Hendrick Motorsports lays an egg at Watkins Glen

A bad Saturday at Watkins Glen for Hendrick Motorsports turned into an even worse Sunday. 

None of HMS' four drivers started inside the top 10 in Sunday's Go Bowling at the Glen, and by the time the checkered flag flew, none finished inside the top-22. 

William Byron qualified 13th and was likely Hendrick's best shot at a solid finish at the New York road course, but he spun through the bus stop and received right-rear toe link damage on his No. 24, forcing him to spend multiple laps receiving repairs. He finished 36th, three laps down. 

Two-time Watkins Glen winner Kyle Larson, two-time Watkins Glen winner Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, meanwhile, never showed any semblance of speed all afternoon. Larson, Elliott and Bowman finished 23rd, 24th and 25th, respectively, with Bowman's poor result being a major blow in his chances at making the Chase after missing four races earlier in the season. 

How Watkins Glen impacts HMS

Byron, meanwhile, fell from 10th to 12th in the standings and is only 32 points above the Chase bubble. Larson is now guaranteed to go one calendar year without winning a Cup Series race, though he and Elliott held on to their respective points positions in eighth and third. 

Through the first 12 races of 2026, HMS has only two victories, both of which have both come courtesy of Elliott, and at least three of its cars making the Cup Series postseason is far from a guarantee.