news-record.com

JOLIET, Ill. — Denny Hamlin offered a pained grin and slight chuckle as he walked through the garage after Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

His fifth-place result marked the fourth time in the last five races he's finished that well. So, how satisfying was his performance?

"I'm somewhat happy, but we're still not in a league of those Hendrick cars," he said. "We've still got a long way to go when it comes to them. We don't have anything for them right now. We've just got to hope to outdrive them, and they've got some of the best drivers on the track, so it's hard to do that."

Hamlin's comments echo throughout the garage, and Chicagoland Speedway was just the latest site for such frustrations. Mark Martin's victory Saturday night was his series-high fourth of the season and gave car owner Rick Hendrick seven wins in 19 races this year.

About the only team that seems to match Hendrick is Stewart-Haas Racing, which receives technical support, chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports.

With the series off this week, it provides a chance for teams to re-examine where they are and what they'll have to do to challenge Hendrick cars the rest of the season.

At least one driver outside the Hendrick empire is confident he's catching the Hendrick group. Such feelings, though, are rare.

Roush Fenway Racing had none of its five cars place in the top 10 Saturday. That's the second time in the last three races Jack Roush's team has failed to score a top-10. After the race, Roush stood with Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for Matt Kenseth, and others, discussing the race. Not far from them, tucked between tool boxes in the garage, Joe Gibbs and his son, J.D. talked.

This is not the season many expected for Joe Gibbs Racing. While Kyle Busch has been dominant at times — his three victories are second only to Martin — he has struggled other times. Saturday was such a case. His car handled poorly and his race ended after an accident late. Busch finished 33rd. That dropped him to 10th in the season standings where he is in danger of falling out of the top 12 and Chase contention.

Rookie Joey Logano has a victory but the 19-year-old continues to go through a learning process. Hamlin is winless this season but fifth in the season standings for Gibbs.

"I think, overall, we definitely have got our work to do," J.D. Gibbs said, noting the need to be prepared when the Chase begins. "That's been the case ever since we've been in this sport."

Gibbs admits Busch faces a challenge and how Busch responds could play a role in his performance during the seven races before the Chase field is set.

"I think &ellipses; whoever the driver is you've got to make sure to get yourself in a good spot," Gibbs said. "Denny does a good job of this. If I've got a fifth-place car, bring it home fifth and maybe fourth.

"I think for Kyle he wants to win everything. He'll push stuff a little harder. I think what he kind of reminds me of is Tony (Stewart) earlier in his career. He gets so frustrated. I think over time and, as you mature, you get a better picture of the big picture and what this race here means. That will take time."

While Hamlin is known to maximize what a car will give him, it didn't keep him from firing through a narrow gap to fight for the lead late in Saturday's race. He and Brian Vickers squeezed past Jimmie Johnson for the lead 17 laps from the finish.

"I've got to stick it in every hole I can," Hamlin said. "My car is not good enough to pass like (the Hendrick cars) are."

As they raced side-by-side a lap later, Vickers got loose and moved up the track, forcing Hamlin to go toward the wall. That allowed Martin to shoot through on the inside and lead the final 16 laps. He finished ahead of teammate Jeff Gordon.

Kasey Kahne placed third and is confident he can break the Hendrick dominance. Using the new Dodge engine has helped Kahne's performance.

"Anytime you find more power, it helps," said Kahne, who climbed four spots to eighth in the season standings. "It makes your car feel better. It makes your setup and things easier to hit."

It makes Kahne confident.

"We're as good as they are," he says of the Hendrick team.

That's something Hamlin and others can't say now. In a few weeks? Maybe.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com