For the first time in the team’s history and only the fourth time in the history of NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, partnered by Acronis, saw its drivers take the first four places at Dover International Speedway.
“It was a great day for the organization,” said Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick. “Alex (Bowman), congratulations to him. This is a sign of (everyone) working together and bringing good stuff to the track. I don’t think it’ll hit me until tomorrow that we were able to finish 1-2-3-4. That’s pretty hard to do.”
"This is the most nervous I've ever been in a race!"
Rick Hendrick shares what today's 1-2-3-4 finish means to his organization. pic.twitter.com/hC5OnMWOnz
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 16, 2021
Taking the chequered flag first was Alex Bowman as teammates Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and William Byron finished second, third, and fourth, respectively. Victory for Bowman was his second of the season and he had to do it the hard way, rolling off the line 16th before finishing the opening stage in eighth place.
In contrast, second place finisher Larson had started fourth, Elliot eighth and Byron third as the stack of cars began their bid for glory at the ‘Monster Mile’. By lap 215, Bowman had passed teammate Byron and finished the second stage well placed in third before taking the lead on lap 301 and hanging tough despite further cautions on Laps 315 and 326 to secure his second win in the 2021 season.
The 4️⃣8️⃣ is back in Victory Lane at Dover! @Alex_Bowman chats with @NASCARONFOX after a huge victory this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/gx2Id0k0uz
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 16, 2021
“I told the guys last week, ‘we’re still the same team that did it at Richmond’, said Bowman. “This is another really good place for us. I’m just so pumped for Ally. It feels right to put the 48 back in victory lane here after how many races that this car has won here.”
For runner-up Larson it was yet another impressive performance and he jumps to fifth in the drivers’ standings after his sixth top 5 finish of the season.
“I feel like all of us HMS guys were pretty equal, so it was kind of like whoever got out into the lead was probably hard to beat, so their team just did a really good job on the pit stop and gained control of the race and I never really had a shot after that, really,” said Larson.
Although it wasn't a victory, @KyleLarsonRacin (P2) delivered yet another impressive performance this season in his No. 5 machine. pic.twitter.com/aE2uD45e2H
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 16, 2021
“That one restart I got to his bumper and got him loose but then the four of us coming I kind of had to let him go. Hard to be disappointed with the second, I feel like I did everything I could. We led a lot of laps, won both stages there, so good points. I would have liked to be one spot better but all in all a good day for our Nations Car Chevy and what a day for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet.”
To the No. 48 pit crew …
… this one's for you! @Alex_Bowman and @TeamHendrick get it done at the @MonsterMile! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/wcsEqmRNY0
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 16, 2021