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NASCAR: 5 Lessons Learned From The STP 500 at Martinsville

By Michael Guadalupe

Apr 2, 2017; Martinsville, VA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) leads during the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Martinsville, VA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) leads during the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Hendrick Motorsports continues to struggle to gain ground on the other teams of NASCAR. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
Hendrick Motorsports continues to struggle to gain ground on the other teams of NASCAR. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Hendrick Motorsports is Struggling to Gain Ground

After the race at Martinsville its clear that all Hendrick Motorsports drivers, besides Chase Elliot, are struggling to keep up with some of the other teams in NASCAR.

Martinsville is a track where Jimmie Johnson is one of the most dominant drivers. With nine wins at this track it’s almost a given that Johnson will be one of the drivers who is racing for the win at the end of the race.

He finished 15th on Sunday.

Johnson was battling through the field all day, and did make it toward the front at one point of the race, but he struggled battling some of the other drivers in traffic, like Ryan Blaney, and was never able to make it back to the front after falling back. Johnson has been struggling at the start of this season and fans are still waiting for the 48 to return to championship form.

Kasey Kahne finished in 14th, which isn’t a horrible finish, but Kahne continues to remain irrelevant from last year. Is he ever going to be able to compete for a win at a race, or is Hendrick Motorsports wasting their time with this driver?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a pretty decent record at Martinsville, but after getting caught speeding on pit road, Dale was sent to back of the field and was eventually involved in a wreck at Lap 418. Like Johnson, it’s been a rough start to the season for the fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. Will we ever see Dale in Victory Lane again? Or will he continue to struggle?

Chase Elliot is the only driver keeping Hendrick Motorsports competitive right now, and after Martinsville it’s clear that this once dominant racing organization is having a hard time keeping up with some of the other teams in NASCAR.

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