CONCORD, N.C. – General manager Jeff Andrews credits great chemistry for Hendrick Motorsports’ red-hot start to 2021.
Early wins by William Byron at Homestead and Kyle Larson at Las Vegas have put the team in the front-runner position just five races into the NASCAR Cup Series season.
“We are so proud of everyone here at Hendrick Motorsports,” Andrews said during an interview on “Dialed In” on SiriusXM. “How everyone is working together is the most important thing. I don’t ever remember the chemistry doing as well as it has been through the off-season.”
Byron’s Feb. 28 win at Homestead-Miami Speedway came at the hands of first-year crew chief Rudy Fugle. It also marked Fugle’s first Cup Series win.
“I am so proud of the way this organization has soaked (Fugle) up and gotten him up to speed,” Andrews said.
Fugle was tapped to be the No. 24 team crew chief for the 2021 season after seven-time champion Chad Knaus was promoted to vice president of competition. Knaus, working closely with Andrews, provides support to ensure the teams have all the necessary equipment to stay ahead of the rest of the field.
“He has done a fantastic job with that,” Andrews said of Knaus. We are so proud of him and how he stepped into that role. He’s certainly doing a great job in all departments and getting folks engaged and has helped me a lot.”
Andrews believes Hendrick Motorsports’ focus on the little details and overall preparation helps set it apart.
“We show up every weekend to win without question,” Andrews said. “We load cars here on Thursday night or Friday night, and we have always felt like we have done the very best job by the time we put a car on the trailer to go to the racetrack.”
“We’ve come to play. We’ve come to win.”
Andrews also gives credit to the stars behind the wheels of the team’s Camaros. With the youngest multi-car lineup in NASCAR, averaging a ripe old age of 26, Hendrick Motorsports has years of winning ahead.
“The talent is one thing but then having the youthful side of that projects a great future,” Andrews said.
As NASCAR heads to Phoenix Raceway this weekend, Andrews is excited to see Hendrick Motorsports visit a track where the organization has a record 11 Cup Series victories.
Sunday will mark Chase Elliott’s return to Phoenix after winning there in November to clinch the 2020 championship. Coming off a victory in the last two races and having the defending champion boosts the team’s confidence.
“It’s been a good track for us,” Andrews said. “Certainly, the championship last year, that win is huge. Chase and Alan (Gustafson) run really well there."
"It’s been a really good racetrack for us.”
Be sure to tune into FOX this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET to see Hendrick Motorsports take on Phoenix Raceway.