Hendrick Motorsports has been singled out as the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR championship favorite heading into the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series season, following recent remarks by Tommy Baldwin on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. With the championship showdown approaching at Phoenix Raceway, the momentum of William Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet places the team firmly in the spotlight.
Baldwin Points to Byron’s Rising Performance
This year’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 will see two Chevrolets, both from Hendrick Motorsports, and two Toyotas competing for the title. Tommy Baldwin, a co-host on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, identified William Byron as the standout playoff contender. Byron, driving the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, enters the final round after a season marked by consistent excellence, including a victory at Martinsville, which secured his spot in the championship round.
Baldwin emphasized the significance of recent successes for Byron and the No. 24 team and described the team’s current form as a deciding advantage.
“I think momentum wise there is. I think the 24 is going in with what they know now… they finally closed the race. I think they are the favorite just because of that.”
– Tommy Baldwin, Co-host of Door Bumper Clear podcast
Strong Season Places Byron in the Spotlight
William Byron, in his eighth full season with Hendrick Motorsports, first triumphed in the Cup Series at Daytona in August 2020. The current campaign has seen the Charlotte, North Carolina native accumulate three race wins, 11 top-five finishes, and 16 top-10 results. Byron also holds the title of reigning Daytona 500 champion, adding to the season’s weight of expectations.
Kyle Larson, Byron’s teammate and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, also remains in the hunt, rounding out the four finalists. The championship four is completed by Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin, who occupy the other coveted spots after a grueling season of competition.
Championship Set for Decisive Showdown at Phoenix
The season finale is set for November 2 at Phoenix Raceway, where the NASCAR Cup Series will crown its next champion. Fans can tune in for the broadcast on Peacock at 3 p.m. ET, and follow along via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for live updates. The anticipation is mounting as the competitive lineup ensures a dramatic close to the season, with Byron’s form and Hendrick Motorsports’ storied legacy creating additional intrigue.
Mutual Respect Between Rival Teams
Beyond the rivalry on the track, the competitive spirit extends to the leadership of both Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. Jeff Gordon, serving as Vice Chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, recounted receiving a congratulatory message from Joe Gibbs Racing President, Dave Alpern, after Byron qualified for the Championship 4 alongside his teammate Larson.
“He just beat me to the punch; I would have done the same thing. It just goes to show you the respect we have for one another. We’re honored as well. I’m really proud to have the relationship that we have with Gibbs.”
– Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports
“Off the track, we say we’re teammates, but on the track, we’re fierce competitors,” he added.
– Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports
This exchange highlighted not just the sportsmanship off the track, but the deep-rooted respect between the organizations. Hendrick Motorsports now finds itself with two contenders in the championship field for the third time, marking the sustained excellence of the team. The history between HMS and JGR traces back to Hendrick supplying engines to Joe Gibbs Racing during its early days, a period that paved the way for intense competition and mutual growth in the sport. Joe Gibbs Racing, now a five-time Cup Series champion team, has secured its own place among NASCAR’s elite organizations.
High Stakes Await as NASCAR Crowns Next Champion
As anticipation builds for the final event at Phoenix, attention remains fixed on Hendrick Motorsports and the possibility of securing another Cup Series title. With William Byron’s standout season, coupled with the proven abilities of Kyle Larson, the team enters the finale as a clear favorite, ready to contend with elite competitors like Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin. The collective performances throughout the season have set the stage for a dramatic and emotional finish, as the sport’s top teams and drivers vie for the crowning championship achievement.
Is there a clear favorite heading into Phoenix? 🥇🤷♂️
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