This season, like many, has been filled with
surprises. There are the usual ups and downs, but some teams have stood out
with an up-swing in their on-track performance. The July race at Daytona marked
the halfway point of the season which is a perfect time to review those who
have improved the most as compared to this point last season.
My evaluation of “most improved” is not only defined
by wins and placement in the standings. It is also defined by consistent
finishes, team cohesiveness, a noticeable increase in competitiveness compared to
this point last season.
With that explained, here are four race teams and
one organization I think have made noteworthy advancements in the first 18
races.
No.
22 Team - Joey Logano
In 2013, Logano had his best Sprint Cup Series season after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to race for Team Penske. He seems to have already topped that within the first half of the 2014 season. Currently, Logano has collected six top-fives and nine top-10s along with two trips to victory lane. The triumphs mark the first time Logano has won multiple races in a season during his Sprint Cup Series career. In comparison to this point last year, the 24-year-old had collected five top-fives, eight top-10s, and no wins (his only 2013 victory came later in August).
In 2013, Logano had his best Sprint Cup Series season after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to race for Team Penske. He seems to have already topped that within the first half of the 2014 season. Currently, Logano has collected six top-fives and nine top-10s along with two trips to victory lane. The triumphs mark the first time Logano has won multiple races in a season during his Sprint Cup Series career. In comparison to this point last year, the 24-year-old had collected five top-fives, eight top-10s, and no wins (his only 2013 victory came later in August).
Additionally, Logano has also led more laps in the
first half of this season than in the entire 2013 season. The Middletown, CT
native is currently sixth in the point standings whereas last season he was 15th.
The No. 22 team has quickly proven that they are shaping up to become a
championship contender - maybe not this year but certainly in the future.
No.
24 Team - Jeff Gordon
Gordon has also improved immensely when compared to last year’s first half of the season. By this time in 2013, the four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion had accumulated four top-fives, six top-10s, five DNF’s and no wins (his only 2013 victory came later in October). Additionally, he nearly missed the Chase, which would have been his first absence since 2005.
Gordon has also improved immensely when compared to last year’s first half of the season. By this time in 2013, the four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion had accumulated four top-fives, six top-10s, five DNF’s and no wins (his only 2013 victory came later in October). Additionally, he nearly missed the Chase, which would have been his first absence since 2005.
The first 18 races of this season have been the
complete opposite. Gordon has one victory, six top-fives, and 13 top-10s. He
also has an average finish of 8.7 and no DNF’s. Currently leading the point
standings, the team is locked into the Chase and has successfully turned their on-track
performance around.
No.
27 Team - Paul Menard
Last year, Menard compiled three top-fives and nine top-10s in the 2013 season. Halfway through 2014, the Richard Childress Racing driver has matched his previous stats exactly. In the third race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Menard captured a third place finish - his best since the 2012 October race at Kansas Speedway.
Last year, Menard compiled three top-fives and nine top-10s in the 2013 season. Halfway through 2014, the Richard Childress Racing driver has matched his previous stats exactly. In the third race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Menard captured a third place finish - his best since the 2012 October race at Kansas Speedway.
Currently the No. 27 Team sits 10th in
the point standings, 10 positions better than this time last year. With a much
stronger on-track performance, Menard and company may find themselves competing
in their first Chase this season.
No.
88 Team - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Jr. began the 2014 season with a bang, winning his second Daytona 500 and ending a one-and-a-half year winless streak. From there he led the point standings for three races - something the 39-year-old has not done since 2004. Currently, Earnhardt Jr. has collected two wins, nine top-fives, and 12 top-10s. In comparison to the halfway point of the 2013 season, the driver had accumulated four top-fives, nine top-10s, and no victories.
Earnhardt Jr. began the 2014 season with a bang, winning his second Daytona 500 and ending a one-and-a-half year winless streak. From there he led the point standings for three races - something the 39-year-old has not done since 2004. Currently, Earnhardt Jr. has collected two wins, nine top-fives, and 12 top-10s. In comparison to the halfway point of the 2013 season, the driver had accumulated four top-fives, nine top-10s, and no victories.
Earnhardt Jr. is currently second in the point
standings, 27 points from leader Jeff Gordon. He, crew chief Steve LeTarte, and
the entire No. 88 Team have continued to improve in each of their seasons
together. As a result, they have also become one of this year’s top picks for
the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
JTG
Daugherty Racing
Of all the teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one stands out to me as an organization who has made considerable improvement. Many details have changed for JTG Daugherty Racing in the past year. A new driver, AJ Allmendinger, replaced Bobby Labonte in piloting the No. 47 Chevrolet. A less obvious change was their new technical alliance formed with Richard Childress Racing.
Of all the teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one stands out to me as an organization who has made considerable improvement. Many details have changed for JTG Daugherty Racing in the past year. A new driver, AJ Allmendinger, replaced Bobby Labonte in piloting the No. 47 Chevrolet. A less obvious change was their new technical alliance formed with Richard Childress Racing.
Both adjustments to the team have proven beneficial thus
far. In 2013, their best finish was 15th collected in the
season-opening Daytona 500. By the halfway mark, they had suffered four DNF’s, accumulated
an average finish of 27.7 and were 30th in the point standings.
This season to date has been the team’s best in four
years. Allmendinger drove the No. 47 Chevrolet to a season-best fifth place
finish at Talladega Superspeedway and has captured two other top-10 finishes
throughout the first 18 races. The team’s current average finish is 21.2 as
they sit 24th in the point standings. They also have only one DNF which came
last week at Daytona. The progress JTG Daugherty Racing has made in the last
year is exceptional and could continue in the months to come.
