CONCORD, N.C. – With three drivers locked into the playoffs, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick joined SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to share his thoughts on the organization’s potential in the final 10 races of the season.
“I’m looking forward to the future, and I’m looking forward to the playoffs,” Hendrick told the hosts. “I just want to keep the momentum that we’ve been building by being able to start up front, win poles and lead laps.”
To Hendrick’s point, the organization has nearly doubled its total of laps led from a year ago with 10 races remaining. In addition, after securing just two poles in 2018, Hendrick Motorsports has amassed eight this year, which is the sixth-highest total for the organization in a single season.
And after three trips to Victory Lane so far this year, the owner and his drivers are looking for more as the playoffs commence.
One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s playoffs for Hendrick is that if any of the three Hendrick Motorsports teammates in the field were to capture the title, it would be their very first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
“It would be unbelievable because it would be the first one for one of those three guys,” he said. “I love winning championships, but it is special when you see a guy win it for the first time. I think these guys can do it.”
The organization’s seven-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, came up just short of the playoffs for the first time in his career this season. But Hendrick has seen the passion the driver is bringing to the track each and every week, and he has no doubt that the No. 48 team means business as the season winds down.
“I see more fire in Jimmie Johnson then I have seen in a long time,” Hendrick said. “You can see it in his eyes. He does not want to be looked at that he can’t get it done anymore. He knows he can, and we know he can, we’ve just got to give him the tools.”
The NASCAR Hall of Famer has been proud of the work all four teams have put in this season and the teamwork that has been on display all along.
“I love to see the growth when I look at Chase and I look at William and Alex and see how they have grown and matured in experiences and it’s made them and their crew chiefs better,” Hendrick said. “I’ve been in sports of 35 years and I’ve never seen our crew chiefs work together like they are right now.”
As the kickoff to the playoffs approaches just around the corner, the owner believes the organization has what it takes to win its 13th NASCAR Cup Series championship.
“It’s always exciting, a lot of pressure, but I’m excited,” he said. “I love the format and you never know what’s going to happen.
“We’ve just got to go get it done.”