Can Hendrick Motorsports be stopped?
SCENEDAILY
RICHMOND, Va. - Hendrick Motorsports did it again, turning in a 1-2-4 finish in the Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway Sunday.
The Crown Royal/Jim Stewart 400, delayed because of rain Saturday night, was another display of Hendrick strength in the car of tomorrow. Even the competition is starting to wonder if these teams can be stopped.
Hendrick has won all four car of tomorrow races, with Jimmie Johnson winning two, including Sunday's Richmond race, and Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon earning one win apiece. The trio led 246 of Sunday's 400 laps, with Gordon pacing the field for a race-high 114.
Gordon admitted to being stunned by the early Hendrick dominance in the model.
"It's pretty incredible," he said. "I was a little surprised today because I didn't think we had the best cars when I saw [Kevin] Harvick and [Denny] Hamlin up there, but don't let these guys work on it ... at Hendrick Motorsports, don't give them track position because they're solid teams and they're going to take advantage of it.
"I really was surprised that Jimmie was able to get back by Kyle, that was a great effort there. It's very exciting for Hendrick Motorsports to see what kind of things are happening for us, especially with the Impala SS, and hopefully we can keep it going."
The team has been dominant in the current model as well. Gordon leads the points, carrying a 211-point advantage over teammate Johnson. Busch is sixth. Further, the trio have combined to win seven of the season's opening 10 races.
At Richmond, Johnson traditionally hasn't run that well. That changed Sunday, and quickly. It's yet another sign of how strong this organization has become this year.
"This means the world to me to win here," he said. "... I was hoping one-two-three for Hendrick Motorsports, it was awesome racing with my teammate Kyle Busch."
If this continues, the threesome could find themselves racing one another for wins a lot this year.