Rick Hendrick’s Struggling Star Could Turn Out to Be Michael Jordan’s Kryptonite in North Carolina

There have been plenty of surprises in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season so far. While Rick Hendrick has only two drivers in the playoffs, he has witnessed a mixed campaign for Hendrick Motorsports. At the same time, Michael Jordan couldn’t be more delighted with his NASCAR team’s performance. However, one of HMS’s struggling drivers could hurt him.

It has been a season to remember for 23XI Racing given how their drivers have performed. With both Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick still very much active in the playoffs, it is a performance to be proud of for Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin.

Michael Jordan needs to be worried about Rick Hendrick’s out-of-form driver in North Carolina

With just five races left in the 2023 season, the stakes couldn’t get much higher. As the Cup Series next moves to the Charlotte Roval, it only gets more interesting as elimination awaits four more drivers. For now, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Busch look set to bid goodbye to their playoff berth.

Unfortunately for Michael Jordan, both his drivers stand below the cutoff line and face an uphill task in North Carolina. However, he would be glad to know Reddick’s impressive record at the Roval. In his three races at the track, the #45 driver has finished once in the top five and twice in the top ten, with a runner-up finish to his name.

Not only that, Reddick remains the only driver with multiple road-course wins in the Next Gen car, with three victories. On the other hand, Wallace needs to be worried with just a single top-ten finish in five races. It doesn’t stop there for the 23XI Racing drivers. Despite Reddick’s impressive record and Wallace’s struggle, they need to be wary of Mr Hendrick and his struggling driver.

For the first time in his Cup Series career, Chase Elliott faced to make it to the playoffs. However, that doesn’t change the fact that he has been amazing at Roval. In fact, he has the best record at the track among the active drivers with two wins, two top-five, and three top-ten finishes.

Despite having an ordinary season, Elliott has done well on road courses. He finished runner-up to Michael McDowell at the Indy Road Course and finished fifth at Sonoma this year. Given how the 27-year-old is yet to register a win this campaign, the Roval probably provides the best chance given the races remaining.

Elliott might very well end up eliminating both of Jordan’s drivers by a win. In fact, he definitely has the support of a NASCAR insider to go all the way.

Chase Elliott expected to end his winless drought at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course

It is no secret that Chase Elliott has found it difficult to win with the Next Gen car. Having said that, it doesn’t take away the skillset he has behind the wheel, especially on a road course. He had seven victories on this type of track before the Gen-7 car came in, which is why renowned journalist Jordan Bianchi spoke in his favor recently with The Athletic.

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When asked if Elliott is a favorite for the race at the Roval, Bianchi spoke positively on the debate. He said, “He comes into the Roval looking more like his usual self than he has in some time with six top 10s in the past eight races. So him winning on Sunday to snap a winless drought that’s now reached a year wouldn’t be all that surprising.”

It is worth noting that Elliott winning could turn out to be a disaster for Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. The 23XI Racing drivers would need to have a lot of fortune in this case in order to survive despite an Elliott win. Do you think the #9 driver and Rick Hendrick could make it big on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.

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