Hendrick Motorsports opens 2025 NASCAR season with unprecedented stability in the driver’s set -up

Concord, NC – The arrival of every new NASCAR season brings with it an adaptation time because racing fans try to reach new faces in new places in order to keep up with the always exciting door of drivers and teams.

But when cars were placed on the route in the Bowman Gray Stadium last Sunday evening, the driver was only too familiar with every entry from Hendrick Motorsports.

In fact, unprecedented like that.

For the fifth season in a row, Chase Elliott (No. 9 Chevrolet), Alex Bowman (No. 48 Chevrolet), Kyle Larson (No. 5 Chevrolet) and William Byrolet are behind Rick Hendrick’s Cup. Series entries. It is the first time in the 41-year history of the company that a line-up with four drivers has remained unchanged for half a decade.

Stability. Familiarity. A continuous development of camaraderie, which helps to facilitate the exchange of information from the route and teamwork.

These are the advantages of such durability, and Elliott said it felt among the drivers.

“I think it’s a good thing all the time, only having history with people and getting to know them because it is not as if they are the best friends with these boys and they hang away from the race track all the time, So it takes a little longer to get to know them, because a large part of their interaction is very short and quick and we usually work, ”said Elliott. In old age, what I think is solid. From the point of view of longevity, we hope we can be here for a long time, I all.

To Elliott’s Point, the current guide in Hendrick Motorsports, combines the experience of a series of veterans with grizzled veterans, but their age certainly does not reflect this. Between the four there are 35 full-time season for the Cup series, and yet Larson is the oldest with only 32. Neither Elliott nor byron even have or 30.

And yet they have successfully put together a laundry list that corresponds to most complete careers. Together, the current Hendrick Motorsport drivers won together with 69-point-paying races. They made the playoffs in 28 of their 35 seasons and summarized two titles (Elliott in 2020, Larson in 2021).

It is even better that all four of solid surfaces are aimed from you until the 2024 season, with everyone ending the ninth or better place in points. Byron led with his second place in a row, third place and his 4-championship 4 berth.

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“I just think everyone does a really good job. We currently don’t have a weak link at Hendrick Motorsports,” said Byron. “The 48 car was amazing in the playoffs and we were really all on the track. I only have the feeling that our teams are all very strong and the same cannot be said in the rest of the cup garage. There are many teams that have one or two good cars and then they have a few teams that are not so good.

While Byron and Elliott spent their entire career of the Cup series at Hendrick Motorsports, Larson is the relative newcomer, which only arrived in 2001. Before that, he spent six seasons with the now dissolved chip Ganassi Racing.

For him, the continued reliability of drivers helped him to get involved faster.

“Well, I’ve never been here with any teammates, so I am great on my side on my side.” Driver and all of this. I have the feeling that our debriefs are very productive. I have the feeling that the way we work together on the race track is very productive. We all understand each other and we are all young too. So, yes, I love the combination of teams and drivers here at Hendrick Motorsports and I enjoyed working with them. Hopefully we can share the collaboration, teamwork, all this and continue success on the race track. “

Like Larson, Bowman also spent the early part of his career elsewhere, with both drivers celebrating their full -time debut in 2014. Elliott came with Byron in 2016 two years later. Bowman, Elliott and Byron have been teammates since and now and, in season eighth, will combine Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson (2008-2015) as the longest trio of drivers in Hendrick Motorsports.

“It was a lot of fun. We all work together and bring different backgrounds and unique things to the table,” said Bowman. “I think we’re doing a good job together. Excited to continue.”

Of course, it is not the same all-for-all-all-one-for-for-for-for-all-one-all-one-one to play other big sports. Sometimes it can be a delicate balance to try to win while he is a good teammate and tries to share information and at the same time gain an advantage.

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Of course, the time builds up and thus gets nuance and better understanding of where the lines are. Elliott believes that all of this has developed and will continue to do so, and this can only be an advantage for everyone.

“I just think that we really get well in a work environment and then all go our different ways and make our own thing, and for whatever reason, our group is doing a really good job,” concluded Elliott. “I only believe there and spoke the information and ask them questions and everyone is open and honest. Balance in the past four or five years.”