With Kyle Larson’s win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports overtook Richard Petty Enterprises’ record of most Cup race wins.
All the Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman, have already won at least one race in the 2021 season and have six wins between them in total.
Larson, who is new to the organization is one of the drivers with multiple wins (2) and the No.5 driver has led 1,100 laps in the competition this season.
HMS became the first team to register 1-2-3-4 finish position when Bowman won the race at Dover. Having surpassed Richard Petty Enterprises’ record of 268 wins, HMS have become the team to beat.
“When we were like at 200 wins, just thinking that you’re going to win 269 and beat Richard (Petty)’s number, I never thought we’d get there,” Hendrick said. “Then all of a sudden the momentum started and we had a good run last year and this year.
“My dad always told me your biggest asset are your folks. You put key people together with good communication and good things will happen. If you remember, I had a one-car team and I went to two, and everybody said, ‘You can’t win with a two-car team,’ but I did it.
“In the automobile business you have good people, you spread them out and they got great experience, then you add another and another, and together if they communicate, they’re stronger. I think we kind of broke that mold.”
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Larson, who has been with HMS just this season and contributed to breaking the record with his two wins, spoke about the “amazing empire” that Hendrick has built.
“It’s an amazing place. Everything about the compound there at Hendrick Motorsports (in Charlotte, N.C.) is perfect. Everything down to the way they mow the lawn. It looks amazing,” Larson said.
“They put a level of effort into everything and pride in everything. I don’t think it’s a surprise to anybody that our cars are this good. (Hendrick) has built such an amazing empire, and everybody there loves to work there, too.
“I think that’s the most important thing. They all respect him and love to work for him and (because of that) want to do a good job for him that results follow.”
With an average age of 26 and all the drivers competent to win any day, HMS will only keep on building the record for everyone to chase.
“I think I’m good for the future,” Hendrick, 71, said. “I think at my age … with the average age of (my drivers at) 26, I think I’m set.”