With the New Year upon us and the 2024 NASCAR season approaching, it is time to take a look at some resolutions for Hendrick Motorsports. Things were up and down for HMS as a whole. Two Championship 4 drivers and two with major injuries that derailed their season.
What does the, arguably, most talented and prestigious organization in NASCAR have to change in 2024? Well, not much. New Year’s resolutions are a funny thing. They can be about quitting something, adding a healthy habit, or just changing your overall mindset in the new calendar year.
So, let’s start with the organization as a whole. What do Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick need from their organization in 2024 to make it better than in 2023?
Hendrick Motorsports Resolutions:
– Get four drivers in the playoffs
– Keep the extra-curricular activity to a minimum
– Avoid Denny Hamlin at all costs on the track
– Show more personality
– End the 40th year of HMS with a championship
Every season, Hendrick Motorsports expects to get all four drivers to the postseason. They expect wins to come from each of their teams. Of course, with last season’s injuries to Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, they want to avoid that completely. Bowman has already put a pause on his sprint car career at least for 2024.
As for Denny Hamlin – the No. 11 took two wins from Kyle Larson (Kansas-1, Pocono), as well as pi--ed Elliott off enough to cause the No. 9 to intentionally right-rear hook Hamlin. That led to a one-race suspension for Elliott after Charlotte. Just avoid Denny, y’all.
A big knock on Hendrick Motorsports is the lack of personality. Let’s see these drivers let loose a bit! No matter what, HMS is hoping to end the year with the Bill France Cup.
Hendrick Motorsports – Driver Resolutions
Now, for the Hendrick drivers. William Byron, Larson, Elliott, and Bowman are all winners in the Cup Series. Elliott and Larson are both Cup Series champions. In 2023, Byron led NASCAR in wins with six checkered flags. So, expectations are high for 2024.
Let’s go through each driver and rattle off some resolutions.
Alex Bowman Resolutions:
– Stay out of a sprint car
– Start the year hot like last year
– Win a race and make the playoffs
– Ignore the success of your teammates
Bowman needs to get back to form. He says he’s in the best shape of his life, but we’ll have to see if that translates to wins. Making the playoffs and focusing on his own performance will be key to a successful 2024.
William Byron Resolutions:
– Win 10 races
– Lead Hendrick Motorsports again
– Make the Championship 4
– Win the championship
Coming off his career-best season in the Cup Series, Byron wants more. Six wins was nice, but he wants 10 in 2024. Making the Championship 4 again is the only acceptable result, hopefully, he ends the year as champion.
Chase Elliott Resolutions:
– Don’t miss any races for any reason
– Win multiple races
– Return to the road course racer you were
– Get back to Championship 4
The plan for Elliott is fairly simple as well. Get back to your winning ways, get multiple checkered flags, don’t miss any races, and get back to the Championship 4. Also, I’d like to see Elliott return to prominence on road courses.
Kyle Larson Resolutions:
– Win 5+ races
– Fewer than 5 DNFs
– Payback to Denny Hamlin
– Win the championship
After coming so close to a second Cup Series championship, Larson needs to lock it in for 2024. In total, his eight DNFs sank his hopes of winning the regular season or the championship. He still led the Cup Series in laps led, though.
For Larson, I’m sure he’d like to get one over on Denny Hamlin as well. His frenemy gave him headaches in 2023.
So, what other resolutions do you have for Hendrick Motorsports?
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