Kyle Larson Crowns JGR as “The Best Organization,” Calling Out Rick Hendrick

Published 08/12/2023, 6:01 PM EDT

If there is any team that has been in the spotlight for both the right and wrong reasons, it’s Hendrick Motorsports. Propelling HMS to the front lines of the championship standings, William Byron has collected four race wins, garnering much adulation from the NASCAR world. On the other end of the spectrum is Chase Elliott, whose poor runs and diminishing chances of getting into the playoffs have become a highly debated topic in the racing community.

All things considered, a month ago, Rick Hendrick’s team was in the midst of a bittersweet season, but things slowly turned more bitter and less sweet. Losing its points lead to rivals, HMS was recently handed a series of disappointments, causing its star driver, Kyle Larson, to make a painful admission.

Kyle Larson admits defeat to rival teams

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Falling behind in New Hampshire, William Byron lost his points lead to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. Unshaken by the developments, the #24 Chevy driver was on the lookout for another win at Pocono and Richmond, but to no avail. Standing firm in the face of adversity, the HMS team persevered, but they weren’t expecting the disappointment that awaited them at the Michigan International Speedway.

Stuck in a do-or-die situation to secure a playoff spot, Chase Elliott bowed out of Michigan’s FireKeepers 400 early, owing to a right rear tire failure. Just 12 laps later, Byron too followed Elliott into the garage as he scraped the outer wall, ending his race owing to NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy.

With two of its drivers bowing out of Michigan in just Stage 1, Rick Hendrick was awarded with another disappointment as #48 driver, Alex Bowman spun out on lap 127. Abandoned by his teammates, Kyle Larson picked up HMS’s torch, securing a 5th-place finish. As NASCAR arrived at Indianapolis for the upcoming Verizon 200 Cup Series race, Larson had a lot to say about his team’s performance.

Speaking to media personnel at The Brickyard, the #5 Chevy driver called out HMS while admitting defeat to Joe Gibbs Racing, saying, “The Gibbs guys definitely have taken over, being the best organization. Or the Toyota’s in general, 23XI [Racing] and Gibbs. I feel like Hendrick Motorsports was that team for at least the first half. I think we are trying to figure out, you know, how to continue to get better here before the playoff, but then even in the playoffs.”

Watch This Story: NASCAR Hall Of Famer Believes Kyle Larson Will Be Run Over If He Continues On This Path

While Kyle Larson seemingly admitted defeat to his JGR counterparts, Hendrick Motorsports’ bout with bad luck was far from over.

William Byron deemed ineligible for the qualifying round

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Marring HMS run at Michigan, bad luck struck Rick Hendrick’s team again at Indianapolis, even before the cars could hit the tracks. With the cars lined up in the garage area for pre-race inspection, Hendrick Motorsports was slapped with a hefty penalty. Undergoing body scans to determine the legality of body panels, William Byron’s #24 Chevy failed the pre-race inspection three times.

Opting out of a fourth scan, Hendrick Motorsports’ car chief was ejected for the weekend and Byron was barred from competing in the qualifying round. Forced to perform a pass-through penalty from Pit Road, Byron is now ranked 39th on the starting grid.

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“I Struggle a Little Bit” – Ex-HMS Crew Chief Has Major Concerns Over Chase Elliott’s Playoff Contention

With HMS’ current state in tatters, can Rick Hendrick’s star drivers redeem themselves before the end of the regular season?

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Written by:

Naman Neeraj is a NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports. This Motorsports buff has completed his undergrad in English Literature and has now set out to make a name for himself in the journalism field. Although he is new to the scene, he has been following motorsports for over a decade.

Edited by:

Nischal Kandpal

Kyle Larson Crowns JGR as “The Best Organization,” Calling Out Rick Hendrick

Kyle Larson admits defeat to rival teams

William Byron deemed ineligible for the qualifying round

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