NASCAR Cup Series

Analysis: Atlanta win huge shot in the arm for Johnson, No. 48 team

Published Mar. 4, 2015 5:19 p.m. ET

Larry McReynolds

That was a very big win last Sunday in Atlanta for Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the whole No. 48 team. I've never known them to ever lack in confidence, but human nature being what it is, especially after their inconsistencies in 2014, Sunday's win was huge for them.

Remember, it wasn't until Week 12 last year until they visited Victory Lane, but here they are already there in only the second race of 2015.

I've had this feeling and mentioned it a couple times in the offseason that the 2015 rules changes were going to fall right in the center of their wheel-house over there at the No. 48. The other thing to note was that it simply wasn't an open road to Victory Lane Sunday.

They started 37th out of 43 cars. They had some issues on pit road. They overcame all that plus led the second most laps (92) of all the drivers, and won the race.

Truth be told, all four of the Hendrick Motorsports entries ran well Sunday, but only the No. 48 and the No. 88 had the finishes to show for it. On top of all that, here in Race No. 2 of the 2015 season, they've already punched their ticket to be in the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

So Sunday was a huge boost for that team in many ways. I think we are going to see and hear a lot more from the No. 48 in 2015 as Jimmie tries to make history in becoming only the third driver in NASCAR history to win seven championships.