Joe Gibbs’ team getting frustrated

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tony Stewart made outrageous remarks on his radio show and teammate Denny Hamlin openly criticized his team’s performance. Controversial at the time, both incidents now seem rather tame considering how frustrated the two must be.

The Joe Gibbs Racing teammates should probably have a combined six victories this season, but instead are winless through 12 events.

And after both came up empty at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Sunday, when their gas tanks nearly went dry and they each had to relinquish the lead for a splash of fuel, it’s a wonder they didn’t implode.

The record book will forever show that Hendrick Motorsports won nine of the first 12 races this season. Because there is no stat for races lost – something Stewart and Hamlin have seemingly perfected this year – it will never show that JGR has been just as good as Hendrick so far.

Hendrick drivers have made an art this season of leading the only lap that counts, a practice that has led to five straight wins – nine of 10 overall.

Gibbs drivers, meanwhile, have mastered the art of dominating the meaningless part of the races. Stewart and Hamlin have combined to lead 1,259 laps this season, and they’ve got absolutely nothing to show for it.

“Sitting where we’re at right now, it seems like everything is stacked against us,” said Greg Zipadelli, Stewart’s crew chief. “There’s probably four or five we could’ve won easily this year and things just didn’t go our way.”

This upcoming stretch can make or break a season, as Stewart learned last year when a summer slump cost him a spot in the Chase for the championship.

But Gibbs officials think their time is coming, and it won’t be too long before they’ve pushed Hendrick aside.

“The good news is we’ve got good cars,” said team president J.D. Gibbs. “The bad news is we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. But I’d much rather be dealing with this issue than with cars running 25th every week.

“We’ll work through this.”