Kyle Larson Dominates Bristol and extends GFT P1 Driver Ranking

21 September 2024
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News

BRISTOL, TN — The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series and Playoffs moved to Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night where Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports dominated the race, winning both stages on his way to victory lane. The Bass Pro Shops Night Race was the first elimination race of the playoffs. Larson’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he led 462 of the 500 laps, securing his fifth win of the season and advancing to the Round of 12.

SEPTEMBER 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with his son, Owen Larson in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 21, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Kyle Larson’s victory not only solidified his position in the playoffs but also set a record for the most laps led in a single race by a Hendrick Motorsports driver- a total of 1,351 laps led at Bristol.

The race was not without its challenges for other drivers. Ty Gibbs, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, and Harrison Burton were all eliminated from title contention. Gibbs faced a setback with a speeding penalty during the first stage break, which hampered his progress for the rest of the race. Truex, despite a strong performance in the first two stages, also fell victim to a speeding penalty during the final caution, ultimately finishing 24th and missing the cut for the Round of 12.

Go Full Throttle NASCAR Cup Series AI Driver Rankings following the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on September 21, 2024 at Bristol Motor Speedway (Image Credit: GFT Digital)

The elimination of Gibbs, Truex, Keselowski, and Burton reshapes the playoff landscape. The Round of 12 now features a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, all vying for the Cup Series championship. Among those advancing, in addition to Larson, are Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suárez, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe.

NASCAR Playoffs rankings after Bristol

GFT NASCAR BOX SCORES

After 29 Races …
Manufactures Box Score:
Chevrolet = 12
Toyota = 8
Ford = 9

Team Box Score:
Hendrick Motorsports = 10

Driver Box Score:
Kyle Larson = 5 wins

GFT AI NASCAR Fantasy LIVE — back in the top 15%

249 points is the best performance of our GFT AI Race Prediction model so far in the 2024 NASCAR Fantasy Live season- scoring in the top 15% of all players (13.10%) in the TMD NASCAR Fantasy Live League.

Looking Ahead: The Next Race

Sunday, Sep. 29–3:00 PM ET

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