Hendrick Motorsports Shakes Up Crew After Kansas Pit Stop Blunder

In a shocking turn of events, Hendrick Motorsports has decided to shake up Chase Elliott’s crew following a critical pit road error at the Kansas Speedway. The 2020 Cup Series champion was on the verge of securing his playoff spot during the AdventHealth 400 when a late-race pit stop blunder dashed his hopes.

Despite starting the race weekend in ninth place, Elliott showcased an impressive performance, clinching runner-up finishes in Stages 1 and 2. The #9 Chevrolet driver even took the lead after a swift pit stop on Lap 169, dominating the race with 77 laps to go. However, disaster struck during a subsequent pit stop, where a mishandled carjack while changing the rear tire cost Elliott valuable time and pushed him back to 16th place.

To address this issue, Hendrick Motorsports has made a bold move by swapping the rear tire changer for Elliott’s team ahead of the upcoming NASCAR All-Star Race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. The experienced Calvin Teague, who previously worked as Kyle Larson’s tire changer, will now join the #9 crew. Meanwhile, Chad Avrit, Elliott’s former tire changer, will transition to Justin Haley’s car.

Despite the setback at Kansas, Chase Elliott’s standings in the Cup Series remain unchanged as he gears up for the next points race in Charlotte, maintaining a strong fourth-place position.

The NASCAR community is abuzz with anticipation as North Wilkesboro Speedway, a historic venue revitalized in 2021 and 2022, prepares to host NASCAR events starting in 2023. With the NASCAR All-Star Race set to take place at the Bristol Motor Speedway, past winners like Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Joey Logano are gearing up for the high-stakes event that promises a million-dollar prize to the victor.

In a recent statement, Chase Elliott expressed his excitement about North Wilkesboro Speedway’s significance in the NASCAR world, highlighting its proximity to Charlotte and the sport’s roots. Known for his stellar track record in the All-Star Race, Elliott’s positive outlook and commitment to excellence set the stage for an electrifying competition.

As fans eagerly await the upcoming NASCAR events, including the prestigious All-Star Race, Chase Elliott’s determination and adaptability position him as a formidable contender on the racing circuit. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates as the NASCAR season unfolds.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — While the top of Thursday’s speed chart was filled with IndyCar’s usual names, many other Indianapolis 500 drivers grew increasingly frustrated with the day’s results.

Graham Rahal complained on the broadcast about how the extra weight in the rear end of his car impacted how it handled around the 2.5-mile oval. Marco Andretti offered a similar critique during his radio communications.

Santino Ferrucci was so upset with the car, he put all four tires over the white line on the warmup apron, resulting in a drive-thru penalty. Even the seemingly invincible points leader, Alex Palou, went back to the garage to make a change to the No. 10 car.

It was that kind of day on the first day of practice for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” not interrupted by rain.

“Tough day today but we’re just gonna have to crank up the boost, cowboy up and go find what we need,” Rahal wrote on social media following practice.

Rahal, Andretti and Ferrucci finished Thursday near the bottom third of the speed charts. Palou, of course, was closer to the top.

Drivers knew navigating the series’ new, heavier hybrid cars around the fastest oval in racing could be problematic as far back as the April’s two-day open test when two experienced drivers crashed— 2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson and two-time Indy winner Takuma Sato.

What it all means for Friday when drivers get a power boost to increase their speeds before this weekend’s qualifications — or in the May 25 race — remains unclear.

But even some of the fastest drivers at Indy are fighting to figure it all out.

“You’re 100, 110 pounds heavier. That’s a lot of mass percentage wise that you are adding to this car,” two-time defending champion Josef Newgarden said Wednesday. “It’s saturating the tires more. It’s just moving around. Your weight distribution is shifted depending on where teams put it. That’s what people are trying to figure out right now.”

Sato’s new battle

Sato isn’t just cramming to learn the new cars, he’s also fighting another battle — rust.

The two-time Indy winner spent seven seasons in Formula One before becoming an IndyCar regular from 2010-2022. In 2023, he raced five times for Chip Ganassi Racing. But he hasn’t suited up since last year’s 500. This year, he’s again driving for Rahal Lannigan Letterman Racing.

