Early-season questions about the struggles of Hendrick Motorsports have melted away.
Now, it’s a story of the more things seem to be changing, the more they’re apparently staying the same. A week into April, Hendrick cars are 1-2 in the Sprint Cup points.
While it’s far too early in the year to declare anything a two-man race, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are the early favorites this season.
For Johnson, that means a shot at an unprecedented fourth straight championship could have to go through his teammate and mentor.
“Maybe my vision is limited because I see him more as a guy that’s in the way of me winning a fourth than a guy elevating the team,” Johnson said after a second-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway Sunday. “I’m sure that Jeff would say the same about me. That’s just the competitive nature that I have to go out and try to win my fourth championship. But Jeff is gonna be strong.”
So far he’s been stronger than anyone. Gordon leads the series in top-five and top-10 finishes. He’s topped the points for four weeks in a row.
And to make it tougher for the drivers chasing him in the standings, Gordon found his way back into Victory Lane for the first time in 47 races at Texas.
He admitted after the race the longest winless streak of his career has bothered him more than he let on.
“It was motivation because it really makes you question how bad do you really want it, how hard are you willing to work to get back to Victory Lane and how hard are you willing to drive, what’s your physical condition, where are you at mentally,” he said.
Since Gordon’s last win, his teammate Johnson has claimed two series championship trophies. His daughter Ella Sofia, who only was a few months old when her dad last won, actually got to cheer him on this time, albeit on television. She and Gordon’s wife Ingrid have attended fewer races so far this season and weren’t there at Texas. It’s by design, Gordon said.
“You gotta take it serious, and you gotta be committed,” he said. “And this is my job. And they come every chance that they can. And when it doesn’t work out, you know, it doesn’t work out. I really hate that they weren’t able to celebrate with me today. But I think because of this win we’re going to win more races this year and they’re going to be there for those.”
They may be there for something a lot bigger in November if Gordon keeps on the pace he’s on.
Triple threat
Kyle Busch has been tough behind the wheel of anything he drives this year. He leads the Truck Series standings, is second in Nationwide Series points and seventh in the Sprint Cup standings.
His amazing streak of winning at least one of the three NASCAR series each weekend this year continued with his win Saturday at Texas in the Nationwide event.
Ever confident, Busch said after Saturday’s race his team could win every race the rest of the season.
“We’ve got race cars that are phenomenal,” Busch said. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t win every single one of these deals.”
Notes of note
The Sprint Cup and Truck series take the weekend off for Easter, with the Nationwide Series the lone NASCAR action Saturday afternoon at Nashville ... The No. 8 car of Aric Almirola has had its schedule shut down indefinitely due to lack of sponsorship. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove that car for his first eight seasons on the series ... Rookie Justin Allgaier has climbed to fifth in the Nationwide Series standings.
Christian Potts
366-3531
cpotts@normantranscript.com
Sports
Gordon, Hendrick back
Christian Potts' Victory Lane
- Sports
-
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
At Indy, it’s Franchitti … again
INDIANAPOLIS — Dario Franchitti held off a last lap pass attempt by Takuma Sato to win his third Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sato lost control, spun and crashed while trying to make the pass....
-
Spurs rally, Thunder fall
SAN ANTONIO — Gregg Popovich wanted some “nasty.” The San Antonio Spurs obliged, and they’ve now tied NBA history....
-
Johnson holds on to win Colonial
FORT WORTH, Texas — Zach Johnson was so caught up in the emotion of another Colonial title and a victory in honor of his caddie’s late father that he forgot to properly remark his ball before his final putt. Even with a two-stroke ...
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
Tigers rout Jayhawks to reach finals
OKLAHOMA CITY — Dane Opel doubled, tripled and drove in five runs to lead Missouri to a 12-2 rout of Kansas and earn a trip to the Big 12 tournament championship game for the second straight season....
-
Thunder, Spurs are ready to settle West’s best debate
SAN ANTONIO — Maybe they’ll finally get a challenge this time....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
- More Sports Headlines
-
