NASCAR Team Power Rankings: STP 500 Edition

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Mar 5, 2017; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (24) during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 – Hendrick Motorsports

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Auto Club Results: Chase Elliott (10th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16th), Kasey Kahne (5th), Jimmie Johnson (21st)

When it comes to HMS in 2017, after five races it’s all about Chase Elliott and the No. 24 team. Elliott has been the class of the HMS bunch through five races and will enter Martinsville 2nd in the championship standings. The next HMS driver in the standings after Elliott is Kasey Kahne (13th).

Elliott is also the only HMS to show true consistency this season. Through five races Elliott has five top-15 finishes while the rest of the team has a total of six.

Kahne and Johnson have had some solid runs this season as they each have a pair of finishes of 11th or better. On the other hand, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been struggling since his return to the track this season. In five starts Earnhardt has a high finish of 14th to go along with a pair of finishes of 30th or worse.

HMS came on strong at the end of 2016 with three of their four drivers running well and Johnson winning a championship. They say it’s about where you finish and not where you start so maybe HMS is just saving their stuff for the end of the season once again.

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