“What Is Too Expensive for Rick Hendrick?” – Insider Takes Sharp Dig at HMS’s Billionaire Owner as He Calls Out Stingy Management

Earlier this month, NASCAR shared its decision to ditch the Bristol dirt race for the 2024 season. And now that the 2024 schedule is out, having no more dirt races has sparked a lively discussion within the community. In a recent episode of Door Bumper Clear, the co-hosts, along with their guest Bob Pockrass, dived into the reasons behind NASCAR’s move away from dirt racing. The conversation took an interesting turn as they debated the feasibility of building dirt-specific cars and questioned the cost factor, leading to a sly dig at billionaire team owner Rick Hendrick.

The Cup Series embraced dirt racing again in 2021. In the three years since then, the Bristol Motor Speedway has been transformed into a dirt track for the Food City Dirt Race and back to the paved track for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. This ambitious endeavor garnered mixed reactions from all corners of the sport. Drivers, teams, and fans all had their say. And the races delivered moments of unpredictability and excitement.

Brett Griffin says the teams can build their own dirt cars pointing out that owners like Rick Hendrick have billions of dollars

The conversation started on the Door Bumper Podcast podcast, with Brett Griffin wondering if NASCAR would look stupid for abandoning the dirt race. He asked why did NASCAR invest the time and effort to experiment with dirt racing only to get rid of it.

Bob Pockrass brought up the point that if NASCAR wanted to race on dirt tracks. They should consider building dirt-specific cars. He believed that this could enhance the quality of racing and provide fans with the dirt track experience they love. However, Bob also acknowledged that building such cars might be costly for the teams.

“I mean, the question is, do you look dumb when you have a windshield at a dirt track?” Bob said, adding, “Do you look dumb when you don’t have dirt track model type suspension in your vehicle so that you can race it like a dirt track fans are used to seeing them race? I think that’s to me the biggest hurdle. I think if you’re gonna go to a dirt track, build a dirt car. And that may be way too expensive.

“I get so tired of hearing our industry saying too expensive and I don’t mean that towards you, Bob,” Griffin added. “I just mean what is too expensive for Rick Hendrick? How much money is he worth? How many billions? I get tired of us saying… Why are we catering to the guy that can’t afford to be here so much? Why aren’t these owners raising their hands and saying we’re spending too much money?”

It turns out that Rick Hendrick can build cars whenever he really wants to. At the Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR fans were treated to an unexpected appearance by the Garage 56 car.

Rick Hendrick’s Garage 56 entry into the Le Mans 24 hour race made its appearance on the Roval

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2023 marked a significant year for NASCAR as it celebrated its 75th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the organization ventured into the world of endurance racing with its official entry at Le Mans. The Garage 56 car, a joint effort from Hendrick Motorsports, Goodyear, GM, and NASCAR proved to be more than just a publicity stunt. It showcased remarkable performance by passing GTE spec cars and leaving a lasting impression.

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Rick Hendrick, reflecting on this endeavor, expressed pride in the car’s achievements. The car’s appearance at Charlotte Motor Speedway allowed fans to get up close and personal with the remarkable machine that had made history at Le Mans. Hendrick emphasized the team’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to achieve success, dispelling any doubts about the project’s seriousness.

“It shocked a lot of people,” said Rick Hendrick at the Roval. “But you know, we just kind of have the mantra that whatever it takes, we’re gonna go with this car.”

READ MORE: “Chase [Elliott] Is Out of the Car” – Rick Hendrick Says “People Don’t Wait for You” as He Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Operations at HMS

What are your thoughts on NASCAR’s decision to shift away from dirt racing, and do you believe team owners should be more willing to invest in specialized cars? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.