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.
Luken Glover joined the Frontstretch team in 2020 as a contributor, furthering a love for racing that traces back to his earliest memories. Glover inherited his passion for racing from his grandfather, who used to help former NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey in his Richmond, Va. garage. A 2023 graduate from the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is the author of "The Underdog House," contributes to commentary pieces, and does occasional at-track reporting. Additionally, Glover enjoys working in ministry, coaching basketball, playing sports, and karting.