America ROVAL 400 even more important, as drivers will be fighting to keep their tile hopes alive in the final Round of 12 race.

Speaking about the changes made on the Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin podcast, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said, “The reconfigure was designed to create more chaos. You’re going to have to convince me otherwise of that. You’re going to have to convince me otherwise of that. They make corners sharper and tighter. It was tighter in Turn 7 anyway, but now they made it to a point. So instead of you driving the normal optimum line to make this corner that is really really tight, tighter than the (LA) Coliseum.”

Despite having a topsy-turvy playoff run, Denny Hamlin is fourth in the driver standings going into the Charlotte Roval race. Just like Kyle Larson, the racing veteran has also struggled on the hybrid road course after the Next-Gen car was introduced but is hoping to turn his fortunes around this time. The 43-year-old remains the winningest driver in Cup Series history to have never claimed a title, a streak Hamlin will be hoping to break this season. Will the changes made at the Roval help him secure a result in the final Round of 12 playoff race? Time will tell.

Do you think Denny Hamlin will make it to Phoenix Raceway and compete in the Championship 4 later this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!