Over the next few days, we'll be looking at NASCAR's top teams and sizing up their 2009 seasons, based on both expectation and results. First up: the big dogs, Hendrick Motorsports.
Drivers (rank): Jeff Gordon (2), Jimmie Johnson (3), Mark Martin (11), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (21)
Wins of 19 races: 7 -- Jimmie Johnson (Martinsville, Dover) Jeff Gordon (Texas), Mark Martin (Phoenix, Darlington, Michigan, Chicago)
The story: Rooting against Hendrick is kind of like rooting against the tide these days. They're that outstanding, that consistently awesome. Gordon has only won one race, yet sits at the top of the standings, just behind Tony Stewart. Johnson typically doesn't even get started racing hard until mid-summer, and he's already got two wins and a third-place standing. Martin was supposed to use this as his victory lap, and yet here he is with more wins than anybody else in Sprint Cup. And Earnhardt ... well, let's just say he's got the drama of the crew chief nonsense behind him now and nothing but clear skies ahead.
Verdict: Another typically outstanding year from Johnson, a rebirth for Gordon and Martin, and hope that Earnhardt can get it together and win this season. With at least two legit championship contenders, they're doing just fine.
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