Teammate Rivalry Compared at Hendrick Motorsports for Larson & Elliott

This teammate rivalry thing isn't new at Hendrick Motorsports, Johnson and Gordon are two of the best to have ever raced in this sport and they were VERY competitive teammates who butt heads multiple times over the years on the track, but the on-track issues between Larson and Elliott are getting a bit out of hand. 

Credit: KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Kubota Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Chase Elliott is by in large the most popular driver in the Cup Series Garage and has been for several years now, but when Kyle Larson came off of his suspension and joined Elliott at Hendrick Motorsports, many thought the dream team was born. And, overall it was. 2 Titles in 2 years for HMS thanks to the duo and the numerous victories that have come. But the problem comes eventually, 2 superstars with immense amounts of talent competing to be number one at an organization is bound to cause an issue. 

In 2020 while Kyle Larson was out in an indefinite suspension, Chase Elliott joined his father, Bill Elliott as a NASCAR Cup Series Champion. He rode the highest of highs. Then in the off-season, Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon would sign Kyle Larson to drive the rebranded 48 car as the No. 5 team. Larson, who had spent his previous seven seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing scoring 6 Cup Series victories would now join the sport's most Elite Chevrolet team. 

2021

It would not take long for Larson to score his first victory with the team, race No. 4 on the season in 2021 at Las Vegas would check that box for both Kyle and HMS, starting off a firestorm. In 2021, Larson would more than double his career victories going from 6 to 15 in the No. 5 car. He would also net 24 Top-10 finishes and the Cup Series Championship in his first year with Hendrick. 

Elliott would have some success in 2021 as well, he would follow up his title with 2 victories netting 21 Top-10s and finishing 4th in the final standings. 

2022

The 2022 season would see a flip-flop of the two drivers and also the public start of the pair's rivalry with the arrival of the NEXT GEN car. The pair would clash after a late block by Larson on Elliott at Auto Club causing Elliott to lose control of his car due to a broken toe link. Larson would go on to win and Elliott would finish 26th. The pair would later clash again at Watkins Glen as the duo would restart late on the front row, Larson would run Elliott VERY wide, again leading to a Larson win and Elliott to finish P. 4. 

Elliott won 5 times in the NEXT GEN car with 20 Top-10s and finished 4th in the standings for the second time in a row. Larson on the other hand would score 3 wins and net a total of 19 Top-10s while not even making the Final 4. Larson would finish 7th in the final standings.

2023

2023 will not be Elliott's year. So far in 2023, Elliott has missed 7 1/2 races. 6 due to injury, 1 to a Suspension, and the majority of the Coke 600 at Charlotte due to the unacceptable decision to intentionally right-hook Denny Hamlin into the front stretch outside wall. To Date (Kansas 2 being the most recent race) Chase Elliott has had a total of 12 Top-10 finishes in the 21 races he's competed in while only leading a total of 41 laps. Compare that to Kyle Larson's 3 wins, 14 Top-10s and 778 Laps led. 

The pair's most recent run in was simply a misunderstanding at Kansas on a late race pit stop. Larson had to move over on pit road to avoid hitting the 6 car leaving it's pit stall, he bumped Elliott slightly and that was it. Elliott however was not very happy with this, Elliott would come down and door slam the 5 of Larson after exiting pit road to show his displeasure. 

Comparing Stats

To Date Statistics 2021- Post Kansas 2, 2023 (Since Larson Joined Hendrick Motorsports)

Kyle Larson: 

• Laps Led: 3,994
• Stage Wins: 28
• Top-10s: 59
• Wins: 16

Chase Elliott

• Laps Led: 1,850
• Stage Wins: 13
• Top-10s: 53
• Wins: 7

By: Tom Luttermoser