CONCORD, N.C. -- Following Jimmie Johnson's win Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick took the champagne bath in Victory Lane for the first time in over 30 years.
"This feels good," Hendrick said. "It was like our first race again. Nobody ever gave up and we know what a champion Jimmie is. We were good here in the May race. We've been good on the mile‑and‑a‑halfs, and we've been better than we've finished."
Hendrick acknowledges that the organization went through a dry spell during the summer months.
"I can't tell you how many races we were in position to win, a caution would come out, a restart, and we'd just fumble the ball," the owner said. "We just didn't close the deal. We've had the speed, but we just couldn't finish."
However, Hendrick said he's proud of the teamwork the entire organization has shown this season.
"But we've really been working hard through the summer," he said. "[At Bristol] we were talking about going to the wind tunnel and everybody working together, and usually teams kind of come apart when they're not showing signs of speed, and the guys have never worked this hard together, and it's been paying off."
Although Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman were both involved in on-track incidents that ended their days prematurely, Kasey Kahne logged his fifth top-10 in the last six races while Johnson landed in Victory Lane.
"I think today was a good day for us to show a lot of speed, lead a lot of laps," Hendrick said. "I hate what happened to Chase and Alex with tires and Chase in the wreck, but to see Kasey -- I think that's the fifth or sixth race he's been in the top 10. We've got good momentum. I think the engine shop, the aero shop, chassis -- everybody has been working hard."
And the owner is looking forward to the remainder of the season as the organization makes a run at its 12th championship.
"I'm proud of the guys for how hard they've worked together and hopefully we can get Chase back in it and be a threat to finish this thing."