The 2023 season has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride for the Rick Hendrick-owned Hendrick Motorsports team. Collecting 14 Cup Series championship titles, HMS is undisputedly the most sought-after team for any up-and-coming driver in NASCAR stables. Fielding four full-time cars, Hendrick Motorsports is now eyeing the 2023 championship title owing to the #24 team’s tactics and William Byron’s racing finesse.
While most Hendrick Motorsports drivers often take the center stage of fans’ attention, HMS legend and former crew chief, Steve Letarte has now come forth, exposing the disrespect towards the most underrated driver in Rick Hendrick-owned team.
What did Steve Letarte say?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The term disappointing doesn’t come close to describing Alex Bowman‘s 2023 season. Driving the #48 car for Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman “The Showman” was leading the points at the beginning of this season. Collecting three top-5 and six top-10 finishes during the first seven races, Alex Bowman point leading run was cut short and he went further down after a Sprint Car race-related injury left him with a broken T3 vertebrae.
Sitting out for three races, the #48 driver lost crucial points. Since rejoining the Cup Series chase in Charlotte, Bowman has failed to secure a top-10 finish, forcing him to sit out of the playoff bubble. Speaking on the Dirty Mo Dough podcast, Steve Letarte had quite a few words to spare for Rick Hendrick’s most underrated driver,
“I’m telling you and I am guilty of this. Bowman might be the most disrespected numbers in the garage. Like, he needs a PR campaign, because I tell everybody, he’s the most overlooked driver that wins two or three races a year.”
The legendary HMS crew chief further added, “I swear no one ever says Bowman’s my guy, no one ever says Bowman’s the man. They all wear their Denny Hamlin hack t-shirts, right? But the guy continues to run pretty, like, now it’s been a little struggle since he’s come back from the back end.”
While the underrated Alex Bowman battles his own demons, HMS teammate Chase Elliott isn’t walking on a bed of roses either.
Watch This Story: Tony Stewart Claims HMS’s All-Round Superstar Is Debunking “Bulls**t’ Side Of Racing
NASCAR Legend says NASCAR’s Golden Boy might see a turnaround
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Trending
NASCAR Lawsuit: Michael Jordan & Co Question NASCAR’s Ultimatum Threatening 23XI & FRM’s Legal Leverage
“It Was a Bloodbath”- Ross Chastain Unravels of Getting an Earful After Making a Laughing Stock of Himself After Changing His Look
Tyler Reddick’s Championship Run Becomes the Catalyst for Bootie Barker’s Removal From Bubba Wallace’s Camp
“RIP”: Ex-NASCAR Star’s Unfortunate Passing Leaves Dale Earnhardt Jr & Fans Mourning
NASCAR Fans Predict Tony Stewart’s Rookie to ‘Disappoint’ in 2025 Despite Roger Penske’s Backing
Matching up Alex Bowman’s bad luck, NASCAR’s golden boy Chase Elliott missed out on seven races this season. Momentarily displaying an upwards trajectory at Sonoma, Nashville, and Chicago, the #9 driver once again fell into a slump. Plagued by poor performance, a major portion of the NASCAR community seemingly wrote off Chase Elliott from the playoff run. But there still lies hope for the HMS star, as believed by someone with a lot of NASCAR insights.
With Chase Elliott trying to nibble his way into the playoff bubble, Kyle Petty, in a recent episode of NBC’s Motor Mouths said, “When in a couple of different road courses, in a wild card like Daytona, listen, it’s anybody’s game right now. So they can win their way in.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Only four races remain in the Cup Series regular season. Or should we say three, since Chase Elliott is already out of the Michigan FireKeepers Casino 400 race? But can the HMS duo of Elliott and Bowman turn their luck around?
Read More: Chase Elliott Reveals His Biggest Threat at Michigan