BRISTOL, Tenn. – As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into the opening round of its playoffs on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports demonstrated strong qualifying results. William Byron secured a top-10 start by posting a lap time of 15.206 seconds, placing him seventh on the starting grid. His teammate Kyle Larson led the organization with a 15.142-second lap, earning the fifth starting position.
Detailed Qualifying Results and Playoff Implications
Alongside Byron and Larson, the other Hendrick Motorsports drivers also claimed solid spots. Alex Bowman qualified 15th with a 15.258-second lap, while Chase Elliott started 16th after turning in a 15.271-second time. While Larson, Byron, and Elliott currently sit above the playoff cutline—with Larson holding a 60-point cushion, Byron a 39-point lead, and Elliott 28 points ahead—Bowman faces pressure to advance. He either needs to secure a race victory or gain 35 points during Saturday’s event to move forward to the Round of 12.
Kyle Larson has shown exceptional form at Bristol, having led 862 of the last 1,000 laps combined from recent spring and fall races. His dominance at this track makes him a strong contender this weekend. Meanwhile, Byron’s qualifying performance positions him well to make an impact in the playoff opener.
Support Series and Additional Qualifying Highlights
The opening round of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs also took shape on Friday, with practice and qualifying sessions setting the stage. Corey Day qualified 17th for the Xfinity event after achieving his first career top-10 finish last week at WWT Raceway. This highlights a promising progression for Day as the series moves forward.
Looking Ahead to Race Day in Thunder Valley
With the starting lineup finalized, all eyes are on Bristol Motor Speedway as the Cup Series playoff opener approaches. William Byron’s performance in qualifying will be key to his playoff aspirations, while Kyle Larson’s history of success at Thunder Valley adds intrigue to the race’s outcome. The results on Saturday night will have a significant impact on which drivers advance deeper into the playoffs.
