Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Struggle in '08

The 2007 season consisted of 11 wins by driver Jimmie Johnson and at least 10 wins from driver Jeff Gordon. Hendrick Motorsports won over half the races in 2007 and won the championship two times in a row with Johnson.

Adding two more championships to Jeff Gordon’s four, and Terry Labonte’s one, Hendrick has a total of seven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, one in the Nationwide, and three in the Craftsman Truck Series. And after this incredible season, Hendrick gained another great driver in 2008: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

But so far this season the team has suffered. With half the season over, Hendrick only has two wins total, from drivers Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr.

Jeff Gordon has taken the biggest blow in 2008. With his many chances to win, he has been shot down each time. His closest one was July 5 at Daytona International Speedway. Leading at five to go, a late yellow came out to set up a green white checkered. Running in second place Jeff Gordon was spun out and fell to 30th.

Kyle Busch was to take home his sixth win of the season. A former Hendrick driver, he’s also the most hated driver in NASCAR right now.

Dale Jr. had the car to beat at Daytona, but in the closing laps he was hung out to dry as all the other drivers were driving ignorantly. Dale Jr. would pull off an eighth place finish, and Jimmie Johnson an 18th.

At one point Hendrick was running one, two, three with consistency, and Dale Jr. led the most laps. Once again, Hendrick had a chance to win but was shot down in the closing laps.

In the most recent NASCAR race, with only a few laps to go, Jimmie Johnson was leading. He had the race in his hands but then a late yellow brought a green white checkered. When the green flag dropped, Kyle Busch was pushing Jimmie’s rear and got him loose. Kyle went around and Jimmie couldn’t get back in.

Kyle took his seventh win of the 2008 season. And with seven wins he has gained more hate from fans.