If you want to win championships in NASCAR under the current point system, then you have to win races on the short and intermediate tracks. This is also true of the OldGuySport Competition Index, which has a little different definition of what constitutes a short track (anything a mile or less) and what is considered intermediate (some two mile tracks are included, plus Darlington, which is about a mile and a quarter).
Led by Kyle Larson, Hendrick has shown its strength in the first two intermediate races of the year, Larson scoring 64 points on the OGS Competition Index, while the Gibbs cars and Penske are sputtering.
“It’s so great to see our guys up there battling for the win and to get a one-two finish here at Homestead,” Jeff Gordon, vice president of Hendrick Motorsports, commented after the race according to NASCAR’s website.
“Obviously a little disappointed in the other guys getting penalties there late that took them out of contention for being in the top 10, because I think we could have had all four in the top 10,” Gordon said.
The scene now switches to Martinsville for Sunday’s second short track race of the year, where Gibbs and Penske hope to fare better. And they might. On the OGS Competition Index, the Gibbs cars, led by Bell with 92, have 142 points in the last three short track races; Hendrick, led by Larson’s 89, has 135; and Penske, led by Joey Logano’s 79, has 123.
But Gibbs may be in trouble, at least for the short term. The team underwent a major shake up at the end of last year and seems to be struggling in the early going this year despite Bell’s torrid start.
Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s crew chief, is now director of competition. Chris Gayle, Ty Gibbs crew chief last year, is now Hamlin’s crew chief. And Tyler Allen was promoted from the Xfinity Series to lead Gibbs’ team. When you add in a new driver like Chase Briscoe, Gibbs has a lot of moving pieces.
And how quickly the organization can put them all together will determine how much success the team has this year.
NASCAR NOTES:
Three most likely winners at Martinsville: 1-Kyle Larson, 2-Denny Hamlin, 3-William Byron. Last year’s winners at Martinsville: First race-Dave Blaney. Second race-Christopher Bell. Top five in first race last year: 1-Blaney, 2-Chase Elliott, 3-Larson, 4-Austin Cindric, 5-Hamlin.
Last week’s OGS Homestead picks: 1-Tyler Reddick, 2-Larson, 3-Bell. Homestead winner: Larson. OGS season record: 2-2.
OGS Competition Index top 10: 1-Bell 114 points, 2-Larson 94, 3-Josh Berry 73, 4-Byron 72, 5-Hamlin 52, 6-Alex Bowman 48, 7-Bubba Wallace 43, 8-Dennis Suarez 41, 9-Reddick 40, 10-Ryan Preece 37.
OGS Competition Index top 10 on intermediate tracks: 1-Larson 64, 2-Berry 53, 3-Bowman 48, 4-Wallace, Suarez 41, 6-Preece 30, 7-Blaney 22, 8-Byron 21, 9-Chase Briscoe 20, 10-Hamlin 12.
