Kyle Larson’s relentless pursuit of NASCAR greatness continues to captivate fans and rewrite the record books. But here’s where it gets even more impressive: despite falling just short of victory in Las Vegas, Larson’s second-place finish behind Denny Hamlin wasn’t just another podium—it was a historic moment. The Californian driver surpassed Kurt Busch to claim the 20th spot on the all-time list of laps led, further cementing his legacy in the sport. And this is the part most people miss: Larson led a staggering 129 laps in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 opener, a performance that, on another day, could have easily secured him the win. His effort earned him 19 additional stage points, propelling him 35 points above the cutline with just two races left before the Championship 4 is decided.
Larson’s humility shines through in his post-race remarks, as he credited his team for their stellar performance. ‘Hats off to my team, too,’ he said, according to the official Hendrick Motorsports website (https://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/articles/144653/results-todays-nascar-race-kyle-larson-finishes-alex-bowman-las-vegas-sunday). ‘We had an awesome day as well. Good points day, obviously.’
The race itself was a masterclass in strategy and speed. Hendrick Motorsports dominated from the start, with Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Larson qualifying fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. Byron took the early lead after the first set of pit stops in stage one, holding off the field to secure the stage win with Larson close behind in second. Stage two saw Larson take the reins, leading the majority of the segment to claim another stage victory, while Byron finished third.
But here’s where it gets controversial: late in stage three, Larson and Byron appeared poised for a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports. However, with just 36 laps remaining, Larson overtook Byron, who was then caught in a massive crash just five laps later, ending his race prematurely. This raises the question: Could Byron have held off Larson if not for the crash? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Meanwhile, Alex Bowman steadily climbed through the field, reaching the top six by the final restart. Despite a late-race yellow flag, Bowman secured a seventh-place finish, while Elliott settled for 18th. Larson’s battle with Hamlin for second place was nothing short of thrilling, though Hamlin ultimately prevailed. ‘(Hamlin) must’ve nailed the bottom behind me, got to my inside, and it was kind of over from there,’ Larson admitted. ‘Hats off to them.’
Beyond the racetrack, Hendrick Motorsports is making waves in the tech world. The championship-winning team has partnered with Acronis Cyber Protect to safeguard its diverse data needs, from daily backups of engineering and wind tunnel data to managing the unique demands of its mobile data center during races. And this is the part most people miss: the team processes up to 5,000 high-resolution photos during a single 3-hour race—that’s one photo every two seconds! Acronis’s machine learning capabilities have been instrumental in classifying and organizing this vast amount of visual data, a challenge their previous provider couldn’t meet.
Hendrick Motorsports, based in Concord, North Carolina, has been a NASCAR powerhouse since 1984, boasting a record 13 championships in the Cup Series. With over 600 employees and a 100-acre campus, the team’s success extends beyond the track, thanks to innovative partnerships like the one with Acronis. Their switch to Acronis Cyber Protect highlights the importance of robust cyber protection in modern racing, where data is as critical as horsepower.
Thought-provoking question: As NASCAR teams increasingly rely on technology, how will the balance between driver skill and data-driven strategy evolve? Share your opinions below—we’d love to hear from you!
