Hendrick Motorsports‘ #17 NASCAR Xfinity Collection automobile will as soon as once more run a street course-heavy calendar in 2023 with a lone oval begin, as soon as once more entrusting the automobile to their Cup Collection lineup.
Three of the group’s 4 Cup drivers will race the automobile, with the exception being Chase Elliott who additionally didn’t pilot the automobile in 2022. The #17’s first begin of the yr will come at Circuit of the Americas on 25 March with William Byron, adopted by Kyle Larson at Sonoma Raceway on 10 June and Alex Bowman at Watkins Glen Worldwide on 19 August to present the trio one street begin every. Larson will enter its lone oval race at Darlington Raceway on 2 September.
Larson received at Sonoma, his dwelling monitor, within the Cup Collection throughout his championship run in 2021.
The #17 might be sponsored by HendrickCars.com, a quantity and sponsor pairing that group proprietor Rick Hendrick‘s late son Ricky sported throughout his driving profession. The quantity was additionally utilized by the group’s Cup and Truck Collection programme, with Darrell Waltrip successful the 1989 Daytona 500 within the former.
“Watching the #17 return to the monitor final yr was very particular,” Hendrick acknowledged. “It was enjoyable being again within the Xfinity Collection and seeing a terrific return from our HendrickCars.com sponsorship. The group had sturdy outcomes on the monitor, however we didn’t fairly get to Victory Lane. Having unfinished enterprise offers us further motivation this season.”
Larson received the pole within the #17’s début at Street America however completed runner-up after being overtaken by Ty Gibbs on the ultimate lap. Bowman then ran Indianapolis and positioned second, whereas Byron received the pole at The Glen however spun whereas racing Gibbs and paradoxically misplaced the victory to Larson, who was in affiliate JR Motorsports’ #88. Larson returned for Darlington and battled for the win with Sheldon Creed and Noah Gragson, lacking out by two spots.
“We discovered so much in 2022 and felt the additional seat time was priceless for our drivers,” added group president Jeff Andrews. “Bringing again the programme was a simple resolution, however we all know competing at a excessive stage within the Xfinity Collection takes a giant dedication. We’re going to throw all the things now we have at these 4 races. Successful with the #17 HendrickCars.com Chevy is the precedence.”
Hendrick’s Xfinity group was previously an everyday within the Eighties and 2000s, successful the 2003 championship with Brian Vickers, however rendered redundant after 2009 as a result of Hendrick investing into JRM.
