CONCORD, N.C. – For Hendrick Motorsports, last season ended on the highest of high notes, with Jimmie Johnson capturing his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship – the organization’s 12th Cup title.
And that momentum, felt all throughout the organization, has continued into the 2017 campaign. Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said it’s a far cry from last year’s down spell during the summer months.
“All four cars led at Daytona. Last year we were in a drought and didn’t lead anything,” Hendrick said. “It’s a lot different feel than we had last year at this time.”
Hendrick has been impressed with all four race teams while eying even more success moving forward.
He noted that with a top-10 and a top-five finish under their belt, Kasey Kahne and the No. 5 team are off to “absolutely a great start.”
“Confidence is a great thing in racing, and that team’s got a lot of confidence,” he said.
As for Chase Elliott, Hendrick said that it wouldn’t take much for the No. 24 team to have won both of the two races to this point in the season.
“I’m just tickled to death with Chase’s start,” he said.
While the results have not been there for Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick said he’s “not worried” about either of the veteran drivers.
After all, both led the Daytona 500 at one point in the race before being involved in multiple-car incidents. And Earnhardt ranks third among all drivers in fastest laps run so far this season.
“When you have speed, you can go to the next race and feel confident,” Hendrick said.
“I feel really good about everybody,” he continued, “and I’m really excited about these next three races.”
The West Coast swing begins this Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a race scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.