NASCAR Fans Unhappy With Hendrick Motorsports’ Domination in Martinsville
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via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and William Byron, driver of the #24 Valvoline Chevrolet, talk during the qualifying heats for the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
There are two things to know about Hendrick Motorsports. First is, they’re a team that likes to break records, and that too, in quite some fashion. And second is, a fraction of NASCAR fans get pissed when Hendrick Motorsports breaks records in the fashion they do.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, both of these things were on display after the Cup race at Martinsville that HMS driver William Byron won, his second and his team’s fourth of the season.
At Martinsville, Rick Hendrick’s team led, a scarcely believable, 98.5% of the total laps. Or in other words, 397 laps of 403, the highest ever for the team in a race in their history.
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Martinsville Speedway domination by Hendrick Motorsports. pic.twitter.com/JkjozZohm6
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 11, 2022
So this was the first of the aforementioned two things.
For the second, NASCAR fans didn’t disappoint or let down any expectations as some of the reactions that poured in after this feat by the winningest team in NASCAR history were less than welcoming, to put it mildly.
Sounds to me like the rules need to be changed and take away Hendricks advantage. Everyone knows NA$CAR always favors the Chevys!!!!!!!
— RW (@bhhs70) April 11, 2022
I’m so sick of Hendrick Motorsports and JGR. This Next Gen car is supposed to help the little shops compete, but it seems like the same teams are dominating.
— Matt (@MichStMatt) April 12, 2022
Yes, Hendricks tells NASCAR what they can do! Everything is Hendricks on FOX don’t watch any more.
— Terry (@Terry80986047) April 12, 2022
Rigged
— The Fan 3.0 #D4L 🌰 🔴HI🔴 🌰 (@CWGCLEBuckeyes) April 11, 2022
— Sam Harris (@SamHarrisWK) April 11, 2022
All current Hendrick Motorsports drivers have now one thing in common
Alex Bowman, William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott now all have one thing in common, apart from the fact that they are Hendrick drivers. Poor jokes aside, the commonality between the four current HMS drivers is that post this week, all four of them will have run the iconic Hendrick paint scheme.
Yes, that paint scheme that Kyle Larson runs in the Cup Series, the scheme that honors Rick Hendrick’s son who unfortunately passed away.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Bowman ran the scheme when he took part in the Truck Series race at COTA a few weeks ago, while William Byron ran the scheme when he too ran and won the Truck Series race at Martinsville last week.
And now it’s Chase Elliott’s turn as he too will run in the Truck Series race with the iconic Ricky Hendrick livery.
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Chase Elliott now adds his name to the list.
Every single Hendrick Motorsports driver has or will run the same HendrickCars paint scheme in 2022. https://t.co/0yKr5ouCOf
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) April 12, 2022
“Driving the No. 7 Chevy Silverado at Bristol this weekend is definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Elliott said. “These trucks always look like a lot of fun to race on dirt, and this team has had some great runs this year and put together a solid program in a short amount of time.”
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“I’m excited to see what we can go out there and do on Saturday night.”
Written by:
Edited by:
Ankit Sharma
