Concord, North Carolina – On Saturday night, the NASCAR Cup Series will race at Daytona International Motorcycle Circuit as the 2022 regular season draws to a close. Heading into “The Sunshine State,” all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers have already secured a place in the Cup Series qualifiers.
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Since its grand opening in 1959, Daytona’s premier race facility has hosted a second Cup Series race each summer. The track itself features a steep incline of 31 degrees in the turns and 18 degrees in the tri-oval portion of the racetrack with a bank of six degrees on the straights. With high banking comes package racing, where drivers will compete to get inches away from their rivals.
The four-car team has already seen how the track responds to the next generation Cup Series car at the season opener of the DAYTONA 500. in februaryAnd Chase Elliott and No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 led Hendrick Motorsports with 10th place. Since then, the organization has twice won the 2022 Super Speed rules package – both at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Elliott wins in July And the William Byron took victory in March. Among three of the top 10 centers in April Race at Talladega SuperspeedwayHendrick Motorsports drove 70 laps.
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Last summer’s trip to the World Center of Racing yielded the top 10 spots for both Alex Bowman and Elliott. The 2020 champion walked 36 laps and took a stage win on the opening stage.
While night Kyle Larson finished a lap early in last season’s Summer Daytona, the event saw Elk Grove, California, win the regular season championship. He will continue to win it First Cup Championship at Phoenix Raceway later that fall. Larson comes in this race Talking about his second win in 2022 It ranks second in the points standings. As for Byron, the 24-year-old is the latest driver for Hendrik Motorsports to taste a win over the Daytona oval formation. On his Summer 2020 visit to the track, Byron drove 24 laps on his way to the track First ever win in the Cup Series.
All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers won a race in 2022, which ties the foursome to the Cup Series qualifiers. In fact, Larson’s win at Watkins Glen International gives the organization three drivers with at least two wins this season – Elliott (four) and Byron (two) being the other two. Every team is looking to build momentum heading into the inaugural playoff game at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 4th.
The trip to Daytona is also a homecoming for crew chief Alan Gustafson, who grew up on the road from a legendary location in Ormond Beach, Florida. After graduating from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, Gustafson attended neighboring Embry-Riddle Aviation University to study mechanical engineering before coming to North Carolina in 1996. The No. 9 captain has yet to win the points push race on the elliptical, but he has One road win in 2020 with Elliott plus two duel wins with Elliott (in 2017 and 2018). He also has five poles at Daytona, with Elliott serving three of them.
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As an organizer, Hendrick Motorsports has won 15 high-tradable oval races in Daytona, dating back to its first win at the famous track in 1986. Jeff Gordon has six wins with Jimmy Johnson with three and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s record. Two wins for the team. Tim Richmond, Jeff Bowden and Daryl Waltrip all have one world center race victory during their careers, with Byron the only active motorsport driver for Hendrik to win the 2.5 mile run.
Here’s what you need to know to catch up on this weekend’s events.
What is a good time and practice?
There will be no Cup Series training this weekend. Single car qualifying will begin at 5:05 p.m. ET Friday 26 AugustIt will be broadcast on USA Network. Qualifying will consist of two rounds with the top 10 drivers advancing from the first round to the competition for the first place.
Byron will be the 21st driver to run in the first round, while Bowman will go for 28th. Elliott and Larson will be the last drivers to complete a lap in the first round, finishing 36th and 37th, respectively.
What time is the race?
The main event of the 400-mile Cup Series is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Saturday 27 AugustIt will be broadcast on NBC. peacock He will also carry the race as well as post-race coverage exclusively after the race is over.
Can I listen to the radio?
Both races will be Radio MRN And the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Can I broadcast online?
yes. Download NBC Sports App for online coverage. Fans can also keep up with the action on Twitter by following Tweet embed.
FIVE FAST FACTS ON DAYTONA
Data provided by Racing Insights
4: Pole positions earned by Crew Chief Greg Ives at superspeedways – two of which came with Bowman. They also started first grade at the DAYTONA 500 in February.
9.5: Elliott average finishes at Daytona and Talladega in the last eight races. This mark gives the Dawsonville, Georgia native the best average finish on this stretch at breakneck speed among drivers with more than two starts.
No. 12: Larson’s number of wins since the start of 2021. This mark is six times that of the next closest driver – Elliott.
17: The number of consecutive seasons in which Hendrick Motorsports has had at least two drivers in qualifying, the most of any organization.
611: laps led by Byron this season. The 24-year-old driver sits second in this category.
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