The NASCAR community is headed to Chicago for the organization’s first-ever Street race this weekend. Saturday’s 50-min practice and qualifying session got the driver’s a first-hand feel of what the tight and narrow city lanes were like. With three of its four drivers ending up at the back of the pack after qualifying, NASCAR’s most winning team, Hendrick Motorsports had a stark realization to keep his mojo running and “not be an idiot.”

Though Kyle Larson put on a pretty decent pace during qualifying, NASCAR’s golden boy, Chase Elliott, and 25-year-old HMS prodigy, William Byron clearly were in trouble as both kissed the wall, bringing about major damages to the cars. Shortly after his qualifying run, the #24 driver revealed how the #24 Chevy felt different during its first-ever street run on Saturday.

William Byron details the inadequate HMS equipment that dropped him at the back

Months after NASCAR celebrated its grand debut at the 24 hours of Le Mans, the Hendrick Motorsports-backed Garage 56 showcased to the world its Cup car’s capabilities but months after the centenary event in France, the HMS camp has hit a rock bottom at Chicago.

With only Larson qualifying 7th, the rest three, including Elliott, Alex Bowman, and Byron are left down in the back. While it was a minor touch that broke Byron’s #24 car’s toe link, Elliott on the other hand crashed head-first into the wall after missing a turn. Whereas, Bowman finished qualifying 13th behind Larson.

With 3 of its drivers lost in the fray, now they will have to battle out the traffic while they make their way up the ladder in one of the most technical road courses ever in the sport’s history. Byron revealed his thoughts, saying, “Yeah, it’s nice to have some friends back there to be able to work the traffic. Our car wasn’t the same you know. The camber was 2 degrees or more off once I hit the wall.”

Even as he pointed out the flaw in his Chevy, the optimistic driver was determined to change his ways. Citing the Bristol incident where he had a similar fate in qualifying, Byron added, “So, we were able to fix toe links to make laps but the way the car was handling wasn’t very good. But up to that point, I felt really optimistic. I just have to learn how to be a little excited. I think to just ease into it because that seems like, you know, Bristol dirt when we first went there. I hit the wall. So, just got to do a better job on my end to be not an idiot.”

With the drivers used to simulations, the first-hand experience racing in the city certainly got them zoned in as they discovered the drastic changes in conditions with the course being more slippery at specific areas while others had bumpy textures. Byron’s teammate, Elliott was let down as the disheartened revealed his thoughts after practice.

Amid Chase Elliott’s Embarrassing Road Course Streak, Underdog Denny Hamlin Deals Massive Blow to HMS Legend’s Prophecy

Disheartened Chase Elliott opens up after a first-hand experience of the street course

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With some parts of the track so narrow, the slightest of miscalculations are certain to end badly as drivers themselves found out during their 50-minute practice. Even NASCAR’s poster boy and 2020 Cup champion, Chase Elliott accepted defeat when he vented out his frustration, saying, “I am not good.”

“I am not good, so just trying to figure it out. … I’m not even close enough to start complaining [about the car].” Said the driver dejected and disheartened.

With veteran short-track guy Denny Hamlin claiming the pole position in NASCAR’s first-ever street course and the renowned road experts fading back, Grant Park 220 is definitely going to be a wild ride.

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