Editor’s note: Chase Elliott led early in Sunday’s race to score Hendrick Motorsports’ 80,000th lap led in the NASCAR Cup Series.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — The high concrete banks at Bristol Motor Speedway might just be the place for Hendrick Motorsports to etch another milestone into the history books.
Hendrick Motorsports has led 79,997 laps in its 40-year stretch in the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning with Geoff Bodine’s first circuit on April 29, 1984 at Martinsville Speedway. And so, the opportunity is there for the organization to hit — and surpass — 80,000 laps led during Sunday’s Food City 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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“It’s a lot of laps, for sure, and a lot of race wins encapsulated into all those laps that they’ve led as a company,” Chase Elliott told NASCAR.com. “Definitely proud to have been a very, very small part of that, but I’ve enjoyed my time, and hopefully we can keep adding to it.”
Of course, the current four-driver Hendrick quartet has played a role in making the near-milestone achievable in the first place. While driving under the Hendrick moniker, all four have led significant laps, with 2020 Cup Series champ Elliott (5,108 laps led), 2021 title-winner Kyle Larson (4,548), William Byron (2,640) and Alex Bowman (1,301) combining to lead 13,597 circuits, which accounts for approximately 17% of the Hendrick total.
“It’s really, really amazing when you think about the amount of laps led,” Larson told NASCAR.com. “Not only wins with whatever we’re at, 303 or 304 and almost the 80,000 laps led, it’s crazy. Yeah, to be a part of that, 2021, we had a great season and kind of broke the record for laps led in a season, so that was really neat.
“This year, in general, just a lot of history with Rick (Hendrick’s) 40th season, so to break records this year is pretty cool.”
While the four drivers have combined to lead a respectable total, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have a massive amount of laps led for the organization. The seven-time Cup Series champ Johnson led 18,941 laps as driver of the No. 48 Chevy, spanning from 2002-20. Meanwhile, the four-time champ Gordon’s 24,936 laps led from 1993-2016 surpasses all 29 Hendrick drivers to lead at least one lap with the team. Together, the pair has led 43,877 laps for a staggering 55% of the Hendrick total.
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In other words, there is a hefty way to go before the current Hendrick crop can crack into the same stratosphere. But perhaps, with a touch of youth, passing and, well, leading, the current Hendrick iteration can give it a respectable try.
“So, Jeff and Jimmie, though, they’ve, them two together probably have I’m guessing 50% of the laps,” Larson said. “… we have a lot of catching up to do for those two guys.”
“I hope so,” Elliott said. “Obviously time will tell, but it’s a different era than what it used to be, just as far as guys don’t seem to dominate entire days. It seems like you might have guys be good at certain stages, but again, Kyle dominated at Vegas, so I guess anything is on the table.”