NASCAR: Who’s Hot And Who’s Not Heading Into Atlanta

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

HOT – Team Hendrick

Team Hedrick was dominant throughout their time spent in Daytona and that continued with the Daytona 500.

When the checkered (and yellow) flag waved in Daytona three Hendrick cars finished the race inside of the top-10. The only car not to finish there was Jeff Gordon who was involved in a last-lap crash that led to him finishing outside of the top-30. Despite the poor finishing spot for Gordon, he had one of the best cars this past weekend which was proven by the fact that he led more than 80 laps.

Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued their Daytona dominance. Coming into the 500 both drivers won their duel races and qualified in the front two rows. Earnahrdt Jr. finished third while Johnson came home in fifth, both feeling as though they could had won had they done things differently at the end of the race.

Kasey Kahne has himself a nice top-10 finish after he was running in the top-three at one point. Kahne like the other three Hendrick cars also showed great speed all weekend. It will be interesting to see if all four drivers can have success this weekend in Atlanta.