For Kyle Larson, it has been quite the journey. It wasn’t going to be easy to compete for Kyle Busch’s triple header title at Homestead Miami, but what better way to start things off than with a Truck Series victory? However, victory would be a bit too fleeting. The race to forget was Xfinity. A resounding victory was transformed into a nightmare. Larson was aware that he needed to save what he could. He had already made up his mind when the Cup Series race came around. In the final moments, he managed to win the match against his teammate. Rick Hendrick suddenly had cause to rejoice. But Kyle Larson isn’t the only one who’s winning, is he?
“Rick Hendrick wins the NASCAR Cup Series race and the NHRA Pro Stock race between Kyle Larson and Greg Anderson,” said Kelly Crandall’s X post. Greg Anderson declared, “It’s a big day for HendrickCars.” Kyle Larson won today, therefore I was afraid I would fail if I didn’t finish the task. I didn’t make a mistake. Thus, it is a significant day for Mr. H. Larson didn’t get the victory easily. At Homestead-Miami, he led for just eighteen laps, in contrast to his commanding victories. Alex Bowman held the lead in his pole-winning No. 48 Chevy with six laps remaining in the Homestead race when he kissed the outside wall. Kyle Larson only needed to make that one-second mistake. Hendrick Motorsports Chevy No. 5 roared past, and he bolted to a 1.205-second win with his first Cup Series trophy of the year. Heartbreak for Bowman and pure gold for Larson. What a finish it was.
According to crew chief Cliff Daniels, “I think we’ve been building relationships and processes within our team for a number of years, so even when things aren’t going as planned, just go to work and stay at work, keep our head down, and try to execute towards the end of the race,” is what we demonstrated today. After the race, he and I were making jokes about how many times he had struck the fence. In the past, there have been occasions when I’ve thought, “Hey, man, let’s back it down just a little,” or something like. We had a conversation. Larson’s impact was evident.
Greg Anderson was blowing it up at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at the same time, putting on an incredible show to defend his title. The six-time Pro Stock champion Anderson added to his legend in the NHRA. He had set the record for the fastest run in Pro Stock history at Gainesville earlier this month, clocking in at 6.443 seconds. He performed flawlessly once more at Firebird Motorsports Park, earning his 107th career victory. For Hendrick, this is nothing new. In the past, his teams have doubled up; in 2021 and 2024, Larson and Anderson both won on the same day. Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship on November 13, 2021, and Greg Anderson took home his sixth NHRA Pro Stock Championship. Larson also won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway on April 8, 2024 at Richmond Raceway and Anderson won his NHRA Pro Stock race at zMax Dragway. But every time it happens, it becomes even more sweeter.
Larson has been a star since joining HendrickCars.com in 2021, and Anderson has been there since 2020. They’re working together to give the impression that Rick Hendrick’s billion-dollar business is unstoppable. “It took a lot of gritty hard work there today between damage on pit road, qualifying bad, bad restarts, and all that stuff,” Larson said. “I’m proud of myself and the team.” “I’m just so excited. Despite all of the heartache here and yesterday, this was one of the most amazing victories I can recall from my Cup career. I simply continued digging and kept my head down. If Larson had finished his weekend sweep by narrowly missing out on the Xfinity Series, both victories would have been much more decisive.
He narrowly missed it, but he was in the running for that right up to the very end. Henderson should be pleased with Larson because he not only prevailed but also did so by controlling the HMS the entire time.
Following NASCAR turmoil, Hooters gives Hendrick $900K
Hendrick Motorsports recently concluded a contentious dispute with their former sponsor, Hooters. According to court documents, Hooters agreed to pay $900,000 on March 23, 2025, to resolve a case Hendrick had brought the previous year. Following Hooters’ failure to pay for Chase Elliott’s 2024 sponsorship and a $1.75 million deal for three major races and additional branding, they had been pursuing $1.705 million plus interest.
It will never be forgotten when you see the No. 9 Chevy’s recognizable orange logo disappear. It began unsightly. When Hooters stopped paying after a $45,000 chunk in March 2024, Hendrick filed a lawsuit. The arrangement fell through by June, and Elliott’s automobile in Nashville no longer had the Hooters emblem on it. “It became necessary for Hendrick Motorsports to end the relationship due to these unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, and despite extensive efforts on both sides to identify a workable solution,” Hendrick stated at the time. “It has been a privilege having Hooters as a part of our team and we wish them the best,” Hooters said. All gone after eight years together.
Hooters has been Elliott’s principal sponsor since 2017, and they even celebrated his victory in Texas last year, which was their first since 1992. Less than half of what Hendrick requested is now being given up, and it feels like a piece of that history is being torn away. Yes, Rick Hendrick’s team is leaving with more money, but they also lost a piece of their past. “constructed it one brick at a time.” Hendrick once remarked, “You can grow it if you try to get your base right.” I suppose this is just another obstacle that Hooters will not be able to overcome.
