2015 Team Spotlight Preview: Joe Gibbs Racing

JGR 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

2014 Season Stats of Current 2015 Drivers (Included Carl Edwards)

Races: 143

Wins: 4

Top 5: 36

Top 10: 69

Pole: 8

2014 Chase Drivers: 3 (4 with Edwards)

It's always hard putting together a preview when drivers move around. This season I decided to add in the new drivers 2014 stats, so even thought JGR is moving to a four car operation for the first time, above it shows 4 Chase drivers. 

In any case, Carl Edwards stats may have been a bit better in 2014 if he wasn't with RFR who struggled all season. Thats not to say JGR was much faster last season either. 2015 will be interesting at JGR. Not only do they move to a four car team but they also have a new 2015 Camry to break in.

The new Camry is part of the reason I believe that JGR was subpar in 2014. It looked like they were saving something for the Chase all year and knew 2015 they would have a new learning curve again. 

So, will the new NASCAR car package, new Camry, and fourth team member slow down JGR early on? Myself, I think JGR is in for a rebound year. Just in 2013 JGR looked like the bright spot in NASCAR who could take down Hendrick, but 2014 brought a fast fall from grace.

2015 might be that quick climb back up again especially with the addition like Carl Edwards.

Denny Hamlin

• Won a race? Check. Made the Chase? Check. Got to the Final race at Miami? Check. Denny Hamlin did this all in a season that would any other year be a disappointment. No matter how you get there, you still have to be happy having a shot at a title. 2015 will a big season for Hamlin to prove he can get back to his winning ways.

Kyle Busch

• To end 2013 it looked like Kyle had it figured out, that 2014 could be a big season. Yet, most of the season Kyle struggled to contend for wins. In the end he had a shot at putting it together until he was hit from behind under yellow at Talladega. One of these seasons he will be a true title contender, and it might just be 2015.

Carl Edwards

• Edwards is the newcomer at JGR but has a chance to be the guy who ends the year with the best season. He had an good, not great, season with RFR in a down year for that team. I think a new team might give him new life again which might lead all the way to the Final race. I don't think he will win the title, but I think JGR gives him a better shot at it.

Matt Kenseth

• 7 wins to 0 in just one year. So what will it be in 2015? My hunch is 0 wins to about 2-3 wins. Kenseth's window is closing for his second Cup title, but that doesn't mean he is over the hill just yet. 2015 will be a big season to prove that fact.