Hendrick Motorsports Parts Ways with Kyle Larson’s Spotter Amid Social Media Controversy

In a recent turn of events, Hendrick Motorsports has severed ties with Kyle Larson’s spotter, Chris Monez. The decision came swiftly, only four days after scrutiny arose over Monez’s previous social media engagements.

Monez, who transitioned to Hendrick Motorsports from his role as Ty Dillon’s spotter in 2020, found himself under fire for his online activities. His retweets and likes included posts by President Trump criticizing COVID-19 response strategies and the electoral process. Additionally, reports indicate his endorsement of tweets featuring a QAnon-related hashtag, alongside Trump’s controversial suggestion that Bubba Wallace owed an apology following the Talladega Superspeedway incident involving a noose in his garage.

Discussion surrounding Monez’s posts gained traction on platforms like Reddit and even prompted an editorial on SpeedwayMedia.com, authored by Joseph Shelton. Shelton urged both Hendrick and Larson to reconsider their association with Monez.

While Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Monez’s departure to Fox Sports NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass, the team has refrained from publicly disclosing the rationale behind the decision. Monez himself has remained silent on social media regarding the matter, but has acknowledged the news when contacted by TobyChristie.com.

This development unfolds as Kyle Larson transitions to Hendrick Motorsports following his dismissal from Chip Ganassi Racing earlier this year. Larson’s departure from Chip Ganassi Racing stemmed from his use of a racial slur during an online racing simulation. Since then, Larson, who is of Japanese descent, has undergone NASCAR-mandated sensitivity training and has actively engaged with African American community leaders to deepen his understanding of civil rights issues.

Despite the upheaval surrounding Monez, NASCAR has yet to release an official statement on the matter.