NASCAR: 10 Observations After 1/4 Of The Season

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Team Hendrick Looks Good But Isn’t Winning (Yet)

Team Hendrick put all of their cars into the chase in 2014 and all of their drivers visited victory lane at least once. Nine races into 2015 and Team Hendrick looks good again but only one of them has won thus far.

Heading into Talladega Jimmie Johnson (4th), Kasey Kahne (6th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8th) and Jeff Gordon (10th) all find themselves inside of the top-10 in the point standings. Johnson though is the only driver that has won thus far in 2015. That being said, the other drivers shouldn’t be overly concerned. The worst driver of the bunch in 2014 (Kahne) has been much more most consistent in 2015. Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. have been running well also having 11 top-10 finishes between the two of them. Gordon has rattled off six top-10 finishes in a row after a slow start to the season.

At this point it would seem like all four drivers will be headed to the chase (Johnson is already there of course) but their consistency will be the determining factor there. If Gordon, Kahne and Earnhardt Jr. can continue to run up front the wins should come and if they don’t they will be in a good spot to make the chase based on points.