FONTANA, Calif. — Now, they rest.
Well, maybe.
Following long-established tradition, the engines of the Sprint Cup Series will be silent on Easter weekend. For the first time since mid-February, there is no Cup race this week. After five straight weeks of points events, plus the Sprint Unlimited schedule-opener Feb. 13, Cup drivers and teams aren’t on the road this weekend.
It’s an early-season opportunity to review and reset, a chance to evaluate goals and perhaps adjust expectations. And to enjoy a few off days before the carousel resumes its wild spinning April 1-3 at Martinsville Speedway in southern Virginia.
Some teams will relax with a few off days. For others, the first few weeks of the season have represented a loud wakeup call — and perhaps added some workload.
For Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team, the break should be just that. He’s the only driver with more than one win, he’s second in points, and he’s riding high after eclipsing Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s victory total of 76 Sunday at Auto Club Speedway.
“We make sure to emphasize with our guys that they do celebrate the victories, go out and enjoy it, whether that be going out and partying at a club or going out and getting an ice cream with the kids,” said Chad Knaus, Johnson’s long-time crew chief. “Whatever your way of celebrating is, we want to make sure they do that. This will give the guys plenty of opportunity to do that before we go to Martinsville, so I'm glad about it.”
Who else might be in a celebratory mood five races into a long season?
--Kevin Harvick: He “lost” Sunday’s race because of a late-event caution, but Harvick’s 2016 worksheet looks like this: fourth, sixth, seventh, first, second. No Easter goose eggs here.
--Joe Gibbs Racing: In five races, Gibbs’ four drivers (Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth) have totaled 12 top 10s, including a Daytona 500 win by Hamlin. Busch had four straight top fours before a late-race tire issue wiped out a solid run Sunday.
--Hendrick Motorsports: Although the Gibbs team seems to have reacted best to NASCAR’s new low-downforce package, Hendrick also has gotten strong performances from Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and its rookie driver, Chase Elliott (nine combined top 10s). Kasey Kahne has struggled to break into the top group (one top 10).
--Team Penske: Brad Keselowski has a win and two ninth-place runs, while Joey Logano has three top-six finishes and none worse than 18th.
PHOTOS: 2016 Sprint Cup race winners
And, on the flip side:
--Roush Fenway Racing’s rough road continues. Greg Biffle’s best finish is a 13th, and Trevor Bayne has managed a top run of 17th. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. put a little sunshine in the RFR season Sunday by finishing fifth.
--Danica Patrick hasn’t burst through the mediocrity bubble. Her best finish is a 19th at Phoenix.
--Chip Ganassi Racing has a best finish of seventh (by Kyle Larson in the Daytona opener) from its two drivers (Jamie McMurray was a season-high 10th Sunday).
When teams roll into Martinsville Speedway April 1 for the first short-track race of the year, the target — again — will be Johnson, a winner eight times at the paper-clip-like speedway. The only active driver close to Johnson on the Martinsville win list is Hamlin with five.
For struggling teams hoping to make up some lost ground in the early spring, Martinsville might hold few answers. Short but tough, it’s not a place that inspires rebounds but one that rewards experience and patience.
Follow Hembree on Twitter @mikehembree
