Hendrick hopes shakeup leads to success

Editor's note: As we get closer to the 2010 season opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 20 on FOX), FOXSports.com takes you along for the ride during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

From Monday through Thursday, we will provide an inside look at several NASCAR Sprint Cup teams taking part in the tour, including expert analysis from members of the NASCAR on FOX team.

You saw the one year turnaround that happened at Richard Childress Racing in 2010 from 2009, following the internal changes Richard made. Roush Fenway Racing has also made similar changes. So we’ve seen in the past that making the right changes could be the spark that really moves things forward. Team owner Rick Hendrick is hoping for that same kind of result in 2011.

Rick knows he has good people, but maybe those good people aren’t in the right place yet. So he is very proactive in making changes. Crew chief Steve Letarte for instance has never really worked with anyone other than Jeff Gordon. Now he has that opportunity with Dale Earnhardt Jr.. Talking with another driver is one thing, getting to know him and his likes/dislikes for his race cars if what makes the crew chief job fun and challenging.

The same thing can be said for Alan Gustafson. He has been given the reins to make something happen. Can he do that?

Hendrick is making the necessary changes to try and rekindle the hearts, minds and passions of Jeff, Mark and Dale Jr. to go out there and win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Everything is in place. They have the people, the resources and everything they need at their fingertips. Rick never holds that back from any team.

In addition to the crew chief changes for 2011 at Hendrick Motorsports, Rick has taken things a step further by combining the No. 48 and No. 88 shops together, as well as the No. 24 and the No. 5. It’s just another step to improve the consistency and performance of all four teams in 2011.

It’s an exciting time to be at Hendrick Motorsports and to be a fan of Hendrick Motorsports. Rick is sending a clear signal that he is not going to be satisfied with one team winning championships while the other three lag behind. He wants all four of his teams winning races and vying for championships.

Hendrick Motorsports is still the gold standard in NASCAR. Until someone can step up and beat those guys, they are still the ones at the top of the mountain. That No. 48 team in particular just continues to do a better job than anyone, especially when it is crunch-time. So to “be the man” you are going to have to “beat the man.” In the last five years, no one has been able to do that.

All the new team combinations at Hendrick have to use these first 26 races to build their portfolio of notes for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. They also have to be willing to make the hard decisions and make changes when things are not going as well as they should. You saw Chad Knaus make a decision like that when he swapped his entire pit crew with the No. 24 right in the thick of the Chase last year. The chips were down and Knaus did whatever it took to win. That’s why they have a NASCAR-record five consecutive Sprint Cup championships under their belt.

All four Hendrick Motorsports teams are championship contenders. Jimmie and Jeff Gordon’s records speak for themselves. Two years ago, Mark Martin was on the verge of beating his teammate for his first championship. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won multiple Nationwide Series championships, so he knows what it takes to get it done.

Rick has shown everyone that he is willing to mix and match, and when necessary, replace, until he gets it right. This is Mark Martin’s last year behind the wheel of the No. 5 car. Kasey Kahne takes it over next year. How badly do you think Mark wants to finish his Hendrick tenure with championship run? He has everything at his fingertips that the No. 48 has. He, along with Jeff and Dale Jr. has to find it within themselves to make it happen.

Inside Hendrick Motorsports

Team No. 5

Driver: Mark Martin (Finished 13th in the 2010 Sprint Cup standings, 40 career Cup wins)

Crew chief: Lance McGrew

Primary Sponsor: GoDaddy.com (Check out their 2011 ride)

Team No. 24

Driver: Jeff Gordon (Finished ninth in the 2010 Sprint Cup standings, 82 career Cup wins)

Crew chief: Alan Gustafson

Primary Sponsor: Drive to End Hunger

Team No. 48

Driver: Jimmie Johnson (Five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion, 53 career Cup wins)

Crew chief: Chad Knaus

Primary Sponsor: Lowe’s (Check out their 2011 ride)

Team No. 88

Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Finished 21st in the 2010 Sprint Cup standings, 18 career Cup wins)

Crew chief: Steve Letarte

Primary Sponsors: AMP Energy/National Guard (Check out their 2011 ride)