The best NASCAR Sprint Cup teams never rest on their accomplishments, no matter how great they may be.

They strive to improve; to rectify problems big and small. Many times they do and that’s why they continue to be successful and rank among the best.

Case in point: Hendrick Motorsports.

Today, it is considered as the top team in NASCAR. It has won a historic five consecutive championships with driver Jimmie Johnson. It has 10 titles overall, the most of any team since “official” stock car racing began in 1949.

In American professional sports, Hendrick is one of only four teams to win five consecutive championships. The others are the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees and Montreal Canadiens.

Even with all of its achievements – and more – team owner Rick Hendrick firmly believes his organization can get better.

There are a few things that concerned him. Two of his teams did not make the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2010 after three of them did a year earlier.

During the 10-race playoff Johnson seemed vulnerable. He had to come from behind to earn the championship at Homestead.

Jeff Gordon, ninth in the final standings, did not win a race. Neither did Mark Martin, who slumped to 13^th in points, nor Dale Earnhardt Jr., who drifted to 21^st in points.

As you know, Hendrick’s bold move has been a massive crew chief change. Martin now has Lance McGrew. Gordon is paired with Alan Gustafson. Earnhardt Jr. has been teamed with Steve Letarte.

The tandem of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus remains intact – as it should.

Hendrick said the changes will improve his organization across the board. He added that, while a championship was won in 2010, his four teams weren’t where they needed to be.

He insisted that the changes were not made solely to raise Earnhardt Jr.’s sagging fortunes.

Maybe not, but the feeling here is that Hendrick has made another change that might, just might, give Earnhardt Jr. his best opportunity to return to winning form – something he desperately needs to do.

The No. 5 and No. 24 cars of Martin and four-time champion Gordon will be fielded out of the same facility that will be known as the 5/24 shop.

The No. 48 and No. 88 cars of Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. will be fielded out of the 48/88 shop. Gordon’s No. 24 team had previously been united with Johnson’s No. 48.

The 48/88 union is, in one man’s opinion, a stroke of genius. This pairs Earnhardt Jr. not only with Letarte, certainly a proven leader in his years with Gordon, but also with Knaus – a crew chief who has already earned a solid reputation as the man who directed Johnson to five titles and all of his 53 career victories.

Knaus’ influence could prove tremendous. He is a no-nonsense perfectionist who has demanded much of Johnson and will do so with Earnhardt Jr., with the goal of getting the driver physically fit and mentally ready. There will be no coddling.

Hendrick split Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and brought McGrew aboard in mid-2009. That didn’t work. Nor did a restructure of the 5/88 shop in 2010, which gave Earnhardt Jr. several of the key personnel that helped Martin finish second in points a year earlier.

Something else needed to be done.

Hendrick is not about to directly unite Knaus with Earnhardt Jr. because that would disrupt the highly successful association Knaus has with Johnson. If it works – and boy does it work – why change it?

But he’s done the next best thing. He’s put Knaus in a position, with the able assistance of Letarte, to positively influence Earnhardt Jr., both personally and professionally.

When Earnhardt Jr. joined Hendrick in 2007 the team owner said that making the driver a champion would be a huge challenge. He also said that if Earnhardt Jr. won it would be expected. If he didn’t fans would believe that Hendrick was not providing him with the best equipment and personnel.

The feeling here is that Hendrick has made the boldest and most promising changes yet.

In fact, the crew chief and team swaps could benefit the entire Hendrick organization.

But if it all does not help Earnhardt Jr., well, what then?

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