Results tagged “Hendrick Motorsports” from Haddock in the Paddock

Casey Mears told The Sporting News and reporters at New Hampshire International Speedway that he will not be driving for Hendrick Motorsports in 2009.
"I've known now for a couple weeks," Mears told The Sporting News during a sit-down in the track's media center. "I'm disappointed. I'd love to be there, obviously. Hendrick Motorsports is a great organization. We've definitely had a rough year. . ."
"We had some bad luck at the beginning of the year and then had the bad runs to back it up. I think that it's frustrating to have the kind of start to the season we've had."
The departure of Mears leaves a opening at the four-car Hendrick Motorspors Cup team. Perhaps there is room to add Mark Martin in the mix?

One of the three tracks NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams tested at before the season started was Las Vegas Motor Speedway, site of this weekend's races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a good test at Vegas, but his team decided to build a new car for the race using the data collected from the test.
Earnhardt Jr. is coming off a 40th-place finish at the newly named Auto Club Speedway, where he was taken out in a crash with his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Casey Mears, and said he's hoping for better luck in Vegas.
"I hate it for my team that we ended up in an early wreck," said Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "I know with the rainout and everything, the team had to stay another day just to run 40th all day. But we're here to race, and, believe me, they fixed that wrecked car so good we were running in the top-five on the speed charts with it. It says a lot about my guys, and the dedication they have. I hope we have better luck in Vegas."
Rather than use the car Earnhardt Jr. tested, his team decided to build a new car, one of NASCAR's Cars of Tomorrow. Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief, said the COT has evened out the playing field in NASCAR and his team learns something new about it every day.
"We had a real good test in Vegas last month," Eury Jr. said. "We learned a lot about the track and decided that, instead of running the car we tested, to build a new car based on the data we collected. We're unloading this new car we built blind as a frog. Seriously, every week we run this, we will get better at it."

Casey Mears has a much better feeling about his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team compared to this time a year ago.
He is part of the four-driver mega team at Hendrick Motorsports. His teammates are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Using the Daytona 500 as a gauge, Mears has a number of reasons to be encouraged. Gordon and Johnson, who have their team in one shop at Hendrick Motorsports, had their share of problems at Daytona. But Earnhardt Jr., who works with Mears at Hendrick, won the Budweiser Shootout, one of the Gatorade Duels and was leading the Daytona 500 late in the race before dropping back and finishing ninth.
Mears was among the race leaders at the end of the race, but ran up the track and into the wall with less than 10 laps to go. He lasted longer than Gordon or Johnson, who withdrew early with mechanical and handling problems.
“I think that Junior winning those first couple of races is showing that, hey, they’ve come in and done a good job,” said Mears, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. “I think the equipment is there. The No. 5 and No. 88 (Earnhardt Jr.) side has definitely stepped up and matched that of the No. 24 (Gordon) and No. 48 (Johnson).”
Even though the teams are divided into two shops, Mears said he has noticed a difference in how they have been working this year.
“The meetings that we had in Daytona were very encouraging,” Mears said. “To see all four drivers really interacting and working well together, we didn’t have that before. It was the same idea, but it didn’t seem like it went as smooth,”
Mears inherited Kyle Busch’s team from last year. Busch left Hendrick for Joe Gibbs Racing to make room for Earnhardt Jr. to join Hendrick. Earnhardt Jr. also brought some crew members from his team at Dale Earnhardt Inc. with him to Hendrick.
“Junior has done a really good job of coming in and fitting in really well, so that was encouraging too,” Mears said. “The biggest thing that I’ve pulled away from, the first couple of events when I look at the events and the races, the 150s and the Shootout from my side of things, I’m in a very good position as opposed to last year. It was a great team, a great group of guys that I had last year but we came in last minute and changed the crew chief the week before Daytona. There was just a lot of unorganization, we were building a team.”

