Rick Hendrick Preferred Non-HMS Driver Angers NASCAR Community as 2022 Champ Meets Saddening Playoff Fate

And just like that, the reigning Cup Series champion’s day comes to an awful end. Despite the showers holding off the race for a brief interval, the playoff extravaganza at the half-mile track just took a sharp detour for the Team Penske driver in Stage 2. 11th in the standings with 2068 points, the #22 driver needed a win to advance into the next round.

But Saturday’s short-track action was nothing the driver hoped it would be. And most likely, this will see off Joey Logano, ending his championship aspirations in the very first round of the playoffs. Who’s the culprit, you may ask? Rick Hendrick’s ally, who yet again failed to hold his track position, collected Logano, Justin Haley, and veteran Ryan Newman, angering the community as they bashed him left and right online.

NASCAR Nation gets livid as Joey Logano ends his Bristol run in misery, owing to Rick Hendrick

While the rain clouds loomed over Bristol Motor Speedway, giving the field a brief interval, it was dark clouds that loomed over Joey Logano’s horizon as the reigning champion wrecked out of the day in the middle. The scene was definitely a shocker for Ford and Team Penske fans as they saw the #22 Ford limping away, unable to continue.

During the start of the last stage, on the 262nd lap of the race, Spire Motorsports driver Corey LaJoie‘s slip gave way to a chain of wrecks. LaJoie, who was running 12th at the time, got loose in turn 3, sending the #7 Chevy into a spin. The Spire Motorsports car was sent spinning directly into the middle, where an unsuspecting Logano, who was battling his way to the top, made contact with the Chevy.

Though the wreck was not so vicious, given the short nature of the track, it did its damage to end Logano’s day. The Ford suffered major rear-end damage with a broken toe link that essentially ended his day. With the reigning champ getting his playoff hopes drowned in a flash, angered fans turned on LaJoie, who previously sought a seat in the team, Rick Hendrick.

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“Horrible” LaJoie’s Bristol slip riles up fans as they bash him mercilessly

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What looked like a simple slip from the #7 driver quickly turned into a nightmare for veteran Ryan Newman, Kaulig Racing youngster Justin Haley, and the Logano. While all of these drivers were actually caught in the rut as LaJoie, after kissing the inner wall, tried to salvage his car, the community did not bat an eye to it as they slammed the driver for putting his car in traffic.

With Logano’s chance of making the next rounds getting all the more narrower with the stint, fans became livid. One fan noted,

“Not a Logano fan but Lajoie is horrible”

“Lajoie driving over his head as usual”

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Whereas another user slammed him for dreaming of a seat in the Rick Hendrick team while he can’t even hold his track position without slipping, “And lajoe expects a good ride. Can’t perform in Hendrick or spire” 

Even JL haters joined the rant as they doubled down on the #7 driver.

“As much as I despise that man, you absolutely hate to see that kind of exit. Would rather see him go down fighting.”

“Lajoie reversed it up track…”