NASCAR: Has a threat to Hendrick finally emerged?
By Randy Smith
For the first time in over a month, a non-Hendrick Motorsports driver won a NASCAR Cup Series race. What does this mean for the rest of the season?
After Hendrick Motorsports took the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season by storm with a seven-race winning streak that had dated back to last month when they swept the top four at Dover International Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch was able to save enough fuel to win on Sunday afternoon at Pocono Raceway to end this streak.
The two-time champion secured his second win of the year, and he has already doubled his win total from last season.
With his second win of the year, Busch has moved into the top five in the points standings, and he has joined teammate Martin Truex Jr. as the second Joe Gibbs Racing driver with multiple wins in 2021.
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Christopher Bell earned his first career win earlier this season at the Daytona International Speedway road course, while Denny Hamlin is still holding on to the points lead, which he has held for 18 straight races, despite not yet winning.
So while Hendrick Motorsports have been dominant, the premier Toyota team have certainly shown their potential. Now with them finally winning again, is this the end of Hendrick Motorsports’ domination?
While it’s easy to think that Busch’s win could begin a new part of the season, it’s hard to say that this is really going to slow down the all-time winningest team in the Cup Series.
The doubleheader at Pocono Raceway resulted in some mulligans for Hendrick Motorsports. Kyle Larson blew a tire on the very last turn of the final lap of the first race, but that still resulted in teammate Alex Bowman grabbing the checkered flag.
The second of the two races ended up being a fuel mileage race. Another Hendrick Motorsports driver, William Byron, was leading with just over two laps remaining, but he had to pit for fuel. Hamlin took the lead and had to pit for fuel one lap later, allowing Busch to win at the Tricky Triangle.
Busch has said that he feels like he and the rest of Joe Gibbs Racing are the “best of the rest” behind Hendrick Motorsports and that they are “growing and getting better.” With Busch and Truex now each having multiple wins and Hamlin still leading the standings, Joe Gibbs Racing do seem to be the nearest threat to Hendrick Motorsports.
But while Hendrick Motorsports’ winning streak may have ended, the whole season hasn’t. Both Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports know this, and they’ll both look to continue their winning ways, whether based on one fuel mileage win or a month-plus of dominance.
The next race on the schedule is the Jockey Made in America 250 Presented by Kwik Trip, which is scheduled to take place at Road America on Sunday, July 4. NBC is set to broadcast this race live beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.