Kyle Larson surveys the situation before qualifying fourth for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte ROVAL. (Photo: Chloe Gunn | The Podium Finish)
CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Larson returns to the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL with unfinished business and a chance to defend his 2024 Bank of America ROVAL 400 victory.
With the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs set to conclude on the unique 2.28-mile road course on Sunday, Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team arrive in Charlotte with confidence tempered by respect for the track’s challenges.
Larson’s numbers at the ROVAL underline his capability on the hybrid layout that mixes the infield road course with the high-banked oval. In six career ROVAL starts, he’s earned two wins, two top-fives, two poles and led 122 laps, posting a 14.7-place average finish. Across the 2025 Cup season, Larson’s posted three wins, 11 top-fives, 18 top-10s and nine stage wins with a 14.1-place average finish, demonstrating the consistency that has made him a perennial championship threat.
Still, the ROVAL has a reputation for humbling even the best. The defending winner acknowledges the balance between optimism and the unpredictable nature of this cutoff race.
“We won at the [Charlotte ROVAL] last year, which was a proud moment for our team, especially since we hadn’t run that well there in the Next Gen era,” Larson said. “We’ve had some stressful moments at that track in the past, but heading into this weekend, given where we stand above the cutline, we’re hoping it’ll be less stressful. Hopefully, we can be as strong as we were last year and have a solid race.”
The unique character of the ROVAL keeps even seasoned road course racers on their toes. From the bumpy first two turns to the demanding backstretch bus stop and frontstretch chicane, the layout tests braking, rhythm and car balance—elements Larson knows can swing a race’s outcome.
“I don’t know… I mean, every track is unique in its own way,” Larson said during his press conference availability on Saturday. “This place is just really bumpy, I would say, especially through one and two. It’s a worn-out surface, so drive-off is difficult in the hairpin, the bus stop on the backstretch, the frontstretch chicane, all of that.
“Every track is challenging in its own way. There’s no track that is easy. They’re just all different, so it’s just another different track.”
One of the most discussed changes this weekend is the addition of tire packs in Turns 7 and 17, designed to prevent competitors from shortcutting the corners. Larson sees the modification as both a visual cue and a new tactical factor.
“Yeah, I mean I watched the truck race yesterday. I don’t really remember anybody really clipping them, so I would say that they’re in a good place,” Larson said. “I think it’ll be nice over on the frontstretch. You can have some sort of visual reference now, which will be good.
“I think the hairpin over there, it would just probably make things feel a bit more narrow and maybe a touch less inviting, I would think, for people to kind of dive on when they’re on a restart. Back before we had the tire pack over there, it just felt like a really wide, kind of apex corner. Last year, we started to kind of cut that corner slightly throughout the race. So yeah, I think the tire pack will keep you from cutting the course over there. We’ll see. I just don’t really know how it’ll be until we’re out there.”
Beyond adapting to new course tweaks, Larson stressed the importance of qualifying as a cornerstone of road-course success.
Kyle Larson showcased pace and grit in Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions ahead of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte ROVAL. (Photo: Chloe Gunn | The Podium Finish)
“Qualifying is extremely important everywhere, but especially on the road courses,” Larson said. “It’s just really, really hard to pass because we’re all pretty similar. Your brake zones are a little bit more in control than we used to have with the old car and all that. So yeah, qualifying has just become way more important at all types of tracks, but especially the road courses.”
As a local driver who lives in the Charlotte area, Larson embraces the chance to race at home, even with the added demands of family and fan expectations.
“Yeah, it’s cool. It’s great to be here at home; sleep in your own bed, drive to the track and drive home,” Larson said. “You have a lot of people from the shop that don’t get to go to maybe any race throughout the year that get to come here to Charlotte. I would say the weeks are a little busier because you are at home and they know you’re at home. But it’s still great to be here; you get to have family here and all that.”
Larson and his team’s ROVAL history reflects highs and lows. His 2021 victory at the track came despite mid-race adversity that nearly ended his playoff hopes. That comeback win, born from poise and execution, remains one of his most memorable moments.
“In 2021, we had obviously a great season to that point; a ton of playoff points and all that. We weren’t even thinking about being eliminated,” Larson recalled. “There was one point in the race where if we didn’t get it fixed, I think we were going to be right at the cutline or just below.
“I remember my mindset was just like, man, let’s just get this thing fixed, get a top-20 and leave here and make it through the next round. Our team did a really good job of diagnosing the issue, fixing the issue, and then just executing the day. We had a great car, obviously, too, but we just planned out our race good from there and just made our way forward; had some good restarts and ultimately got the win, which was unbelievable.
“That was one of the Cup races that we’ve won where I did not think that we would win, so it was a cool feeling.”
Cesar Villanueva, Kyle Larson’s interior mechanic and tire specialist, pays attention to each detail ahead of the Bank of America ROVAL 400. (Photo: Chloe Gunn | The Podium Finish)
While attention has shifted to road-course ace Shane van Gisbergen, who has dominated with four straight wins on such layouts, Larson remains focused on maximizing his own performance with the tools at his disposal along with his strong team led by crew chief Cliff Daniels and a pivotal catalyst in tire specialist and interior mechanic Cesar Villanueva.
“I don’t think there’s anything I do better than SVG,” Larson said with a laugh. “I feel like this year, nowhere near him. I think that’s a lot due to the tire change and just my driving style, maybe I’m guessing, but just being overly aggressive in a way of how you load the tire and slip and stuff.
“I’ve just been trying to get better this year on the road course stuff. We’ve had great results, I feel like, my whole career on road courses, so I definitely don’t feel bad. But it’s just a combination of things, I think. Same as ovals—your car has to be good. You have to execute well. I don’t know that there’s one particular thing that I’m better at than anybody else, but I think our team just does a good job and hopefully it’s the same case this week.”
Larson’s playoff campaign has been steady, banking stage points and improving speed but often falling short of closing races as strongly as he starts them. With the Round of 8 looming, he knows the stakes will rise, demanding sharper risk-taking without jeopardizing results.
“This round has gone pretty well. I feel like both of the two races have been pretty similar,” Larson said. “Really, a few of the races have been similar, where we’ve gotten a lot of stage points and then didn’t finish as high as we had run in the first two stages. But I feel like our speed has gotten better. I feel like we’re executing well.
“As you get into the next round, it’s time to turn the intensity up and take a little bit more risk and things like that. I feel like our team has quietly been getting better for a while now. I feel like each week, we’re continuing to get better. It’s exciting going to the track and it’s just an exciting time of year right now. It’s fun and hopefully we can keep elevating and be where we need to be come Martinsville.”
The combination of Larson’s home-track comfort, Hendrick Motorsports’ playoff experience, and lessons from past ROVAL runs could once again make the No. 5 team a formidable contender. As Larson seeks his second straight Charlotte ROVAL win, he does so with a mix of pragmatism, gratitude and quiet confidence that have defined his rise as one of NASCAR’s top all-around talents.
Larson will attempt to convert that mindset into another strong run at Charlotte, with the potential to add another memorable chapter to his growing ROVAL legacy.