“It’s not easy,” the Japanese native said Wednesday. “To get out of the car 11 months, close to 12 months, jump in the car and go 230 mph, you feel the speed for sure. The refresher program helped me a lot. So just getting through the speed with an extra two sets of tires, makes me a little more confident or comfortable to the environment to get up to speed.”

Sato is trying to become the third foreign-born driver with three Indy titles. Helio Castroneves of Brazil has a record-tying four wins. Dario Franchitti of Scotland won three times.

What’s Happening?

A quick stroll through any toy aisle will show you an array of radio control cars. But let’s be honest—most are just that: toys. For NASCAR fans used to speed, control, and real racing performance, a basic toy won’t cut it. That’s where companies like Losi come in. We spoke with the team behind Losi’s new NASCAR RC Race Car to better understand what makes their products different and why they’re built for serious fans who demand more.

Losi is no stranger to high-performance RC. They’ve been in the game for decades, with a reputation for championship-level engineering and truly hobby-grade machines. Their latest NASCAR line is fully licensed and built to reflect the quality that real race fans expect. Here’s how a Losi RC car stacks up—and why it’s nothing like the toys on the shelves.

Precise Control

When we asked Losi about what sets hobby-grade cars apart, they started with control—and for good reason. Most toy RC cars give you three basic steering settings: full left, full right, or straight. Throttle is usually just as limited: slow, medium, or fast. That’s not racing—that’s barely driving.

Losi’s hobby-grade RC cars offer fully proportional control. Whether you’re turning the wheel a little or giving it full throttle, the car responds just like a real NASCAR stock car would. The precision allows for smoother handling and more realistic driving, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced RC racers.

Modular Construction

Under the hood, toy-grade RC cars are typically one-board machines with no replaceable parts. Hobby-grade cars like the Losi NASCAR RC are built with modular components, making them easier to repair, upgrade, and fine-tune. That design difference leads to two major advantages: serviceability and customization.

Repairable

If you clip a curb or hit a wall, a toy-grade car is usually headed for the trash. But Losi RC cars are built to take hits—and more importantly, built to be repaired. Replacement parts are readily available, and the modular layout means most components can be swapped or fixed with ease. It’s a product that’s built to last.

Upgradable

This is where hobby-grade RC really separates itself. With the Losi NASCAR RC, you can upgrade everything from the tires and suspension to the motor and electronics. That means better performance over time and a machine that evolves with your skills. You can even customize the body with wraps or switch out for your favorite driver’s scheme.

Adjustability

Ask any NASCAR crew chief—racing is all about adjustments. That same principle applies here. Unlike toy-grade RC cars, Losi’s models are built to be tuned. From the suspension setup to handling tweaks, you can dial in your RC car to match different surfaces or racing styles. It’s about performance and authenticity.

Losi NASCAR RC Race Car

The Losi NASCAR RC Race Car is a full-featured hobby-grade machine built for real NASCAR fans. At 1/12 scale, it’s large enough to feel fast, small enough for any neighborhood driveway or RC track. It comes ready-to-run right out of the box—no extra gear required. The included LiPo battery charges fast via USB and gives solid runtime and performance.

Best of all, these cars are fully licensed. You can already get Joey Logano’s 2025 Pennzoil Ford or Chase Elliott’s 2025 NAPA Chevy, with more top driver paint schemes coming later this season.

If you’re looking to bring home a piece of NASCAR that drives like the real thing, this is it.

There was a time where Kyle Busch was undeniably the biggest villain in NASCAR. However, that’s no longer the case.

Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, embraced the villain role at every level of NASCAR. He didn’t mind being arrogant after a victory or pointing the finger at others after a disappointing result. For better or worse, he was must-see TV every time he stepped on the track.

So, who is the top villain in NASCAR as of this year? Believe it or not, that title belongs to Busch’s former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate.

Denny Hamlin, who is currently third in the Cup Series standings, has become one of the most polarizing drivers in NASCAR. He received plenty of boos when he won back-to-back races at Darlington and Martinsville this season.

