Another Setback for Rick Hendrick as Star Driver Fails to Qualify

Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, has been facing a lot of challenges in the 2023 NASCAR season. To make matters worse, his star driver William Byron has been barred from the qualifying round at Indianapolis for failing the pre-race inspection.

What happened to Byron?

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Byron's bad luck continued at Indianapolis, where his car failed to pass the pre-race inspection three times. The problem area was identified as the right front fender, which did not meet the body scan standards. As a result, Byron's car chief Tyler Jones was ejected for the weekend, and Byron was barred from the qualifying round. He will also have to perform a pass-through penalty during the race.

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How does this affect Hendrick Motorsports?

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Three of their drivers - Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman have not secured a playoff spot yet, and are in danger of missing out on the post-season. Elliott, who is the defending champion, has been plagued by injuries and suspensions, and is currently 55 points below the cut line. Bowman and Larson have also had inconsistent performances, and are ranked 14th and 15th respectively in the standings.

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Chances of Hendrick Motorsports bouncing back?

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Despite the setbacks, Hendrick Motorsports still has some hope of turning things around. William Byron is already locked into the playoffs, and has shown great potential on road courses. He could still win the regular-season championship title if he can overcome his penalty and finish ahead of Truex Jr. at Indianapolis. Hendrick Motorsports will need to work hard and avoid any mistakes if they want to salvage their season and make a run for the title.

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