Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
New way ahead for Hendrick drivers
Familiar names will be taking different roles
Hendrick Motorsports created a tidal wave of news over the last week, setting a course for its future.
In short, Alex Bowman is the next man up in the No. 88, Dale Earnhardt Jr. admits to an “adrenaline rush” as he prepares to work in the TV booth next season and Kasey Kahne finally has found some mojo, dispelling scuttlebutt that his run with one of NASCAR’s elite teams was in jeopardy.
For all the talk circling back to Junior Nation, Kasey’s moment was big.
His victory at the Brickyard 400 snapped a losing streak that dates to Atlanta in 2014, a stretch of 102 races.
“Oh, man, it has been a while since I’ve won, so you have to wonder. As a driver, all I want to do is win; all I want to do is perform,” Kahne said. “I put the effort in each week, whether it’s at the shop, whether it’s physically, mentally, at the race shop trying to prepare, watching videos, looking through old notes, how can we be better.”
No doubt, but the mental wear and tear had to be a grind.
Just a few weeks ago, Kahne was addressing speculation that he might be bounced from the team, even though he has a year left on his contract.
“I want to be in a good situation,” Kahne said after qualifying fourth for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway earlier this month. “I want to be wanted. I want to perform.”
It’s a tough deal, too, when you compare and contrast. Teammate Jimmie Johnson is a seventime Cup champion.
Earnhardt will go down as one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR history. Chase Elliott is a rising young star.
Kahne, 37, has the look of a younger brother who tags along for the big kids birthday party only because mom insisted.
“It just kind of feels like you’re out on your own little deal a lot of times, your own little island, trying to do the best that you can,” Kahne said. “Things don’t work out too often for us.”
But the stars are aligned at Hendrick Motorsports beyond the Kasey Question. Bowman will replace Junior in the No. 88 next season, a logical in-house move.
Bowman auditioned for the role and fared well last season, making 10 starts substituting for Earnhardt when Earnhardt was sidelined with concussionrelated health issues.
Bowman, 24, also proved to be a loyal company man after the gig was up, remaining with Hendrick while working in the simulation department. Other names floated about to take over the ride included William Byron, a rising star in the Xfinity Series, or veteran Matt Kenseth, out of a job at Joe Gibbs Racing after this season.
“He really waited for his opportunity. I’m not sure, after last year, that all drivers would have been that patient,” said NBC NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty. “When you had an opportunity to get in a Hendrick car, run up front and win, a lot of guys would have just taken the first deal that came along. He said, ‘Nope, I’ll go back and do the simulator work.’ ”
Earnhardt, 42, has some work to do, too. It’s a natural and expected shift as well as he transitions into a broadcast booth surrounded by friends and former working pals. As a reminder, Steve Letarte is his former crew chief.
“The comfort that I’ll feel around the team knowing obviously that Steve is there, (Jeff ) Burton and Dale Jarrett, who has been an incredibly supportive figure in my life,” Earnhardt said. “Being around people like that is going to allow me to be a lot more comfortable, a lot less shy than I typically have been in my past.”
And Earnhardt could step outside his comfort zone of left-hand turns and restrictor plates and into other sports, maybe even a one-and-done deal with the NFL crew (he’s a huge Redskins fan) or maybe even the Olympics.
“I could see him being involved if it’s the right fit for him and for us,” said Sam Flood, NBC Sports executive producer and president of production. “We’re not going to say you’re going to go off and do a feature on football, we’re going to say, ‘Hey, does this make sense for both sides to get you involved in something here, be it the Super Bowl, be it the Olympics?’
“There are a lot of speed events in the Olympics. Could be an interesting match for Dale.”
Earnhardt breaking down the luge or bobsled finals in the Winter Olympics?
Can’t wait!