And so does Richard Childress Racing and some of the Toyota teams.
Ten cars in all changed engines on the eve of the Gatorade Duels, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500.
All four Hendrick drivers, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears, will have new engines in their cars for the race.
Jeff Andrews, the head engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports, said the problem appears to be a bad batch of engine valve lifters.
"We did not have any of them that truly broke. Right now we are looking at the lifters," Andrews said. "We don't have anything apart yet, we just have assumptions based on some early signs we saw in some check overs following that early practice. We have a group of guys back in Charlotte, the best group of guys in my mind, have already started on a fix for the program. We will get this stuff back, get it rebuilt and get it brought back down here."
Clint Bowyer, a driver for Richard Childress Racing, Scott Riggs, a driver for Haas-CNC racing, and Toyota drivers Denny Hamlin, A.J. Allmendinger, J.J. Yeley and Tony Stewart had the engines in their cars replaced as well.
Hendrick Motorsports supplies Chevrolet engines to Haas-CNC Racing, which has a two-car operation. Ricahrd Childress Racing also uses Chevrolet engines.
"I am not sure of their exact problems," Andrews said of the reasons for some of the other manufacturer's decisions to change motors. "Right now we are making a lot of assumptions because we haven't been in and haven't looked at the full picture until we get the engine completely apart. We know we have a problem there with that lifter interface and until, like I said, we get the engine dissembled and find out what has actually caused that problem, I can't really comment. I can't really relate it to Toyota's problems, because our package is different is theirs."
All drivers who replace the engines in their cars will have to start the qualifying races from the back.
Johnson, who won the pole for the Daytona 500, will not lose his starting position in the race even though his team is replacing his car's engine.

Between testing at California Speedway and getting ready Speedweeks to start in Daytona, Jimmie Johnson was hosting a celebrity golf tournament with Nick Lachey in Phoenix.
It made a busy month of testing even busier, but Johnson said he wouldn't have it any other way.
"We had a blast and raised some money for some great charities," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "When you’re having fun and doing some good at the same time, it’s hard to question why you’re not sitting at home.”
The two-time Cup champion will be in the Bud Shootout, his sixth career start in the exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway. Johnson won four poles last year and won the Shootout in 2005.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the track in race conditions," Johnson said. "We’ve made a lot of laps in testing the past few weeks, but there’s no comparison to being out there in the battle. It’s going to be interesting to see how the cars handle in a big pack. I think it will be a good show for the fans."
The car his team is bringing for the Shootout has raced twice. It was in the first Car of Tomorrow race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It finished 16th in that race. It was also in the race at Darlington Raceway and finished third.
“Being in the Shootout is a definite plus as far as letting us be among the first to see how this new car design is going to react in a race at Daytona," Johnson said. "Plus, it’s just a ‘no-holds-barred’ great race for the fans and the drivers. Having your first race of the season be a non-points race is a great way to get back in the groove without the added pressure of knowing points are on the line."

Tony Eury Jr. said that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win four races with his new team at Hendrick Motorsports. Eury Jr. told the Associated Press that four wins would be simple.
Earnhardt Jr. wasn't about to be so bold as to predict an exact number of wins.

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images for NASCAR

"I just like running up front every week," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I like going to the racetrack and being in the ‑‑ being toward the top of the chart, at least on the left side of the page in practices and whatnot."
Earnhardt Jr. did not win a race in 2007 and did not qualify for the Chase. Hendrick Motorsports, his new team, won 18 races last year. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, led all Cup drivers with 10 wins last year. Even though Earnhardt Jr. did not win a race last year, he said it was still one of his better seasons.
"And in the race I like to run up front," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We did that a lot last year, and when I look at ‑‑ when I take a look at all my seasons, I was better last year at showing up and being there every weekend. We weren't there every weekend, but I had a better car the majority of the season than I had had in seasons past."
Earnhardt Jr. said he doesn't want to worry about winning races. He would rather focus on having a car and team that is always in position to win races. The rest takes care of itself.
"That's really all I wanted out of driving race cars," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I want to be up front and be toward the front and challenging, and when I show up to the racetrack I want people to expect me to run well, not just at particular tracks everywhere. It was good to go and to do that at some tracks last year that I typically hadn't been able to do that at."
Being with Hendrick will only increase his chances of winning more races.
"I was hoping that with some of the extra ability that Hendrick has in winning championships and races on a regular basis that that could even improve my finishing," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I don't want to sit here and guess how many races we'll win. We'll win some races, and I expect to win soon. I'm a good driver with a good team, and if we don't make mistakes on a Sunday we should have great finishes and win some races."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he was nervous being around his new team during testing at Daytona International Speedway. One of the things he said that he is concerned about is whether the crew members on his team with Hendrick Motorsports like him and the kind of driver he is.
That seems a little hard to believe considering he is the perennial most popular driver in NASCAR, as voted by the fans.

