Home / Sports / Hamlin Accuses NASCAR Rivals of Following Hendrick Orders
Hamlin Accuses NASCAR Rivals of Following Hendrick Orders
30 Oct
Summary
- Denny Hamlin claims Chevrolet drivers follow Rick Hendrick's team orders.
- He suggested Kyle Larson benefited from support from other Chevy teams.
- Hamlin believes Hendrick Motorsports controls Chevrolet's information flow.
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has asserted that several Chevrolet drivers prioritize following orders from Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. Hamlin commented on this dynamic following a recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. He suggested that Hendrick's influence led to drivers from other Chevrolet-affiliated teams actively supporting Kyle Larson during the race.
Hamlin specifically noted instances where drivers like William Byron and Ross Chastain appeared to act in concert to benefit Larson. He explained his belief that within the Chevrolet program, Hendrick Motorsports sits at the top of the hierarchy, followed by Chevrolet itself, then specific teams like Trackhouse, and finally the crew chief and driver. This perceived chain of command, Hamlin stated, leaves drivers with little choice but to follow directives.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver further posited that Hendrick Motorsports likely receives preferential information from Chevrolet compared to other teams, such as Richard Childress Racing. He concluded that this control over information and strategy ensures that Hendrick Motorsports remains the primary beneficiary of Chevrolet's manufacturer support.
