NASCAR: Grading Every Team At The All-Star Break

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Gibbs Racing: (B-)

The No. 18 Car

Kyle Busch has not driven a single race in the No. 18 car this season (a points race that is) so it’s not far to grade him. Instead, we will grade the combination of Matt Crafton, David Ragan and Erik Jones; the three drivers who filled in for Busch over the first 11 races of 2015. Ragan obviously received the lions share of the workload having run nine of the 11 races. While none of the replacement drivers were able to get a win in the No. 18, it was competitive every weekend and that was really all JGR could ask for.

GRADE: B

Matt Kenseth

2015 has already been a better season than 2014 was seeing as how Kenseth already has a win, something that didn’t happen last season. Kenseth has had a solid 2015 but there have been some inconsistencies. Kenseth has six top-10 finishes this season but he also has five finishes of 16th or worse; four of which were 23rd or worse. It seems like Kenseth has himself a good week and then follows it up with a subpar week. Kenseth should find his way into the chase once again this season be if he wants to contend for a title he will need to become more consistent as the season wears on.

GRADE: B+

Carl Edwards

The 2015 season has not been one that Edwards and the No. 19 team envisioned. After 11 races this season Edwards has only one top-10 finish and that finish was a 10th-place finish. Edwards also have five finishes of 20th or worse this season which has put him lower in the point standings than he would like to be. Coming out of the All-Star break Edwards will need to focus on simply getting better finishes and then go from there. If Edwards can avoid bas luck and hit on a few setups he should be able to contend for some wins before the chase.

GRADE: C

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin is having a season that is similar to that of teammate Matt Kenseth. Hamlin has won in 2015 which puts him into a good spot to make the chase. That being said, consistency has alluded Hamlin and the No. 11 team through the first 11 races. In 11 races Hamlin already has six finishes of 22nd or worse to go along with five top-11 finishes. Much like Kenseth, Hamlin seems to have one good race and then one bad race. The win will go a long way in getting him to the chase but if he wants to do more than that he needs to find some consistency on the track.

GRADE: B