Nobody has won as many times in the Coca-Cola 600 than Hendrick Motorsports. Their 11 trips to victory lane trumps everyone. But, they also haven’t won the prestigious race since 2014 though. Can 2020 end a five year drought?

So far, I say yes.

No team has ever produced eight different winners at any racetrack, but a Charlotte victory by Chase Elliott, William Byron or Alex Bowman would alter the record book. Hendrick Motorsports has won Cup Series races with seven drivers at three tracks: the Charlotte oval, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. Wood Brothers Racing has gone to Victory Lane with seven different drivers at Daytona International Speedway.

Also, a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway would be the 60th for Hendrick Motorsports on a 1.5-mile racetrack in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team’s 59 points-paying wins are an all-time record, nine ahead of second-place Joe Gibbs Racing, 18 ahead of third-place Roush Fenway Racing and 31 ahead of fourth-place Team Penske. Hendrick Motorsports has sent 11 different drivers to victory lane at 1.5-mile venues.

With so many offseason crew chief-driver swaps, HMS is one of the organizations that elected to keeps theirs the same. That in part, is why I feel HMS is off to such a great start to the season. They have stormed out of the gates strong in 2020.

In terms of average running positions and overall driver ratings this year, HMS has two of their four drivers ranked in the top three for each. Furthermore, two of the four rank in the top five of overall laps led. For the overall box score with a combination of all six races, half of the four are listed in the top five.

Chase Elliott, according to NASCAR’s stats through six races run, is the second ranked driver in terms of their metrics. His average finish may say sub 15th, but his average running position is 8.5 (3rd best). Also, out of all the laps run, his No. 9 Chevrolet has been quickest in 138 of them, third most in the series. That’s allowed him to lead 14.3-percent (186) of all laps run, which is second best. In turn, 86-percent of all of his laps run too have also been in the top 15, third most.

What’s all of that say?

Elliott, has a fast race car.

The only problem is, his finishes haven’t necessarily been there. Elliott, won three of the first eight stages in 2020 including having five top two finishes over the last eight of them. He’s also led the most laps in two of the last five races. But, Elliott was involved in a crash at Daytona and had an issue during the end of the race in Vegas to go along with a loose wheel in the last race of the year on March 8 in Phoenix. The finishes were 17th, 26th and seventh respectively. This past Wednesday night, he was well in position to win at Darlington with running second in the closing laps, on fresh tires and chasing down Denny Hamlin right ahead on old tires. Unfortunately, Kyle Busch made an error in judgement and wrecked him. He’d finish 38th as a result.

Maybe Charlotte is the place to get the finish he’s coveted. Elliott, was fourth in this race a year ago, 11th in 2018 and runner-up in 2017. He is also coming off of a fourth place finish last Sunday in Darlington too.

Also, watch out for his teammate Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time champion may be riding a long winless drought (100 races), but he also has been much better to start the 2020 campaign off with too.

Johnson, is ranked as the eighth best driver so far in 2020. His problem is, his No. 48 Chevrolet tails off in the second half to a 17.5 average finish. I don’t think that happens on Sunday night. Johnson, has five top eight finishes in his last six starts at Charlotte including three of those being in the top five.

Alex Bowman arguably has the second fastest car all season. He won in Fontana, has the fifth best average running position (9.163), fifth most laps led (113) and third overall driver rating. He’s been strong at Charlotte with HMS too in being ninth in 2018 and seventh last year. He was runner-up last Sunday in Darlington too.

William Byron is the fourth driver at HMS and last year’s pole sitter. He turned that pole into a ninth place finish in last year’s ‘600. Can win No. 1 come in his hometown track? Another NASCAR Hall of Famer earned his first career Cup Series victory in the famed No. 24 Chevrolet in the Coca-Cola 600 too.

Heading into the resumption of the 2020 season following a 70 break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone wondered if HMS would have lost their speed advantage. The two return races at Darlington proved other wise.