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images for NASCAR

"But I don't know the guys that well, so I'm just nervous in getting to know them and hoping that they like me and like the kind of driver I am and they're happy that they have me as their driver," said Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "That's what you want from the guys working on your cars is for them to be glad you're there and that you're the one that's driving it."
If having to wonder if his crew likes him is Earnhardt Jr.'s biggest worry, he should have no problem concentrating on racing this year. Unlike last year, when the drama surrounding his move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports was bigger news than the actual races, there should fewer distractions despite driving for a new team.
"Yeah, it's been pretty nice to be able to concentrate on the things that are important right now and testing and working and getting to know the guys," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It's definitely ‑‑ there's a little bit less pressure in certain areas and more pressure in other areas. I didn't have to worry about job security when I was over at my other job, but I've got to worry about that now."
He probably doesn't have to worry too much about job security though. Even though he didn't win a race last year, he was still a fan favorite. And it is unlikely he will have another winless season with Hendrick Motorsports, which won 18 Cup races last year.
"I think if I do what I've been doing, I should be fine," Earnhardt Jr. said. "But with being the son of the guy who built the place, you can get away with a few more things than most guys could."
His new owner, Rick Hendrick, treats his drivers well. Then again, with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson winning races and championships on a regular basis, it's hard to complain.
"You know, I've got a really good owner that makes me feel comfortable, and so that eases a lot of other pressures, talking to him and hearing from him and listening to his thoughts on what we're doing," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It takes away some pressure from that side of it.
"So it's kind of neat. It's really fun to be going through this for me, and I'm enjoying those parts, and even the difficult things or the challenging parts are fun because of the atmosphere and because of the attitude that everybody there has. Everybody at Hendrick is really pumped up and giving me a good vote of confidence going into the test and going into the season, so it really makes it exciting to face all the challenges we're going to face."

Christmas at the Hendricks, a bounty to behold;
But underneath the Christmas tree, a tempest did unfold.
Bitter words exchanged, egos on the mend;
NASCAR drivers said many things to insult and to offend.
Jimmie earned the glory, Jeff among the slighted;
Casey deemed the lucky, Dale the uninvited.
Owner Rick did his best to ease the pain, distributing what joy he could.
But little did he know his merry gifts would be misunderstood.

1. Can Toyota win a race?
They better. Toyota made its debut in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007. The Japanese automaker provided engines for three teams: Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull. None of the teams had much success. They struggled to qualify for races and there were times when none of the Toyota teams were in the top 35 in owners points. The top-35 teams earned at least provisional starting spots for every Cup race.
But the stakes will be raised in 2008. Toyota is teaming with Joe Gibbs Racing and drivers Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. All three drivers are used to qualifying for the Chase for the Nextel Cup and winning races. Toyota better provide both if it wants to keep Gibbs and his drivers happy.

2. Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. be a championship contender with Hendrick Motorsports?
There’s no reason he shouldn’t. Hendrick Motorsports got three of its four drivers in the Chase this year. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are clearly the class of the team. But Busch, who is moving from Hendrick to Gibbs next year, and his team did just fine in the shadow of Johnson and Gordon. A little more experience and patience and Busch might have been in the middle of the championship chase. Johnson and Gordon are still the stars at Hendrick Motorsports and that might be just what Earnhardt Jr. needs. Perhaps he can slip into Johnson’s and Gordon’s shadow and turn his attention to just winning races.
3. Can Johnson win three Cup championships in a row?
No one’s done it since Cale Yarborough. Not Richard Petty, not Dale Earnhardt, not Jeff Gordon. Still it’s hard to say no to Johnson. He seems to have a knack for putting together his best races at the end of the year. To win a Cup championship these days, that’s exactly what needs to happen. If Johnson can pull off four or five wins in October and November, he will be in the thick of it again.
4. Is it a smart move for Sam Hornish Jr. to move into NASCAR?
No. A worse move is Roger Penske giving the owner’s points he earned from Kurt Busch’s car to Hornish next year. Because of his Cup title in 2004, Busch can fall back on a championship provisional to qualify for races, once or twice or six times. Ask Dale Jarrett how that worked out. Hornish, who had trouble qualifying for Cup races this year on speed, has no such provisional. But he would have guaranteed starting spots with Busch’s points. It just seems like a desperate move from an owner who is used to winning races and championships in the Indy Racing League. NASCAR is a different animal, one that requires patience, resources and money. Penske has the resources and money, but moving Hornish into NASCAR reeks of impatience.
5. Will Chevrolet dominate again?
Absolutely not. Ford drivers, especially at Roush Fenway Racing, made significant strides at the end of the year. Matt Kenseth won the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Greg Biffle won the race at Kansas Speedway, although there are those in the Clint Bowyer camp who would still say otherwise. More importantly, Ford won some races with NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow. That trend will only increase next year. Toyota will be better and should win a race or two. Dodge, well ... Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman are the best chances. Juan Pablo Montoya will win another road course race. Outside of that, it will be another long year for Dodge.

By winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway last weekend, Jimmie Johnson is tied with Fireball Roberts for 19th in career Cup wins. They have 33. Next on the list is Mark Martin with 35.
Since Martin might have a win or two left in him before he calls it quits, it could be a while before Johnson catches him.
After that, Bobby Isaac is 16th with 37 wins and Tim Flock is 15th with 39. Johnson is still well behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, who has 81 career Cup wins. Gordon is fifth on the list.
Barring disaster, Johnson will win his second career Cup championship after the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. If he doesn't win the championship, only Gordon can catch him.
“No matter what happens, we know the Nextel Cup trophy will be at Hendrick Motorsports and that’s a great thing for our organization," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "The lead that we have, it's a nice, comfortable position to be in. But we've got to go down there and run 400 miles. That's bottom line. If we don't run the full distance of the race then we’re in trouble."
Johnson probably doesn't have a lot to worry about. The car his team is taking to Homestead is a three-time winner. It won races at Las Vegas, Atlanta and the Labor Day race at California Speedway. It's a good car and it will be the last time Johnson will be able to drive it. Next year, all the Cup races will be with NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow, meaning Chevrolet teams will be running the new Impala model and putting the Monte Carlos on the shelf.
But it doesn't look like Johnson is putting too much thought into what car he is racing at Homestead.
"The lead takes some pressure off, but we're going to go down there and try to keep it simple like we've done," Johnson said. "Go out there, run our race, do our thing. I'm just trying to keep it simple and not get caught up in things. Last week was a good example of disappearing and going on vacation for a couple days. Not reading or seeing any highlights on TV, nothing, I was completely out of the loop. I hope I can do that this week. Show up, keep it simple, and get in the race car and go. I don't want to act like it's our championship yet. We have a nice margin in the points right now. But 400 miles, that's my goal. I have to run 400 more miles, and we'll get nuts after that.”

Jeff Gordon looks like he will fall short of winning his fifth Cup championship. He is 86 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with one race to go, this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Gordon was asked by reporters at Homestead how the late Dale Earnhardt would approach the last race of the year if he was trailing Johnson by 86 points in the NASCAR Chase for the Nextel Cup standings.
Gordon said Earnhardt would probably take the same approach Ron Hornaday Jr. will take against Mike Skinner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Hornaday is 29 points behind Skinner in the Truck Series standings. It's not as much of a deficit as Gordon's, but still a challenge to make up that many points in one race.
Gordon said he thinks about how Earnhardt would react to the Chase and the new points system NASCAR has implemented recently.
"How would Dale be influencing things happening in this sport today, how would he run on the track, how would he compete against some of the drivers that are out there today," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "The only real time I ever battled him for the championship was in '95 and while he taught me some lessons in '93, '94 by putting the bumper to me several times, in '95 that rarely ever happened in competition."
Gordon said he learned how to race Earnhardt, mainly knowing when to challenge him and when to stay out of his way.
"You knew he was going to lean on you and you had to be ready for that," Gordon said. "I can't think of a time when we were battling for a championship that he just intently did anything dirty. He might have raced hard but that's about it."
But that doesn't necessarily mean Gordon will use some of the tactics Earnhardt used on him. Earnhardt might have been known as the Intimidator, but Gordon said there are other ways than driving aggressively to intimidate.
"I've always said the most intimidating thing is a guy in your mirror that's running you down," Gordon said. "You don't have to drive a black car and rough guys up to do that. I think the style and the competitiveness, I think the microscope that we're under has changed that quite a bit over the years and the way NASCAR handles things, you can't do some of the things that you used to be able to do. I don't even know if Dale would be able to get away with some of those things today."