Kevin Meendering will step atop the pit box for Kyle Larson‘s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the next four NASCAR Cup Series races, HMS announced June 20.
Meendering fills in the role for regular crew chief Cliff Daniels, who will serve a four-race suspension due to Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet losing a wheel during the most recent race at Sonoma Raceway.
Daniels was suspended in addition to the team jackman Brandon Johnson and front-tire changer Donnie Tasser.
Meendering serves as the competition development manager at HMS. The 41-year-old last called the shots for seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson in 21 races during the 2019 season. He also worked as the crew chief at JR Motorsports for Elliott Sadler in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2016-2018, winning three races and the 2017 regular season title together.
Additionally, Meendering is the crew chief for Hendrick’s Xfinity program, which will compete in three races this season.
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.