Dominance vs. Consistency
Hendrick Motorsports is inarguably the most successful team in the history of NASCAR. With legends like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon and potential all-time greats like Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, most statistics are led by the Rick Hendrick team. However, as much as the team has dominated the sport, it is the Joe Gibbs Racing team that is ahead in one regard – consecutive appearances in the final four.
Joe Gibbs Racing Leads the Way
With Christopher Bell’s win at Homestead last weekend, Joe Gibbs’ team ensured that they remain the only team that has at least one driver making the Final Four since the format was introduced back in 2014.
The Unique NASCAR Format
The present NASCAR Cup Series format has divided fans and drivers alike since it was introduced back in 2014. With drivers being eliminated at every stage after three races, the format has ensured that no stage is to be taken lightly as even a single bad race can affect chances of reaching the final four. This has made Coach Gibbs’ team’s achievement all the more impressive.
Gibbs’ Consistent Final Four Appearances
In 2014, when the format played out for the first time, it was Denny Hamlin who made it to the final round, losing out to Kevin Harvick ultimately. The team was lucky next year, as Kyle Busch won the championship even after missing more than 10 races at the start of the season.
A Streak of Final Four Appearances
2016 saw Busch and Edwards making it, eventually missing out to Jimmie Johnson for his final title. Busch also made it the next two years, being joined by Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin in 2019, when he captured his second title. Hamlin lost to Chase Elliott in 2020, with Kyle Larson triumphing in 2021 at the cost of Hamlin and Truex Jr. at the final race. Last year, Christopher Bell booked his place in the final four after a sensational win at Martinsville, eventually losing out to Team Penske’s Joey Logano at Phoenix.
Challenges for Truex and Hamlin
For the better part of the season, Martin Truex Jr. looked like the best driver on the track, entering the playoffs on the back of winning the regular season championship. But what happened after is just anyone’s guess. Truex has looked out of sorts in every playoff race, with just one top-10 finish in the eight playoff races so far.
Denny Hamlin’s Struggles
As for Hamlin, who started with one win and 3 top-5s in his first five postseason races, things have only been downhill after Roval, with only a win at Martinsville that could guarantee his spot in the final four.
Final Four Hopes in Jeopardy
Currently, both drivers are 17 points below the cut-off line for the next round. With William Byron 30 points above the line, it means that in all probability, either one or both of Truex and Hamlin will fail to reach Phoenix, something that could only be termed a massive disappointment given the season they were having.
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Author :RRS Correspondent
