On a recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast on Fox, Kevin Harvick openly criticized Hendrick Motorsports, specifically targeting William Byron for his lackluster postseason performance. Harvick’s remarks brought the ongoing struggles of Byron and his team into the spotlight, as the driver failed to meet expectations in several key races. This discussion, with its focus on Kevin Harvick Hendrick Motorsports criticism, has increased scrutiny of the organization’s strategy and competitiveness during the critical playoff phase.
William Byron’s Challenges Stand Out in Postseason Struggles
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs kicked off with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, where Byron and the #24 team began strongly but quickly lost momentum, ending the 367-lap race in 21st place. Their difficulties continued at World Wide Technology Raceway, as Byron, who started sixth, could only secure an 11th place finish after failing to contend with the playoff frontrunners.
Byron’s pattern of finishing outside the top ten persisted at Bristol Motor Speedway. At Kansas Speedway, Kevin Harvick pointed out the team’s lack of speed almost kept them from progressing to the next round, though Byron managed to finish ninth against the odds.
Reflecting on Byron’s performance, Harvick stated:
“I think the 24 definitely underperformed. Their speed has been off. We went to St. Louis and thought, ‘Maybe they found something,’ but now it’s kind of flip-flopped. Now the 5 car seems to be the one with more speed than the 24. They had a big miss at Kansas but managed to grind out a decent finish despite having no speed there. It was a big flop at Kansas. They’re another team you just don’t know about—maybe they’ll show up at Vegas, maybe not. They were awful at Kansas.” – Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Cup Series Champion
This clear Kevin Harvick Hendrick Motorsports criticism places focus on Byron’s recent results and raises questions about the consistency and preparedness of the #24 team during the postseason battles.
Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott Display Strength, but Inconsistency Remains
At the Charlotte ROVAL, Byron wrapped up the race in 11th position, while his teammate Kyle Larson crossed the finish line in second place. These results placed Byron fourth in the playoff standings, just four points above the cutoff line, with Larson maintaining a position one place higher at third. The performance disparity within Hendrick Motorsports has become a notable concern for analysts and fans alike.
Harvick Frustrated by Hendrick Motorsports’ Unpredictability at Dover
NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin, representing Joe Gibbs Racing, triumphed at Dover Motor Speedway with his fourth victory of the season, while most Hendrick Motorsports drivers struggled to keep up. Chase Elliott emerged as the standout among his teammates, securing pole position, clinching a stage win, and recovering from a 15-second delay in stage two to finish sixth.
Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman managed third and fourth place finishes, yet Byron finished deep in the field at 31st. Speaking about the Dover event, Harvick drew attention to both the high points and the persistent issues with inconsistency at Hendrick Motorsports with the following observation:
“At the end, I thought, man, he might have a shot to win this thing, with the tire situation. But they (No. 5) definitely needed to get back on track and be able to try to get themselves in a position to get the ship righted, and you’ve got five more races to do that before the playoffs start. But man, I hate that inconsistency.” – Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Playoff Standings and the Road Ahead for Hendrick Motorsports
Chase Elliott sits in sixth place on the Cup Series points table with 4018 points, and Kyle Larson maintains third with 4032 points and three victories this season. Despite Elliott’s standout efforts and Larson’s consistency, questions remain about Hendrick Motorsports’ ability to sustain a competitive edge during the most critical part of the season, particularly as the playoffs intensify.
Looking ahead, the impact of Kevin Harvick’s direct comments could prompt internal assessments within Hendrick Motorsports and potentially motivate changes to improve postseason performance. With competition from drivers like Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney, every remaining race will be vital for the organization as they attempt to turn critique into renewed momentum on the track. The continuing struggles and moments of brilliance among teammates Byron, Larson, Bowman, and Elliott underscore the unpredictable landscape facing fans and teams in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
