Crew chief Cliff Daniels isn’t planning to hit cruise control at any point during the next two weeks, despite the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team being locked in to the Championship 4.
Due to Kyle Larson’s 0.082-second triumph over Christopher Bell during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, most could argue that the No. 5 team can “rest easy” through the remaining Round of 8 races.
But that’s simply not how Daniels views it.
“If we say we’re just going to cruise for the next two weeks, then you’re not operating with the edge that I think you’re going to need to win it in Phoenix. There’s two more races to win,” Daniels said.
Next up on the schedule is Homestead-Miami Speedway, followed by Martinsville (Va.) Speedway — two tracks where Larson has won in the past. With the No. 5 team not having to worry about points racing, Daniels is re-shifting focus to victory lane.
“Now that we’re in the position that we’re in, we get to play those races to win — a late call, flipping a stage, if a caution comes out, whatever it may be — versus having to play the race for points,” Daniels said.
He plans to stay on par with the intensity of the teams and drivers who will be fighting tooth-and-nail for the remaining three slots in the Championship 4 in order to strengthen their own shot at taking home a second Cup Series title.
But, with their recent history in mind, Daniels believes the Hendrick Motorsports team is already primed for the Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway finale.
“I think the two years under our belt mixed with such a volatile season that we’ve had, we’ve had to learn how to play tough and be resilient. I think our team is in a very, very strong position right now,” Daniels said.
According to the results chart that the crew chief keeps on the wall in his office, it’s difficult to ignore the up-and-down results the No. 5 team has experienced over the last nine months.
On one hand, Larson has four wins, 14 top fives and has led 1,031 laps, which is the most of any driver in the series.
On the other hand, he has seven DNFs and an average finish of 14.7 in 33 starts.
“Let’s be honest, some of those up-and-down finishes we created, both the good and the bad,” Daniels said following Sunday’s race. “But, contrary to some of the races we’ve had this year, I think today was about the things that actually worked out and went our way versus things that didn’t go our way.”
What went their way in Las Vegas?
Larson making an impressive save after scraping the wall in turn two on lap 141 and getting sideways. The following caution that allowed the pit crew to put on fresh tires. Larson sweeping both stages. The race off pit road that pushed the No. 5 from third to first.
What didn’t?
“I got interviewed earlier, they said, ‘1 to 10, how would you rate that, Larson’s save?’ I said, ‘Man, everybody’s wanting to give it a 10. I’ll give it a 9.4.’ They were like, ‘9.4?’ Well, he hit the wall. If he wants a 10, don’t hit the wall,” Daniels said.
All things considered, the Hendrick Motorsports crew chief is counting his blessings and is enthused by the dynamic he’s seeing on the team.
“Nobody rests on the wins of the past or the experience of the past. Those guys are always striving to get better,” Daniels said. “They know how to have ice water in their veins and just get it done.”