DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Last season, a Chevrolet finished the year at the top of the standings when Jimmie Johnson captured his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick wants to make sure Chevrolet remains on top in 2017.
“I think every year you want to end the season with momentum,” he said. “The competition was fierce. It is again. You work hard. We just hope that we can carry the momentum into this year. We've got a good start.”
Friday morning at Daytona International Speedway, he was joined onstage by fellow Chevrolet team owners Richard Childress and Chip Ganassi along with Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports for Chevrolet.
“I would say it's a real honor to sit on the stage and be longtime partners with all three of these amazing team owners,” Campbell said. “Rick Hendrick, 34 years we've raced together.”
Hendrick noted that the pride all three team owners have for Chevrolet has helped the collaboration reach a level that is “the best it’s ever been.”
He enters 2017 with the goal of a championship, and he believes Johnson has a good a chance as anyone to hoist the trophy once again this season.
“I think we took some of the pressure off just getting to seven because now he can just race,” Hendrick explained. “We're just honored to have what we have, but looking forward to at least have the opportunity to do something no one else has done.”
Along the way, Hendrick said he loves the new race format and he feels it will only add to the excitement every week.
And with the Daytona 500 just two days away – and two Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets on the front row – he’s ready to tackle a new season.
“We're just looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “Everybody's pumped up and ready to go.”