Tag Archives: Hendrick Motorsports

Chase Elliott says ‘Dumb Mistake’ Cost him First Win at Michigan

Posted on by
Photo - Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Photo – Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Continuing to do miraculously things in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie season, Chase Elliott said a ‘dumb mistake’ prevented him from capturing his first career win in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

“I had another fantastic car,” said Elliott. “My guys have been doing a really good job the past few weeks, and we’ve been just trying to give it all we can get to get one of these things. Had another fantastic opportunity today, and I feel like definitely messed that one up for my guys.

“As I said outside, you can’t do dumb stuff and expect to win. That’s just the way life is. That’s certainly the way this sport is, and I did dumb stuff today, so can’t expect to win.”

Continue reading →

Chase Elliott Strong at Pocono but Settles for Fourth

Posted on by
Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

For a while during Monday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, it appeared that Chase Elliott would score his first career victory, but when the checkered flag waved, the Hendrick Motorsports rookie settled for fourth.

Elliott, the 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion saw his winning chances disappear following a restart when he was battling teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the race lead. An aggressive move in the tricky Tunnel Turn forced Elliott to burp the gas, which allowed Kurt Busch who was riding third to pass the Hendrick Motorsports duo and never look back. Continue reading →

Denny Hamlin Clarifies Need for Rules Package Change at Sprint All-Star Race

Posted on by
Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

This weekend kicks off ten ‘Days of Thunder’ at Charlotte Motor Speedway starting with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, May 20th, then the Sprint Showdown and All-Star races on Saturday, May 21st. Days of Thunder will close with the Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 29th.

The defending winner of last year’s Sprint All-Star race is Denny Hamlin and he says that recent changes in the format and rules package will bring plenty of strategy into play this weekend and he’s optimistic about the quality of racing fans will see on Saturday night. Continue reading →

Edwards Bumps Teammate Kyle Busch to Win at Richmond

Posted on by

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The honeymoon at Joe Gibbs Racing may be over.

Yes, on Sunday at Richmond International Raceway, Carl Edwards won his second straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the Toyota Owners 400 and the fourth in a row for JGR, but he did so with a last-lap bump-and-run on teammate Kyle Busch, who was seeking his third victory in four events.

“We did everything right – be smart,” Busch was told on his radio, after Edwards moved the No. 18 Toyota up the track in turns three and four and beat Busch to the finish line by 0.675 seconds.

Busch took the advice. No doubt seething inside at the loss of a race he seemed poised to win, he maintained radio silence.
 Continue reading →

Johnson Powers Past Harvick for Sprint Cup Win at Fontana

Posted on by

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Jimmie Johnson won the battle between hometown heroes on Sunday, outdueling Kevin Harvick in overtime at Auto Club Speedway

“Awesome teamwork, boys!” Johnson shouted on his radio after taking the 77th checkered flag of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, breaking a tie with the late Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the all-time victory list. “There’s nothing like winning at home.”

The six-time series champion from El Cajon got the chance he needed when Kyle Busch blew a tire and hit the turn three wall on lap 198 of a scheduled 200 to cause the sixth and last caution of the afternoon. With the race destined for overtime, the lead-lap cars came to pit road for new tires, with Denny Hamlin leading Harvick and Johnson back on to the track. Continue reading →