Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR: Breaking Down Hendrick Motorsports’ Struggles

By Cole Mentzel

Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (24) leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (24) leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Apr 23, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (5) during practice for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (5) during practice for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /

The No. 5 Team

It’s been a long four and a half seasons for Kasey Kahne at Hendrick Motorsports. He joined the team and won five races in his first three seasons, but hasn’t won since Atlanta in 2014, with his last Chase appearance coming that year.

The struggles have increased for Kahne this season as he is in another battle near the Chase bubble. Kahne’s last top-10 finish came at Sonoma and he has two fourth-place finishes at Richmond and Dover, but he’s yet to lead a lap all season long.

Often looked at as the odd car out at HMS, simply because he doesn’t get the media hype that the other three drivers do, Kahne has continued to stay a step behind his teammates.

While he only has one DNF on the season, his biggest issue has been staying competitive throughout the course of an entire race and keeping up with other Chase contenders. His 15-point penalty for “infractions” at Dover didn’t help his case either.

It certainly looks like Kahne will fall short of the Chase for the second straight season as he continues to stay off pace with the other three HMS drivers.

Next: Rookie Slump

Home/NASCAR