Racing Car Blog's Top NASCAR Teams

They have all grown stronger: Hendrick, Roush-Fenway, Richard Childress and Stewart-Haas have all grown stronger. Not only that but each one has a case with something to prove, a few new faces from old teams and lower leagues looking to step it up. The Car Blogs have been buzzing that the empires are well-fortified and built to last. Even many old guns have found a new lease on passion behind the wheel. Some guys are even finding their name synonymous with contender for the first time in a very long time.

Of course it all begins with the crown coming off the head of Jimmie Johnson for the first time in over 6 years. And the fact that Tony Stewart captured it from Carl Edwards by a matter of seconds. Combine that and you've got yourself a powder keg ready to burst all over the tracks and the car blogs.

Hendrick Motorsports is looking like the real monster. Not only does Jimmie Johnson want revenge, but Jeff Gordon is the best he's ever been since it became the Sprint Cup series and so is Junior. Not only is the trio as potent as ever, but the fall of Red Bull racing brought a refugee upon their shores by the name of Kasey Kahne. Kahne's now on the first stable team since 2007 meaning he's in for an upgrade in the ranks. Rick Hendrick puts it, ""But this place is full of very angry, very motivated people right now. I like that. It means we're still hungry."

Richard Childress Racing has a few new kicks. Kevin Harvick is back with the chief he dominated the NASCAR Nationwide Series with. Jeff Burton got David Ragan's old crew chief Drew Blickens. If the chemistry can click, so can the dividends.

Roush Fenway lost the cup by a span of seconds. Carl Edwards could kiss the crest of the Sprint logo. But this team is set to complete rebound despite having to give up a car due to the poor economic climate.

And lastly there's Stewart-Haas racing. Not only did they steal the cup with an incredible come from out-of-nowhere-with-a-crew-chief-I'm-totally-about-to-fire-after-Homestead crew chief. As if that doesn't have enough steam. They got Danica Patrick. Not only is that ridiculous, but they got her an unearned start in the Daytona 500. All eyes are going to remain on this team going forward regardless of the standing come the chase.