Sprint Cup Series Team Grades: 2013

By, Joey Gucciardo

Lets start out with Hendrick Motorsports:

Grade: A+
Hendrick Motorsports opened up their 2013 season with Jeff Gordon qualifying on the outside pole for the 2013 DAYTONA 500. Hendrick really opened the door for the 2013 season with Jimmie Johnson winning the 500. A few weeks later, at Martinsville, Johnson won, and would go on to win his 6th championship. Kasey Kahne would go on to win at Bristol, and the 2013 GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway. Jeff Gordon would win the 2nd race at Martinsville. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 11th straight NMPA Most Popular Driver Award. Most of all, Jimmie Johnson won his 6th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. What a season for Hendrick Motorsports, one of their best seasons yet.

Now, lets go to Roush Fenway Racing:
Grade: A-

Carl Edwards won the second race of the season at Phoenix International Raceway. Carl would later go on to win a controversy-filled Federated Auto Parts 400 At Richmond International Raceway. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. became the 2013 Sunoco Rookie Of The Year Award winner. An okay season for RFR.

Lets go to a troubled Michael Waltrip Racing:
Grade: B-

Martin Truex Jr. after winning at
Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA

MWR did a fantastic tribute to the Boston Marathon Bombing victims by putting marathon sticker-like numbers on their cars.

The tribute that MWR did for the
Boston Marathon bombing victims

Martin Truex Jr. won the 2013 race at Sonoma Raceway. But, everything changed after the 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400. Clint Bowyer was fined, Martin Truex Jr. was kicked out of the chase, and the spot were given to Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon was the surprise 13th pick in the chase. Quite an awkward season for MWR.

Now, lets move on to Richard Childress Racing:
Grade: A-

Kevin Harvick kicked off the season for Richard Childress Racing with a Sprint Unlimited win, and a Gatorade Duel victory. Paul Menard moved to the team this year, and Jeff Burton announced this past September that he will step down from the No. 31 Chevrolet at the end of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season. Kevin Harvick became a championship contender, however, Jimmie Johnson won out.

Not too bad a season for the boys at RCR.

Why don't we move on to Joe Gibbs Racing:
Grade: A

Kyle Busch celebrating after his
2013 win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and his three drivers put on quite a show in the 2013 season. Denny Hamlin got injured very early in the season, but he was able to win the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Matt Kenseth was trying to win his 1st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship since 2003, giving Jimmie Johnson a run for his money in 2013. Kyle Busch won a number of races this season, such as Auto Club, and the NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Kyle certainly made up for not making the chase in 2012 this season. Overall, a great season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Lets move over to Penske Racing:
Grade: A-

It was a rough season for Penske Racing's Brad Keselowski. He didn't make the Chase for the Sprint Cup, putting him out of championship contention. Brad did win a chase race at Charlotte. Joey Logano, on the other hand, didn't have that bad of a season. He took over the No. 22 Pennzoil Toyota after Dodge left NASCAR, making Penske Racing move to a different manufacturer. Logano won a race at Michgan, passing Mark Martin for the victory. He also made the chase. Not to shabby for Penske Racing.

Okay, lets go to Stewart-HAAS Racing:
Grade: A-

Tony Stewart was involved in a wreck in the 2013 Sprint Unlimited. However, Danica Patrick really opened up the season for Stewart-HAAS Racing by qualifying on the pole for the 2013 DAYTONA 500. That's reallty impressive, not because she's a woman, but because she went into 2013 with not much to put on her resume' in the Sprint Cup Series, only racing part time in the series in 2012. Danica would finish 8th in the race. She gained tons of support from fans everywhere, Now, lets move on to the underdog of Stewart-HAAS Racing in 2013. He won the Brickyard 400, beating Jimmie Johnson, and was put into the chase after the cheating scandal by Michael Waltrip Racing. 2013 was good for Ryan Newman because he was in need for a ride in 2014, and the Brickyard 400 win looks good on his resume'. Not a bad season for Stewart-HAAS Racing.