While most everyone in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be enjoying this weekend away from the track, there are a number of teams that need to take this time to refocus and get ready for the second half of the season. Few could have guessed at this point in the season that Tony Stewart would be leading the point standings and Mark Martin would have four wins, while teams such as Richard Childress Racing and Roush Fenway Racing have struggled.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup season is a long season and it is far from over yet, however for a few teams this weekend off should be a time to turn the season around and attempt to make something out of a disappointing year. With only seven races before the start of the 2009 Chase, time is running short and now is the time to get pointed in the right direction.

Richard Childress Racing:
 
RCR started the season off strong in Daytona with Kevin Harvick scoring the win in the Budweiser Shootout and coming home in second in the rain-shortened Daytona 500. Clint Bowyer once again looked to be a threat for the title early in the season, moving as high as second in the standings. However, after Richmond in May, Bowyer fell down the standings and currently finds himself 15th in points. Jeff Burton had a rougher than normal start to the season, leaving California 31st in points just two races into 2009. The veteran driver fought his way back into the top-10 by the time the series started the summer stretch, yet he too has fallen out of contention and is now 17th in points. The prospect of brining Casey Mears on board helped bolster this team’s confidence heading into the season, but Mears never showed any strength and has remained around 21st and 22nd in points for much of the year.

As the Chase approaches, RCR has no drivers in the top-12 in points, and reports are surfacing that Harvick is asking to be let out of contract. Childress has tried swapping crews, but no real change in the results has shown. If things do not change quickly for RCR, this four-car team may be a no-show in this year’s Chase.

Roush Fenway Racing:

After a strong showing at the end of last year, Carl Edwards entered the 2009 season as one of the favorites for the championship. Matt Kenseth impressed many by sweeping the first two races of the year and giving team owner Jack Roush his first ever Daytona 500 victory. Edwards and teammate Greg Biffle have been competitive at times, but either miscues on pit road or hard racing amongst teammates has ruined the chances at victory. Also, one driver (either Jamie McMurray or David Ragan) will be forced to leave the team at the end of the season – it will likely be McMurray – and neither has shown their potential.

Edwards and Biffle are clearly frustrated that neither has been to Victory Lane this year despite strong runs. In-house problems plagued this team during the 2007 run to the championship and with close racing throughout this year between the No. 99 and the No. 16 it would be wise to have a powwow during this off-week.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing:
 
A potentially good teammate situation has just been split with the announcement that Martin Truex Jr. will leave the team at the end of the 2009 season for Michael Waltrip Racing. Juan Pablo Montoya has continued to show improvement and will be a threat for this year’s Chase, but EGR now has to also focus on the bigger picture of finding a replacement for Truex and they have to ensure that off-track business does not affect Montoya’s on-track success.

Hendrick Motorsports:
 
Hendrick needs to find answers? Don’t they have three cars that are in the top-12 in points? Aren’t three of their cars consistently running up front and don’t three of Mr. H’s drivers have marks in the win column? True, but remember that fourth car in the always tough Hendrick stable? Dale Earnhardt Jr. has more than struggled this year and after the crew chief switch, not much has changed. Sure these things take time, but Junior and the No. 88 team continue to backslide in the points. With the Chase out of reach once again this year, this team needs to turn up the wick during the second half of the 2009 season so they don’t miss the boat again in 2010.

Joe Gibbs Racing:

Denny Hamlin has steadily been improving over the last month and a half, consistently running up front and gaining spots in the standings, but has yet to win this year. In fact, Hamlin has not been to Victory Lane since Martinsville last March. The kid from Virginia is hungry and the competition better look out. While Hamlin is closing in on the top of the totem pole, the team’s hot-shot driver Kyle Busch is quickly sliding down. Despite having three wins this season, Busch continues to struggle with his temper and being patient when things do not go according to his plan. Since his win in Richmond ten races ago, Busch has only finished in the top-10 twice. Crew chief Steve Addington needs an award for putting up with so much from this hot-headed driver, but if things are going to improve Coach Gibbs must step in and calm his driver and get him focused on the big picture.

There is no guarantee of anything in life, especially the life of a NASCAR driver. While these teams clearly know things need to be turned around, the only ones who can make the changes necessary are the teams and drivers themselves.

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