“When She Speaks, We Listen”: Linda Hendrick’s Unrealistic Demand From HMS Fails to ‘Pressure’ Alex Bowman

With all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the playoffs, it’s safe to say the team is having a solid year. Even after Kyle Larson wrecked at Atlanta, he’s still sitting comfortably in the playoff standings—though it’s a bit of a fall from starting at the top of the playoff ladder. While the team is pushing for more from each driver, the real pressure isn’t just coming from Rick Hendrick; it’s his wife, Linda, who has some serious expectations.

“Rick and I really, really want this championship on our 40th anniversary year,” Linda Hendrick said in a press conference as she expressed a heartfelt wish for the team’s 40th anniversary.

With all four drivers statistically capable of winning, the pressure’s on Alex Bowman, who was put on the hot seat to discuss the playoffs when he was called down to The Teardown podcast.

All things winning in the HMS garage

The Teardown is hosted by Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, where they do as the title says and get into the nitty-gritty of NASCAR. With Alex Bowman as their guest, they spoke about the playoffs and asked him, “What is a good playoff for Alex Bowman?”

“Good?” asked Bowman. “I would say the Round of Eight.” Now we know that all 4 drivers have made it into the playoffs; however, it was not an easy task to stand up to the name of the top 16 during the last month.

As Bowman clearly explained, “The last month has been pretty tough. We have not had the pace we need. We haven’t executed well; we kind of, across the board, haven’t done good things. I mean, I’m not pointing fingers at the team—I’ve made mistakes too. So, we need to be better.”

After holding himself accountable for the performance this year, Bowman revealed, “Mrs. Hendrick said she really, really, really, really wants all four of us in the championship race at Phoenix. And when she speaks, we listen. So, no pressure. Yeah, no pressure.”

Linda Hendrick is known for her unwavering strength, especially after the heartbreaking loss of her son, Ricky Hendrick, in a 2004 plane crash. Through unimaginable grief, she has remained the rock of the Hendrick family. In a 2021 interview with FOX Sports, Linda reflected, “We all get our share of heartaches and disappointments in some way. I like to remember that we don’t have to look for the bad because there’s always so much good out there.”

Today, Linda is deeply involved in various charitable organizations, all while playing a pivotal role within Hendrick Motorsports. Beyond this, she’s also known for offering guidance to the team’s drivers, urging them to perform their best on the track.

With Mrs. Hendrick now setting high expectations this season, as Alex Bowman stated, there’s an added layer of pressure. Her personal and emotional investment, especially with the 40th anniversary of the team approaching, has everyone paying attention. The goal of having all four drivers in the top four may seem ambitious—something never before accomplished. It’s a challenge the entire team feels compelled to rise to.

Hendrick Motorsports history of champions

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As we head into the second race of the playoffs, it’s important to note that Hendrick Motorsports has always been a powerhouse of a team.

Starting from Jeff Gordon to Kyle Larson, the team has won 14 Cup Series owners and drivers championships since its inception.

• Jeff Gordon – 4 Championships (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)
• Terry Labonte – 1 Championship (1996)
• Jimmie Johnson – 7 Championships (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016)
• Chase Elliott – 1 Championship (2020)
• Kyle Larson – 1 Championship (2021)

Starting their rise to fame back in 1995 was Jeff Gordon, who made it as the first champion of the team. It was the very next year when Terry Labonte won the championship for HMS with 12 race wins that year. The next 2 years it was Gordon again, who was making it clear that they were dominating the late 90’s NASCAR scene.

Of course, Jeff Gordon’s four championships are impressive, but compared to Jimmie Johnson, that pales in comparison. Johnson became the third driver to have won 7 championships in NASCAR, which is the current record.

The newer generation for Hendrick Motorsports looks quite promising, especially with all 4 drivers in the playoffs. Among those four, two drivers have already proved themselves by being the 2020 and 2021 champions. Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, respectively, who are both having a season that can put them on top.

Considering the team’s track record, do you think that they will be the first time to get all their drivers in the top 4? Let us know if you think Linda Hendrick will be happy with their performance this year in the comments below.