Pressure mounting for teams, drivers yet to win in 2015
I think now that we are at the halfway point of our 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season there is a whole lot of pressure on these drivers and teams that haven't won yet.
If you look at the points right now there really is a gaggle of drivers from seventh spot to about 20th position that are running OK but not great.
Probably the one who has the comfort of knowing, unless a disaster strikes, that even if he doesn't win he'll still be in the 2015 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup is Martin Truex Jr. That's because he's been so consistent that he's currently second in the points standings.
With that said, there probably isn't a driver out there right now feeling the pressure to win more than Martin. I keep saying it and it's because I truly believe it, that team can't continue to run that well and not win. It simply has to happen somewhere.
The truth of the matter is there isn't a driver and team out there who isn't feeling the pressure to win. Look at Michael Waltrip Racing -- an organization that hasn't won a race since July of 2013. If you take that a step further, Clint Bowyer hasn't won a race since October of 2012. That's two and a half years since Clint has visited Victory Lane.
Look at the teams at Richard Childress Racing. Ryan Newman hasn't won since the Brickyard 400 in 2013. Richard Childress Racing hasn't won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race since Phoenix in November of 2013.
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is in the same boat. Neither of those teams has won a points race since Jamie McMurray did it back in October of 2103 at Talladega. You also have to assume that Kyle Larson is feeling a great amount of pressure. We are almost halfway through his sophomore season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and despite all the hype that came along with him, he still hasn't won yet.
Don't forget about Jeff Gordon. Does our third-winningest driver in NASCAR history want to go winless in his final season in the sport? What about his teammate Kasey Kahne? Unfortunately this team continues to pretty much be the black sheep of the Hendrick family because of the star power that surrounds him, and also the lack of production.
Then there is Kyle Busch, who is back from a devastating accident back in February the day before the Daytona 500. He knows he simply can't make the Chase on points alone. His goal in these next 13 races is clear. He has to win and he has to get himself in 30th or better in the points.
You also have to assume there are teams who have won this season that are still feeling a lot of pressure right now to win again. Kevin Harvick, despite his nine top-two finishes in 13 races so far, he hasn't won a race since Phoenix back in mid-March. That's quite a ways back.
I talked to Joey Logano and there's concern from the Team Penske drivers. Sure, both he and teammate Brad Keselowski have already won and are going to be in this year's Chase, but they told me they know they are behind the cars being wheeled by Jimmie Johnson, Harvick and even Kurt Busch. They readily admit they have a lot of work to do.
So you are going to be hard-pressed to find anyone in the top 25 in points who isn't feeling the pressure to get their car to Victory Lane for various reasons. That's just the way it is at this point in the season.
