In Homestead, Florida, Hendrick Motorsports has kicked off the NASCAR season with impressive momentum. Their drivers have clinched victories in two out of the first six Cup Series races, which includes Kyle Larson’s recent win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Currently, their racers occupy the top three positions in the standings, with four spots among the top six.
However, Jeff Gordon, the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, insists that the team remains in a pursuit of improvement. “Getting a start like this means you can focus on fine-tuning,” Gordon explained. “It’s victories you’re after, and ultimately striving for perfection.”
William Byron—who secured his second consecutive Daytona 500 win last month—alongside Larson and Alex Bowman, leads the standings. In Homestead, Bowman and Larson engaged in an intense fight for the win.
Bowman, who began Sunday’s race in pole position, overtook Bubba Wallace for the lead with roughly 30 laps remaining. Larson charged ahead and, by Lap 261, took advantage of Bowman’s brush with the wall to seize the lead and finish with a 1.205-second victory, marking his first Cup Series win of the year.
Following the race, Larson noted that both Bowman and Wallace—who eventually placed third—seemed prone to errors as he closed in. Larson was able to overtake Bowman more smoothly than he initially anticipated following Bowman’s slip-up.
“I certainly feel like I choked that one away,” Bowman remarked. “I just wore myself out. Saw the 5 (Larson) approaching and started switching things up… Made a few mistakes out there. Thought we were solid all day.”
The win crowned a hectic weekend for Larson, who almost swept the triple-header. Winning the Craftsman Truck race on Friday and finishing fourth in the Xfinity Series on Saturday—even while leading most laps—he came into Sunday with a resolve to claim victory on one of his favored tracks.
“I didn’t predict anyone would catch (Bowman),” Gordon admitted. “You can never count out Kyle Larson, especially here.”
Byron and Larson both boast a Cup Series victory, three finishes within the top five, and four finishes in the top ten this season, having led a combined 203 laps. Meanwhile, Bowman has achieved one top-five finish, five top-ten finishes, and led 62 laps.
Chase Elliott, piloting the No. 6 Chevrolet for Hendrick, ranks sixth in the standings with three top-ten finishes. The quartet of Hendrick’s Chevrolets is the sole representation of the brand in the top 10 positions.
“We’ve had a few races where all four cars finish in the top eight or ten,” Gordon shared. “It’s crucial to capitalize on a strong start, establishing a good standing in points to avoid falling back. That’s satisfying, but we’re still being outperformed.”
Larson added, “Although we’re four of the top six, none of us have the best car presently.”
From Gordon’s perspective, Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford was that day’s standout car. Blaney dominated, leading 124 laps and taking Stage 1 after starting from the sixth position. However, his engine failure on Lap 207 concurrently overshadowed a formidable performance.
“Honestly, that was the car to beat,” confessed Gordon. “They exhibited absurd speed. So, we’re still chasing.”