The opening race of the 2025 Cup Series playoffs at Darlington on August 31 brought a mix of highs and lows for the NASCAR contenders, with Chase Briscoe dominating to claim his second win of the season by leading 309 laps. While competitors like Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric secured valuable finishes inside the top twelve, Hendrick Motorsports faced significant setbacks. Their best finisher was Chase Elliott in 17th place, followed closely by Kyle Larson (19th), William Byron (21st), and Alex Bowman (31st). This unexpected outcome has fueled intense discussion about Hendrick’s current form, raising questions about the team’s competitiveness under playoff pressure as the series advances.
Denny Hamlin Challenges ‘Washed’ Label on Hendrick Team
Veteran driver Denny Hamlin responded firmly to critics who labeled Hendrick Motorsports as “washed” following their disappointing results at Darlington. Speaking on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin questioned the harsh judgment directed at the team’s drivers, emphasizing their performance discrepancies during the race.
The Hendrick guys, obviously, the result was bad. I think they were better than that,
Hamlin said, citing how the final race results did not reflect the team’s true pace. He outlined several factors that contributed to the underwhelming finishes: Elliott’s struggles with race strategy, Larson’s handling concerns, Byron’s difficulty maintaining grip, and Bowman’s hampered run due to a problematic pit stop.
Drawing on his own racing experience, which includes 58 Cup Series victories and multiple successes at Darlington, Hamlin underscored that one poor race should not define a team’s potential. He elaborated on specifics:
I think they’re getting a little too overzealous, like, wow, they performed 17th or worse. They did not. The nine obviously got caught on his strategy, unfortunately, by that yellow. That hurt him,
Hamlin said, referring to Elliott’s No. 9 car being compromised by a caution that disrupted his race positioning. Regarding Larson, Hamlin suggested mechanical damage affected his competitiveness:
Larson, more than likely, had towing damage, if I had to guess.
He also assessed Bowman’s performance issues, particularly pointing to deficiencies before the race:
The 48, I don’t know. They had that awful pit stop with the hose that wasn’t plugged in. But like, was he any good anyway? He qualified badly to start,
Hamlin noted Bowman’s poor qualifying result as an additional hurdle. These insights reveal how isolated incidents compounded the team’s disappointing showing but also reflect Hamlin’s belief in Hendrick’s underlying strength, given Byron’s status as regular-season champion and all four cars qualifying comfortably for the playoffs. As the season approaches critical races at Gateway and Bristol, Hamlin’s stance reminds fans that consistent execution remains key to postseason success.
Hendrick Motorsports Acknowledges Dark Day at Darlington
Behind the scenes, Hendrick Motorsports openly admitted to a below-par performance at Darlington, signaling internal pressure to improve swiftly. Crew chief Rudy Fugle candidly addressed the team’s struggles following William Byron’s 21st-place finish, contrasting sharply with Byron’s spring victory at the same track earlier in the year.
We’re embarrassed. We’ve got to execute a lot better all around. Nothing comfortable. We didn’t do s–t today,
Fugle admitted, highlighting a rare off-race for the powerhouse squad that had dominated the 2025 season with strong showings from Larson and Byron. Fugle emphasized the importance of racing hard in every upcoming event or facing a difficult offseason, particularly as Toyota teams, including Joe Gibbs Racing, displayed superior speed, forcing Hendrick to react and chase faster setups.
Byron himself reflected on the frustration over the team radio:
Yeah, 10-4. That was terrible,
he commented after battling balance issues throughout the race despite starting 11th in qualifying. Persistent problems with tire wear and car handling at the famously demanding “Too Tough to Tame” track saw his performance slide steadily backward, raising concerns about Hendrick’s ability to maintain momentum in the playoffs.
Pressure Mounts on Hendrick Team to Rebound Rapidly
The fallout from Darlington extended across the Hendrick roster, with pit crew errors notably impacting Alex Bowman’s race and contributing to his 31st-place finish. Fugle stressed the need for immediate improvements as the postseason intensifies:
We’ve got to improve and get better,
he urged ahead of the next playoff rounds.
For a team with a legacy that includes 14 Cup Series owners and drivers championships and over 300 career wins, the Darlington results serve as a stark warning. Hendrick’s leadership is now tasked with leveraging their engineering resources, simulation tools, and experienced staff to overcome this setback and restore their competitive edge.
With Bowman at risk of falling out early due to his current points deficit, and other Hendrick drivers needing to protect their playoff positions from surging rivals like Hamlin and Briscoe, every upcoming race demands flawless execution. Hendrick’s ability to respond to this adversity could determine their championship fate as the 2025 playoffs progress towards high-stakes tracks like Gateway and Bristol.
