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CHARLOTTE — Rick Hendrick began his 25th season in NASCAR full of expectations for his storied organization.

He predicted newcomer Mark Martin would make all four of his drivers championship contenders, that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would find a comfort level at Hendrick Motorsports and Jimmie Johnson would continue his run through the NASCAR record books.

For Jeff Gordon, his 17-year money man, the boss had a promise: Gordon would win again.

"Multiple races," Hendrick insisted. "No doubt about it."

So far, Gordon is 0-for-2. But the first two races suggest he'll soon be back in Victory Lane.

Gordon led 64 laps Sunday night before finishing second at Auto Club Speedway. The four-time series champion was unable to chase down winner Matt Kenseth over the closing laps, but he found some consolation: His No. 24 team is far ahead of where it was this time last year, when Gordon had his first winless season since his 1993 rookie campaign.

"I'm so excited about this race team right now," he said. "I just think we're head and shoulders above where we were."

He couldn't say that often last year, when he was slow to adjust to NASCAR's full-time use of its new model car. Although he was third at Fontana a year ago, and notched three top-10 finishes through the first six races, it wasn't an indication of where the team was in terms of preparation or performance.

It became evident in April, when a crash caused him to finish last in Texas, and he followed with nondescript runs in Phoenix and Talladega. As the season wore on, the results that once had come so easily never materialized.

Soon it was October and he was at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a year removed from the last of his 81 victories. His fans were adamant that crew chief Steve Letarte was the problem. Gordon refused to cast blame, especially against someone who had guided him to a NASCAR-record 30 top-10 finishes in 36 starts just one year before. But as his chances to return to Victory Lane dwindled, nothing seemed to change.

Hendrick believes Gordon's struggles last season were a company-wide failure to provide him with the right tools.

"We were just not good enough for that team. I think Jeff is so used to carrying it on his shoulders, I think we all just gave up at one point there, but it motivated us to come back," Hendrick said.

Gordon, however, takes responsibility. His back had been bothering him since his failed 2007 title run, and he never seriously considered a treatment for the spasms and tightness that sometimes broke his concentration in the car.

Some drivers coming off such a year might question how much longer they can race. Gordon used it to refire his passion and rebuild his commitment to winning.

His wife, Ingrid, persuaded him to start a legitimate fitness routine, use a personal trainer and hire someone at the track to help him prepare his back for the rigors of 500 miles of racing.

The result was his a win in a Daytona 500 qualifying race, Gordon's first trip to Victory Lane in almost 16 months. But it didn't count — at least not for not points — and he's focused on snapping his 43-race winless streak.

He led 14 laps in the season-opening Daytona 500, but was 13th when rain halted the race. Had it gone the distance, Gordon is certain he would have contended for the win. If he had a few more miles Sunday, he wonders if he would have run down Kenseth.

Regardless, he's positive he'll soon make Hendrick look like a prophet.

"I just feel good when I get in the car," he said. "The car is driving good. It's just starting off right. I think we only have room for improvement."