There were no important NASCAR races last weekend so that gave a little break to the Sprint Cup teams after only four races in the season.
Next weekend and the following weekend, they will be on short tracks, Bristol and Martinsville. But will that help Hendrick Motorsports?
Granted, one of its drivers, Jeff Gordon (Chevy No 24), is leading the championship (but remember, we are only four races in on 36) but the three other Hendrick drivers are not happy campers!
Gordon did not win a race yet (and the Chevy driver has not for more than a year while two Ford, a Toyota and a Dodge drivers are winners of the first four races). Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48), who could probably be the first NASCAR driver ever to win four championships in a row, is 13th in the standings. Not a big problem now but if things do not improve, he could be in serious trouble later on.
And what about Dale Earnhardt (Chevy No 88)? He is now 24th in the standings. Where's the problem? Many fingers are pointing at Tony Eury Jr, his cousin also acting as crew chief. Both men are known to argue during a race though they have been together for quite a while. Could there be changes on the way?
Then, there is the "new kid" in the team, veteran Mark Martin (Chevy No 5) who had retired from the Roush Racing Team a few years ago only to get back in a race car trying to win his first ever Sprint Cup championship, this time driving for Hendrick. Well, in his case, being 34th in the standings is not a good way to start the season. And that is being to close from a 36th place that would have him qualify within the "Go or go home" process.
So, what's going to happen at Hendrick?
Next weekend and the following weekend, they will be on short tracks, Bristol and Martinsville. But will that help Hendrick Motorsports?
Granted, one of its drivers, Jeff Gordon (Chevy No 24), is leading the championship (but remember, we are only four races in on 36) but the three other Hendrick drivers are not happy campers!
Gordon did not win a race yet (and the Chevy driver has not for more than a year while two Ford, a Toyota and a Dodge drivers are winners of the first four races). Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48), who could probably be the first NASCAR driver ever to win four championships in a row, is 13th in the standings. Not a big problem now but if things do not improve, he could be in serious trouble later on.
And what about Dale Earnhardt (Chevy No 88)? He is now 24th in the standings. Where's the problem? Many fingers are pointing at Tony Eury Jr, his cousin also acting as crew chief. Both men are known to argue during a race though they have been together for quite a while. Could there be changes on the way?
Then, there is the "new kid" in the team, veteran Mark Martin (Chevy No 5) who had retired from the Roush Racing Team a few years ago only to get back in a race car trying to win his first ever Sprint Cup championship, this time driving for Hendrick. Well, in his case, being 34th in the standings is not a good way to start the season. And that is being to close from a 36th place that would have him qualify within the "Go or go home" process.
So, what's going to happen at Hendrick?