ATYL: Hendrick Motorsports Storybook Weekend | The Short Track Package Debate Continues After Martinsville

The script was perfectly written heading into Martinsville this weekend. With Hendrick Motorsports celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their first victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, one of the organization’s Ruby Red Chevrolet Camaros was bound to capture the checkered flag.

Showing impressive pace in both practice and qualifying, Kyle Larson scored the pole and led the field to green in Sunday’s Cook Out 400. The only Hendrick Motorsports entry to start this race outside the top-10 was William Byron in 18th. However, that didn’t stop the No. 24 from ripping through the field at a track that is tough to pass on.

Where was this race won for the Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1? A masterful call by Byron’s crew chief, Rudy Fugle, brought the car down pit road first in the green-flag pit stop cycle during the final stage. That extra lap over the field gave that team the advantage they needed to get ahead of his teammates and Chesterfield, VA. native, Denny Hamlin, who also posed a threat to the trophy.

The legacy NASCAR Cup Series team crossed the line 1-2-3 to celebrate its historic anniversary with over 1,500 fans at the racetrack. Though this accomplishment is truly remarkable, it’s also important to point out the remarkable performance of the No. 23 team and Bubba Wallace, as well as many drivers who showed strength throughout the afternoon.

Join Taylor Kitchen and Toby Christie in the latest episode of Above The Yellow Line to analyze the race. Plus, tune in to, yet again, discuss the short track package and what we saw from that track that the broadcast might have missed.

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Taylor Kitchen

Taylor Kitchen found her passion for motorsports after watching a NASCAR Xfinity Series race with her grandma in 2016. The following year, she would attend her first race at Kentucky Speedway. The smell of the gas and roar of the engines filling her ears was enough to solidify her love of the sport. She spent the next few years working her way into the NASCAR online community and researching as much as she could to gain a vast knowledge of the sport. However, something was bothering her. At the time, Taylor struggled to find content within the space that was female-led and came from the perspective of a new fan. This inspired her to create her own media outlet, “Above The Yellow Line” in 2021. On this platform, Taylor writes, films, edits, and markets high-quality videos discussing the latest news and events from the sport. In April of 2022, her company partnered with the prominent NASCAR media outlet TobyChristie.com to provide them social media content and to report on location during select race weekends. Since then, Taylor has been able to help build TobyChristie.com's YouTube audience to well over four thousand subscribers and continues to help expand the company's social reach with her team. 2022 marked a new era for the brand as Taylor expanded ATYL’s capabilities to help various drivers with their communications, public relations, digital media, and marketing. In June of that year, she was hired by ARCA Series Champion, Austin Theriault to work for his driver development program, "AT Racing Development". As the organization's Director of Digital Marketing and Media, she produces and directs her clients tailor-made social media strategies. She also takes part in marketing efforts for her drivers. In May of 2023, Austin Theriault of AT Racing Development partnered with Team Hornaday Development and brought Taylor to the team as their Communications Manager. Working with Ron and Candice Hornaday, Taylor helps direct their drivers social media strategy and PR efforts. She also partakes in company and driver marketing and recruiting efforts