Hendrick Motorsports has had some ups and downs through the half-way point of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The inconsistency is something the established team is not used to. The NASCAR giant is one of the most accomplished organization over the last 20 NASCAR seasons.
The established organization has put together a good mix of youth and experience behind the wheel. The combination may be contributing a little to the on track inconsistencies. Hendrick Motorsports has all the right pieces to put together a stellar second half run. As a result, this band of talented crew chiefs and drivers should find a way to post more wins and top five’s in the second half.
Jimmie Johnson:
The six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion is at it again in 2016. The future Hall of Fame driver for Hendrick Motorsports has already sealed his spot in the playoffs. Johnson got out of the gate early and often at the start of the Sprint Cup season.
He has taken his #48 Lowes Chevrolet to victory lane on at two different venues. The fierce competitor won at Atlanta in the second race of the year. He also guided his hot-rod to a home track win at Fontana in the Auto Club 400. Since the race at Richmond where Johnson finished third, he has struggled and has posted only one other top ten performance.
Jimmie Johnson has accumulated a total of six top five’s and seven more top 10’s in 2016. He has yet to claim a Coors Light Pole Award at the mid-way point of the Sprint Cup year. Consequently, the two triumphs have guaranteed Johnson will be in the playoffs competing for his seventh NASCAR championship.
Dale Earnhardt Jr:
The most beloved Sprint Cup driver in NASCAR has his fans a little worried at the half-way point of the year. Earnhardt Jr. still hasn’t found away to get that much needed win to propel him into the Chase. The #88 Nationwide Chevrolet sponsored team has uncharacteristically struggled to stay on the track at their best events.
Junior often depends on the super speedways to capture the win he need to move on in the fall. This year the restrictor plate guru has wrecked in the Daytona 500 and again Talladega in the Geico 500. There is a positive sign that he will get that elusive victory. The Hendrick Motorsport racer has finished second fiddle on a whopping four different occasions in 2016. He was runner-up at Atlanta, Texas, Bristol and Pocono.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits 11th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. He has gathered five top five’s so far this year. The fan favorite also has reeled in another six top 10’s. Earnhardt has two more shots at the retrictor plate events this year. With a victory in one of those races and keepi his car out of the garage on race day, will determine if we see Dale Jr. the post season.
Kasey Kahne:
Kasey Kahne and the Farmers Insurance team are struggling again this season. Last year they failed to win a single race and as a result, they were left out of the playoffs. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has got to improve if he has and chance to not repeat last years debacle.
Kahne has pulled together only two top five’s so far this season. They came at Richmond and Dover, both short tracks which he seems to navigate better. Maybe he can improve upon the performances the second time he visits these venues. The struggling driver’s playoff chances may very well depend on it.
Kahne is a talented athlete who is capable of winning at any track on any given afternoon. The team needs to turn things around quick before they fall further back in the point standings. As of now, Kahne sits on the bubble in 16th.
Chase Elliott:
Chase Elliott has exceeded all expectations since joining with Hendrick Motorsports. The rookie driver has been fast in qualifying while equally impressive on race day. Elliott has guided his #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to two Coors Light Pole Awards in 2016. Both of them came on the super speedways at Daytona and Talladega.
The prodigal son has been up towards the front when it’s mattered in his fair share of events so far this season. He finished second at Michigan Speedway and third at Dover. In addition to the superb finishes, he had the fastest car on the final laps.
Elliott has impressively compiled six top five’s and another 11 top 10’s. Nobody expected the rookie racer to replace Jeff Gordon with these kind of numbers. The new addition to Hendrick Motorsports sits in the sixth spot in the point standings and would be in the Chase if it started today.
