CONCORD, N.C. – While Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has been pleased with the fast start to the season for Kasey Kahne and Chase Elliott, he has been just as pleased with the fast cars for Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Even if the results haven’t yet shown up.
The No. 48 team, for example, finished 34th in the Daytona 500. But Johnson still led seven laps before being caught up in a multiple-car incident.
“It was not indicative of how the car ran,” Hendrick said of Johnson’s Daytona finish. “He was leading the race and then he gets run over in that pack.”
In Atlanta, Johnson had worked his way inside the top 10 before pit road penalties put him behind the eight ball.
“It was just one of those days we got down with no opportunity to get back,” Hendrick said. “The car’s got speed, so I’m not worried about Jimmie. He’ll be fine.”
Earnhardt has started the season in similar fashion to his teammate, including being knocked out early at Daytona due to a multiple-car incident.
“He led Daytona. He sat on the outside pole at Daytona. He led all of the Duel 150 but the last few laps,” Hendrick recalled. “He gets in the big race, he’s leading and gets swept up in an accident.”
And at Atlanta, Earnhardt was also pegged with a pit road penalty in addition to experiencing tire issues that put him laps behind the leaders.
“We just fought gremlins all day,” Hendrick said. “But when you have speed, you can go to the next race and feel confident.”
Confident is exactly how Hendrick feels about all four of his drivers as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
And the two teammates in the Nos. 48 and 88 race shop are keeping each other in top condition as the season kicks into high gear.
“Dale just really looks good,” Hendrick smiled. “Jimmie’s got him working out like a wild man.”