It was not the Daytona 500 many anticipated for Hendrick Motorsports.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. had arguably the best car during Daytona Speedweeks, but the car’s handling went away and he crashed, finishing 36th. He placed one spot ahead of teammate Chase Elliott, who sat on the pole but had his car damaged in an early incident. Jimmie Johnson, who was penalized for having a crew member over the wall too soon on a Lap 156 pit stop, finished 16th, and Kasey Kahne placed 13th.
This marked the first time since 2009 that Hendrick Motorsports did not have a car in the top 10 in the Daytona 500.
Dave Burns reports from Hendrick Motorsports and former Hendrick crew chief Steve Letarte gives a glimpse of what the team meetings might have been like this week.