On the latest episode of Hamlin’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast, he talked about being NASCAR’s villain in an interview with Busch.

• Kyle Larson is currently leading in Cup Series points and preparing for his second Indianapolis 500.
• Larson remains unfazed by setbacks, as demonstrated by his quick recovery from a crash during Indy 500 testing.
• Hendrick Motorsports’ collaborative team environment is credited for Larson’s recent wins.
• Larson focuses on each race individually, acknowledging the different challenges of the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

Going into the NASCAR All-Star race this coming Sunday, May 18, at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Kyle Larson and his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team are on a roll. Based on his dominant performance at Kansas Speedway by leading 221 of 267 laps from the pole position, it could be a very interesting time in the world of motorsports.

Finally, NASCAR appears to be exploring the option of adding horsepower

For years, NASCAR drivers have been calling for more horsepower. Instead, NASCAR did the opposite, reducing horsepower.

Tony Stewart says 20 drivers asked for changes; NASCAR told them they were wrong

Now, teams are racing a spec car and in general, the tires are harder. The cars are aero sensitive and passing on any single groove track has proven difficult.

NASCAR will say the data shows the racing is better with more overall passes throughout the field. But, fans have said that it fails the eye test and they’re calling for changes.

Again, drivers are being vocal. Same tune, they’re calling for more horsepower.

Suddenly, it appears that NASCAR is open to making this change. For the first time, NASCAR has stated they are open to adding horsepower back in.

Current NASCAR engines run at 670 horsepower. They have totally shut down the idea of jumping to 900 or 1,000hp

However, NASCAR is discussing an increase to 750hp.

NASCAR comments on adding more horsepower for short tracks

Kyle Larson comments

“I think we would be all for trying something,” Kyle Larson commented from the media center at Kansas Speedway.

“I don’t know if it’s going to change the racing, drastically. It’s a decent size increase but it’s not massive.”

“I’d be open for it. I know we all are. I think it’s gotten a little bit stale, the racing product.”

“We’re in need of a drastic change to try and help. I think it would help, it would be a good start.”

NASCAR engine builder wants more horsepower

A possible new manufacturer is a reason given for low horsepower

For over a decade, there have been discussions of a new manufacturer joining NASCAR. And, by keeping the horsepower down, it makes it easier for them to join the sport by lowering the development costs on an engine.

The above comments from Kyle Larson aren’t new. Last year, he said nearly identical statements while giving NASCAR’s reasoning for lower HP.

“Take us to Richmond or somewhere, go test,” Larson said in early 2024.

I’ve heard the excuse of, ‘We want to keep horsepower to where other manufacturers might want to come in.’ Well, as long as I’ve been in the sport, which is longer than 10 years, it’s been the same three manufacturers.”

“Maybe somebody else is coming. And maybe they’re the ones pushing for the horsepower. But, I’ve yet to see anybody new come in.”

“All these engine builders and teams are saying it’s not going to cost any different. Our guys, ‘We could bring 1000hp, next week and it not cost any more.’ “

Kyle Larson aims to embarrass NASCAR

Finally, NASCAR says they are exploring more horsepower

There appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel with hope on the horizon.

Mike Forde is the managing director of racing communications. He noted that 900 or 1,000 hp levels are off the table but he also noted that a power increase is possible.

“Well, I’m sure that’s going to come up too [this weekend at Kansas],” Forde said Hauler Talk.

“I’m sure that [horsepower] will come up this weekend, and that’s something that we’re going to look at seriously. You hear levels of 900, 1000 horsepower, whatever, I don’t know if that’s – that’s not on the table just because of the cost.”

“But there’s some conversation of, can you go up to 750? That’s something that I’m sure we’ll discuss with the drivers, too.”

“I don’t want to make any promises or get anyone’s hopes up, but that is, we seriously listen to the drivers and their feedback, and we’ll see what we can do there.”

NASCAR president Phelps on adding horsepower

Links

Kyle Larson | Bristol Motor Speedway | NASCAR