Hendrick Motorsports hasn’t claimed a Sprint Cup Series victory since March at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The time has come for the organization to roll up it’s sleeves and put in some overtime.
Hendrick Motorsports has been a familiar face when challenging for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series championships. Therefore, it would be ridiculous to think the funk that they’re in will last. At least that’s what history has shown us. And what Six-time Sprint Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson tells us.
“A lot of hard work went on during the break that we had,” Johnson said last weekend at Bristol, Tennessee. Just judging by the excitement from crew chief Chad Knaus, and all the way through to Mr. Hendrick, we’re definitely turning over some stones and are also hopeful to bring a little better product to the race track week in and week out.”
“We’ve been struggling at times, trying to produce speed and lap times of late and also making mistakes in the process. We’re still rallying with some decent finishes from time to time, but then again, still having some bad luck. I think Watkins Glen kind of speaks to that as well; and also self-inflicted mistakes. I think come Chase time, in the middle of the Chase, the way things are looking back at the shop, and the excitement I see in all the departments, we’re expecting a good late-season surge for Hendrick Motorsports.”
The end of summer can not come soon enough for the Hendrick Motorsports organization. Jimmie Johnson is the only driver of it’s four man lineup to get a win in 2016. The future Hall-of-Famer has managed to do it twice. He drove on to Victory Lane at Atlanta and repeated his winning performance in California a few weeks later.
Sprint Cup Series rookie Chase Elliott, started his inaugural season off with a bang. As a result, he has amassed 11 top 10’s in his first 15 events. The prodigal son also captured pole positions at Daytona International Speedway and then again at Talladega. Elliott’s run was short lived and he has struggled to produce over the last few months.
The new addition to the Hendrick Motorsports team capped off his early surge with a career best runner-up at Michigan International Speedway. The Sprint Cup Series will resume this weekend at that same venue. Elliott remains very optimistic about the team’s efforts to get back to it’s winning ways.
“Our guys have been working really hard these past few weeks,” said Elliott, who is Chase-eligible by being ranked 12th in the standings. “Everybody is fired up at Hendrick Motorsports. Mr. Hendrick himself is fired up and he has been around the shop a lot. We are all just trying to give it the best effort we can to try and make the most of these next 14 weeks. We are all working hard, we also are all in. Hopefully, Michigan will be a step in the right direction.”
Kasey Kahne is searching for his first triumph in awhile. This year has been somewhat of an improvement for the savvy veteran. Kahne already has acquired six top 10’s. That is more than halfway to his entire total of 10 from the 2015 campaign. The Hendrick Motorsports mainstay has won at both Michigan in 2006 and again at Richmond in 2005.
The Chase field will be finalized on September 10th at Richmond Speedway. Furthermore, as the Chase Grid stands now, Kasey Kahne is tied with Chip Gnassi’s Kyle Larson. Kahne is only 39 points shy of qualifying for NASCAR’s version of the playoffs. Unfortunately, Ryan Newman currently sits in the 16th and final slot.
NASCAR’s beloved son Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return is still up in the air. He is currently recovering from concussion-like symptoms. The Hendrick Motorsports foursome may just become a threesome at title time. Either way, the racing juggernaut still remains a favorite to win it all. Hendrick Motorsports has made it look easy in the past. Jimmie Johnson’s amazing six titles in eight years is a testament to that.
Jimmie Johnson’s two wins in 2016, along with Chase Elliott’s two poles may seem like it’s been more of the same. On the contrary, the successful organization has done nothing but struggle over the last 10 races. Similarly, Elliott hasn’t graced the top 10 since his second place output at Michigan. Kasey Kahne has only one top 10 in that same span. As a result, there is a sense of urgency to right the Hendrick Motorsports ship heading into NASCAR’s version of the post-season.
“We have been struggling this year, have not been as good as we want or should be,” Hendrick said over the weekend. “We know we have the ingredients and we’re not satisfied, and we’re going to do whatever it takes. That’s been our motto all these years. As a result, we are at, what, 242 wins in Cup series? And we’re not done. I’m accountable, Hendrick continued. They’re accountable. When you’re not doing well, you can walk away and point fingers or you can jump in it and say, Let’s get with it. We know how to do it. Let’s get better working together. I’m proud of our company and we’re going to be better. I like the challenge.”
