NASCAR.com previews the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway as Kyle Larson finds himself starting deep in the field after a crash in practice.
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00:00 Let's narrow the field down to eight.
00:02 I'm Alex Weaver here at Charlotte Motor Speedway
00:04 and it's time for the Roval.
00:06 This is an elimination race
00:08 for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs
00:09 and always brings out the craziness of racing.
00:13 The Roval is one that drivers never know what to expect
00:16 and it is so much to accomplish
00:19 in a little space here at the Roval.
00:21 But the story coming out of practice and qualifying
00:24 on Saturday is Kyle Larson making contact with the wall.
00:28 The five was unable to make a qualifying lap
00:31 so he'll start at the back of the field.
00:33 Right now he's above the elimination line
00:35 but knows that he's in for a wild ride here at the Roval.
00:39 - The silver lining may be that you can short the stages
00:42 and get your track position that way
00:43 to be up front for the end of the race.
00:45 We've overcome a lot this year alone.
00:47 I know that we have a team capable of getting through it
00:50 and advancing.
00:51 - Both teams of 2311 right now with Bubba Wallace
00:54 and Tyler Reddick find themselves below the elimination line
00:57 entering today's race.
00:59 Bubba Wallace spoke with us prior to his qualifying lap
01:02 and talked through the technicality of the Roval.
01:05 The most challenging part of this racetrack
01:07 turns three and four.
01:09 - It's off camber.
01:10 Trying to set your approach up correctly
01:14 can get you in a world of trouble very quickly.
01:17 So just have to be mindful.
01:18 Can't go in there lazy.
01:21 You can't go and be too aggressive.
01:22 We've seen a lot of cars wreck and spin out
01:24 and hit the wall there so just have to be smart.
01:27 - His teammate Tyler Reddick will have the best seat
01:29 in the house at the drop of the green.
01:31 He's your bush light pole sitter for today's race.
01:34 Now he has the odds outright to win this race today
01:37 but Tyler Reddick knows that if it comes down
01:40 to he and his teammate, it may be a battle at 2311.
01:44 - Still working together obviously.
01:45 That's how we've gotten ourselves into the playoffs
01:48 through the first round.
01:49 We can't lose sight of that and we haven't.
01:51 But certainly yeah, it's definitely a more difficult
01:54 less probable outcome that we both make it through
01:56 but certainly anything's on the table.
01:59 If I go out there and run a really good race
02:02 and apply a lot of pressure to those that are safer
02:03 inside the cut line, it opens up an opportunity
02:06 for a mistake on their behalf and that can get us in trouble.
02:08 So we'll just see how it goes.
02:10 Obviously it could ultimately come down to us head to head
02:13 but if it does, you know, it's best to stay on the lane.
02:15 But I remain hopeful that there is a way
02:18 that we both make it through.
02:20 - At the end of today's race, eight drivers
02:23 will still have a chance at the 2023 championship trophy.
02:26 It's time to narrow the field down to eight
02:28 and we're gonna do it at Charlotte Motor Speedway
02:30 for the Bank of America Roval 400, 2 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
02:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]