Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) entered the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with high expectations. In addition to a legacy name, they were fielding four competitive drivers in Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman. However, the team’s performance in the initial NASCAR playoffs fell short, leading to concerns about their championship prospects. Bowman, in particular, faced challenges that put his playoff advancement in jeopardy.

In the opening races of the playoffs, Bowman encountered significant setbacks. At Darlington Raceway on August 31st, a pit stop error resulted in a 40-second delay. This caused him to finish 31st. The following week at Gateway, another pit stop issue led to a 23.9-second stop. The situation contributed to a 26th-place finish. These performances left Bowman 35 points below the cutoff line heading into the crucial Bristol race on Saturday. In response, HMS overhauled Bowman’s pit crew. They brought in members from Carson Hocevar’s team to address the issues. Despite these changes, the team’s performance remained inconsistent.

Eventually, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 13 proved to be a pivotal moment in the NASCAR playoffs. Despite a fiery moment on pit road, Austin Cindric clinched a berth in the Cup Playoffs Round of 12. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman was the first one out. Bowman, who had been in a strong position to advance, ultimately fell short, marking a significant disappointment for the team.

With only three of their four drivers advancing, Hendrick Motorsports faces increased pressure in the upcoming races. The elimination of Alex Bowman has sparked frustration among fans, with many expressing their disappointment on social media platforms like X. The team’s ability to regroup and perform in the next round will now be crucial to their championship aspirations.

Fans livid as Bowman faces an injustice amidst NASCAR playoffs

Heading into the 2025 playoffs, Kyle Larson showed flashes of strong performance but repeatedly dropped positions. Especially after starting near the front. This highlighted potential strategic issues on the track. One fan reacted sharply to these recurring struggles. “Larson’s crew chief better get it together, seems like every time he’s starting up front he gets bumped and the next thing you know he’s an 18th or 19th place just fighting to stay there, that’s not going to win you no championship, crew chief get this thing together,” wrote one fan.

This comment underscores the perception that Larson’s team, particularly the crew chief, is failing to convert competitive starts into consistent finishes. It reflects broader fan concern that without an improved in-race strategy, HMS cannot contend for the championship.

Beyond team-specific issues, fans have also criticized the manufacturer’s role in overall performance: “We’re not winning the Championship this year. Chevrolet as a whole has to get it together.” There have been numerous mechanical reliability concerns and car setups that have struggled to compete against top rivals. By calling out Chevrolet, the implication is that HMS’s struggles are not isolated. However, that’s partly systemic, suggesting that even talented drivers face limits due to the machinery they are given.

Over these three races, one thing was clear. Not every HMS driver was dealt a fair hand. Alex Bowman’s NASCAR playoffs elimination drew attention to operational inefficiencies and subpar car performance, “Maybe you’d have all 4 if you had competent pit crews and some decent cars.. yall have been bringing tractors to the track lately.” This reaction is tied directly to Bowman’s elimination. It pointed to pit crew errors and slow cars as decisive factors. The term “tractors” highlights how fans perceive HMS vehicles as uncompetitive, underscoring that internal team and mechanical issues played a significant role in failing to advance all four drivers.

Fans also placed direct responsibility on the team for Bowman’s playoff exit, rather than the driver alone. One comment captured this sentiment rather bluntly: “You guys failed Bowman.” Contextually, Bowman’s season included strong early finishes. But it was marred by pit stop mistakes and inconsistent support. This statement made it clear a view that team management, decisions, and support systems were insufficient. This arguably contributed to the elimination. It conveyed a clear expectation among fans that the team should shield drivers from avoidable setbacks.

Finally, some reactions contextualize the 2025 struggles within HMS’s history. A fan noted, “While these guys are talented and I will support Hendrick forever, you have to marvel at what Chad & Jimmie did winning 5 championships in a row !!! Different times / different cars, yes, but you still have to wonder if the sport will ever see that kind of dominance ever again.” This reaction referenced the legendary era of Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson. It also framed the current challenges as a stark contrast. Fans didn’t just express disappointment but also highlighted how strategic consistency and crew leadership once defined HMS, making 2025’s inconsistencies even more pronounced.

Collectively, these reactions paint a troubled image. From crew chief performance and manufacturer reliability to pit crew errors and Bowman’s elimination, the responses reflect widespread concern about HMS’s ability to sustain dominance. While supporters recognize driver talent, they also demand better strategy and execution to reclaim the team’s championship competitiveness.