Hendrick Motorsports is gearing up for another strong showing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with their drivers and teams entering the race weekend with momentum and determination. The Hendrick Motorsports Las Vegas Advance focuses on four accomplished drivers—Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman—as they prepare to compete on one of NASCAR’s most electric tracks.
Getting Ready for the Las Vegas Challenge
The Hendrick Motorsports line-up heading into Las Vegas features drivers with proven talent and unique backgrounds. Kyle Larson, originally from Elk Grove, California, is coming off a runner-up finish at the Charlotte ROVAL. At 33, the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, guided by crew chief Cliff Daniels, is tied for third in the standings. Larson’s Cup career includes 10,227 laps led and a career average finish of 13.7, with a recent Las Vegas average of 14.1.
Chase Elliott, 29, representing Dawsonville, Georgia, finished eighth at the Charlotte ROVAL and drives the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. With Alan Gustafson as his crew chief, Elliott is tied for sixth place in the standings. He has steered through 5,950 career laps led and holds a 12.0 career average finish, posting a 12.8 average at Las Vegas and achieving several top-ten results there.
William Byron, 27, from Charlotte, North Carolina, pilots the No. 24 Relay Chevrolet. After an 11th place at the Charlotte ROVAL, Byron works under the guidance of Rudy Fugle and also shares a tie for third in the driver standings. With 3,893 laps led in his Cup career, Byron typically finishes Las Vegas races in 13.6 place on average.
Alex Bowman, hailing from Tucson, Arizona, is 32 and behind the wheel of the No. 48 Ally “Love, Your Mind” Chevrolet. Despite finishing 18th last week and currently holding 13th in the standings, Bowman, partnered with crew chief Blake Harris, has over 1,500 career laps led, recording an average Las Vegas finish of 16.8.
Key Performances and Team Achievements
Throughout its history, Hendrick Motorsports has established itself as a powerhouse in NASCAR. The organization has competed in 1,413 races, secured 319 all-time wins, and holds the record for 258 pole positions. Their consistency is evident with 1,317 top-five and 2,253 top-ten finishes, along with 2,475 laps led at Las Vegas specifically. These numbers underscore their track record of success and their strong expectations for upcoming races.
The team’s drivers have been performing strongly this season, making significant gains on intermediate tracks, including Las Vegas. Each crew chief—Cliff Daniels, Alan Gustafson, Rudy Fugle, and Blake Harris—has played a vital part in preparing the cars and strategizing for the unique conditions the Las Vegas track demands.
Drivers and Crew Reflect on the Upcoming Race
The Hendrick Motorsports drivers shared their thoughts and approach as they look ahead to the Las Vegas race weekend. Their statements reflect both determination and realism, drawing from their past experiences and improvements made this season.
“We have a great history at (Las Vegas) but you can never expect to have a good result any time you go to a race. But I do feel like we’ve learned some things on our mile-and-a-half program, so I am excited to get there and see if we can match what we had at Kansas if not be a little better.”
— Kyle Larson, Driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet
“I thought we had some pretty good runs (at Las Vegas) prior to Next Gen and then the inception of the Next Gen car, I feel like it was a pretty big step backwards. And then I thought we had a really good run there going last fall. I thought we made some nice gains last year as a whole there. Had a really, really nice run going. I was excited about just having a solid day there in the fall and crashed. And I thought this spring was solid. More in the ballpark, not as good as we were in the fall, but certainly more competitive than some of the races.”
— Chase Elliott, Driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet
“The next round is the one we’ve put our focus on. It’s what determines if you race for a championship. Everyone especially is going to put a lot of focus on this weekend’s race (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway). It’s the easiest way to lock yourself in. Talladega (Superspeedway) is a bit of a crap shoot, and honestly, Martinsville (Speedway) hasn’t been our strongest in the fall. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for though and hopefully we’re one of the four racing for a championship in Phoenix.”
— William Byron, Driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet
“Vegas is always a fun stop on the schedule. We’ve had some solid runs at Vegas in the past and I’m excited to get back there. I feel like our mile-and-a-half program has continued to improve throughout this season. This No. 48 team has been putting in the work and if we execute like we know we can, we’ll hopefully have a shot to contend on Sunday.”
— Alex Bowman, Driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet
What to Expect as Hendrick Motorsports Heads to Las Vegas
As Hendrick Motorsports brings its competitive mix of drivers to Las Vegas, expectations remain high for standout performances. Focusing on the mile-and-a-half track and building on season-long progress, the team sees Las Vegas Motor Speedway as a critical venue. With crew chiefs like Cliff Daniels, Alan Gustafson, Rudy Fugle, and Blake Harris steering race day decisions, and drivers such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman aiming for strong results, fans can anticipate a compelling contest.
Las Vegas not only holds significance for championship hopes—especially for competitors like William Byron, who sets sights on Phoenix—but also showcases the ongoing legacy of Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR. Past achievements, combined with rigorous preparation and determination, set the stage for another memorable weekend as one of the sport’s most successful teams seeks victory once again.
