Hendrick Motorsports is going all out for its 40th anniversary. The team, built by car dealership guru Rick Hendrick, is the winningest is Nascar history.
In 2024, Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, believes Hendrick Motorsports is as strong as it’s ever been. Halfway through the season, Hendrick drivers Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are first and second in the standings, respectively. William Byron has three victories, including the Daytona 500, and Alex Bowman is tied for the second most top 10s (10).
“We know we have to keep pushing and performing at that level,” Andrews said. “When the playoffs get here, there will need to be a step up in performance to advance our way through the fall months. Hopefully, we will get as many Hendrick Motorsports cars as we can to Phoenix to compete for the championship in November.”
With seven wins through the first 18 races, Hendrick is experiencing a major turnaround. In 2023, Elliott and Bowman, who were both injured in off-track accidents, missed the playoffs. Larson and Byron qualified for the Championship 4 last year, but finished second and third, respectively, behind Ryan Blaney.
“There is always more out there,” Andrews said of optimizing the team’s performance. “As soon as you think that you’ve extracted as much as you can from the vehicle and rest on your laurels, you’ll fall behind. There are so many areas with this new racecar that we’ve been running for the last two seasons that our toolbox is much smaller. It’s really about the small details and small gains.”
Andrews was director of engine operations at Hendrick Motorsports for the over 25 years. Hendrick elevated him to his current role in May of 2022, alongside other promotions within the company.
Now, Hendrick’s driver lineup is secured through at least the end of 2025. Byron’s is the first contract that will expire, and it is likely he remains with the organization.
Like many teams, Hendrick is also preparing for the future. Hendrick Automotive Group is sponsoring Rajah Caruth in the Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports this year. Caruth won the third race of the year at Las Vegas and has five top 10s through 12 races.
“We’re always looking for what’s next from a talent or driver side,” Andrews said. “We have an amazing driver pool at Hendrick Motorsports, the best I’ve seen across four drivers in the comraderie between them, not only on the track, but the way they work together off the track and in our meetings.
“You’re keeping your eye on the young, up-and-coming guys in our sport. Certainly, Rajah is a great talent, personality and spokesperson for the Hendrick companies. We don’t have firm plans to tell you this is the path for Rajah past the Truck Series, but we’re obviously with him and Spire Motorsports. We’re proud to be involved and we like everything he’s about.”
In addition to sponsoring the Truck Series effort, Hendrick reignited its Xfinity Series program in 2022. Each year, they’ve added more races for the No. 17 team. Each of Hendrick’s four Cup drivers, along with road racing ace Boris Said, have already competed in at least one Xfinity Series race this year. Both Larson and Elliott have won in the car, a tribute to Ricky Hendrick.
“The part-time Xfinity program gets our drivers to particular drivers they have an interest in getting more laps in before they’re in their cars on Sunday,” Andrews said. “We have somewhere between eight and 12 races planned for that car. It’s really their choice.”
If any of the Hendrick drivers can capture the championship, it will be No. 17 for the organization.
The Cup Series heads to Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. Larson and Elliott won the first two races held at the track. Ally, Bowman’s primary sponsor, is the title sponsor for the event.
