2020 NASCAR Preview: Hendrick Motorsports
Photo Credit: Hendrick Motorsports
Whenever you think of NASCAR, Rick Hendrick is a name that comes to mind. Since opening its doors in 1984…Hendrick Motorsports has housed some of the greatest names in NASCAR. This season in particular is a special one. Jimmie Johnson will be retiring at season’s end and has one more chance to get that illustrious 8th championship. Even though the team will be losing one of the best to ever get behind the wheel, there is hope for the future in Alex Bowman, William Byron, and NASCAR’s most popular driver…Chase Elliott. The driving lineup will stay the same this season and the crew chiefs remain the same as well. Sponsorship has never been a problem for these guys, as Ally Bank, Axalta, Hooters Liberty University, Mountain Dew, Napa and Valvoline figure to be big parts of the organization. Hendrick Motorsports is considered the “anchor” chevy team with its cutting-edge technology and on-track performance, they figure to lead Team Chevy again in 2020, especially with the new Camaro that will be out there this season.
Photo Credit: Athlon Sports
#48 Jimmie Johnson: Out of respect, let’s start with the best that has ever been behind the wheel. Jimmie Johnson will be kicking off his 20th season in NASCAR in the Ally Bank Chevrolet. Just think about this…Jimmie has won 7 championships in 19 seasons. I am in no way shape or form disrespecting the other guys who have laid the groundwork in the sport, but Jimmie has been totally dominant in the 2000’s. Cliff Daniels will be returning as the team’s crew chief. I fully expect these guys to be pushing the limit this year, maybe wrecking more cars than usual as a result, but it would be pretty sweet to see the #48 in victory lane one more time. History speaks for itself for Jimmie, so I will stay light on those details. Look for Jimmie to compete at Dover, Martinsville and Charlotte. I have the G.O.A.T. getting 1 win, 5 top-5’s and 13 top-10’s.
Photo Credit: Napa Blog
#9 Chase Elliott: Could 2020 be Elliott’s year? The 24-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia native has been a contender since his initial rookie season. One criticism that Elliott received in his career was his inability to close out races. With 3 victories last year, he has finally erased that mantra. Consistency was an issue for him in 2019 though. Chase drove more aggressively last season and it paid dividends, but he did end up 10th in the point standings which was his lowest since his rookie season. Once Jimmie leaves the organization, Chase will be the voice and leader of Hendrick. Chase impressed at the Roval and has established himself as a solid road-course racer, so I look for him to win one of those. Elliott regains that consistency factor this season and gets 3 wins, 13 top-5’s and 21 top-10’s.
Photo Credit: Liberty University
#24 William Byron: Entering his 3rd season in the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron looks to finally breakthrough and get his 1st win. Byron came into the Cup Series as a Xfinity champion and has underperformed to be honest. Last season did have a few bright spots, as he finished 11th in the final standings. With 5 poles in 2019…he showed that he has the speed to win. Chad Knaus also was in his 1st season as Byron’s crew chief. Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus were arguably the best driver/crew chief duo ever and for Byron to have him in his camp is major. I do believe Byron will have a “semi” breakout this year. Look for Byron to compete…pretty much everywhere, but Loudon and Indianapolis seem to fit his style the best. I have Byron getting 2 wins, 11 top-5’s and 19 top-10’s.
Photo Credit: Gwinnett Daily Post
#88 Alex Bowman: Alex Bowman has been a journeyman throughout the sport. This will be his 5th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series and 3rd with Hendrick Motorsports. In terms of statistics…it’s hard to analyze his early years with Tommy Baldwin and BK Racing…but Bowman really did earn his spot in this ride. It was good to see Bowman get a win as well, as his 1.5-mile track performance was pretty solid. The win at Chicagoland arguably kept him in this ride, but I do believe he is on a hot seat. Bowman finished 12th in the standings in 2019 and I am unsure whether he can break into the top-10. Certain tracks like Phoenix and Dover are his strong suits…but I see him performing well at all of the 1.5-mile tracks. Bowman will go winless in 2020 with 6 top-5’s and 11 top-10’s.
AustYn
References: Jayski, Racing Reference, Hendrick Motorpsorts