CONCORD, N.C. -- In 2015, Hendrick Motorsports earned nine wins and found itself on the verge of a 12th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship when Jeff Gordon made it all the way to the final race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in Homestead.
But Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick thinks the organization will be even better in 2016 as it continues to strive for its 12th title.
"I think the team’s fired up," he said. "We want to be contenders. We want to win a championship."
Hendrick said that what he was most proud of in 2015 -- and as the calendar turned to 2016 -- is how well the entire organization worked together.
That was never more evident, he recalled, than when more than 600 team members gathered for the annual season kickoff lunch on the Hendrick Motorsports campus, joined hands and shouted, "Stronger together."
It's that teamwork that he believes will drive the organization this season.
"There’s been an investment by every team member to go from good to great and leading the way has been Rick," said Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet SS. "Rick’s as hungry as I’ve ever seen him, more determined to bring the championship back home than ever. With his leadership and his challenges that he puts out there and the pressure he puts on us to succeed, and then his willingness to give us all the equipment and tools to do it, we’re going to be in a good position this year."
The drive for continued success in 2016 begins at Daytona International Speedway, where this weekend Kasey Kahne, Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will race in the Sprint Unlimited exhibition event Saturday night.
Then comes the official season kickoff -- the Daytona 500 -- on Feb. 21, when the three teammates will be joined by Chase Elliott as the campaign gets underway.
"You always get fired up this time of year," Hendrick said. "Can’t wait to get down to Daytona and see how you’re doing. We’ve won a lot of those races so I think if we can go down and win that race and kick off the season, we’ll be in good shape."