2020 NASCAR team performance reviews, four races in

We were four races into 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season before things had to be put on hold, but we had a pretty good idea of where teams were at from what we saw.

Everything was pointing to this being Team Penske and Joey Logano's year -- if this were a real performance review he'd be getting a raise and the corner office -- but what about the other organizations?

Team Penske

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Consistent results -- matched same amount of wins (two) and just two fewer laps led than last year (315 to 317).
• Average finish is 1.5 positions worse in 2020.

Highlight

• Joey Logano's two wins at Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Prediction

• Team Penske was looking like the strongest organization the first four races. I expect that will remain the case when we resume racing, but it's too early to tell. All three drivers remain title contenders.

Wood Brothers Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020:

• Averaging 15.3 more points per race.
• Averaging seven positions better.
• Already one top-five finish (none in 2019).

Highlight:

• Runner-up finish at Las Vegas.

Prediction:

• Matt DiBenedetto is currently 14 positions higher in the playoff standings than he was last year. He likely won't keep that pace, but he appears to be a playoff lock.

Stewart-Haas Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Consistent results -- one less top five in 2020 but one more top 10.
• Within one spot of 2019 for average finish.

Highlight

• Kevin Harvick is the current points leader.

Prediction

• Harvick will continue to be elite this year, but time will tell how his three teammates will shape their 2020 seasons. Could see all three making -- or missing -- the playoffs.

Roush Fenway Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• One top five and top 10 more in 2020 than in 2019.
• Chris Buescher currently in position to make the playoffs. Missed in 2019.

Highlight

• Buescher's third-place finish in the Daytona 500.

Prediction

• Thrust into the senior role at Roush after one race, Buescher evolves into a playoff-caliber driver and makes the Round of 12. Newman is set to reclaim the wheel at Darlington and I could see him winning a race; maybe Indy.

Richard Petty Motorsports

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Averaging 11 positions better in 2020 vs 2019.

Highlight

• Bubba Wallace's sixth-place finish at Las Vegas.

Prediction

• Wallace would likely need a bit of luck and a win to make the playoffs, but it's certainly not impossible. Either way, he'll make gains over the past few years based on Chevrolet's early speed.

Richard Childress Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• One top five in 2020; had only one in all of 2019.

Highlight

• Austin Dillon's fourth-place finish at Las Vegas is their best result, but Tyler Reddick battling the heavyweights at the front of the field at Phoenix had us on the edge of our seats.

Prediction

• Both of these drivers are fringe playoff contenders, and a win for RCR isn't out of the equation. What's a bit unexpected is that it appears Reddick is the more likely of the two to deliver one.

Leavine Family Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Led 49 laps in the 2019 Daytona 500 (with former driver Matt DiBenedetto); has yet to lead in 2020.
• Averaging four spots worse average finish in 2020.

Highlight

• Finished 21st in the Daytona 500 (crashed out).

Prediction

• You know it's been a rough start when the above result is the "highlight" of your season. This is the easiest prediction in here: Bell will rebound and show what he's capable of. A win is possible.

JTG Daugherty Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Led 60 laps so far in 2020; most ever in an entire season is 84 in 2010.
• Won the pole at Daytona, first career pole on an oval.
• One top five in 2020; only had one in all of 2019.

Highlight

• A third-place finish for Stenhouse at Las Vegas is the team's best result, but his Daytona 500 pole set the tone for his season.

Prediction

• After being forced out of Roush, Stenhouse might actually have landed in a pretty good safety net with JTG. Playoffs -- particularly via a superspeedway win -- are not out of the question.

Joe Gibbs Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• One less win.
• Five less top fives.
• Seven less top 10s.
• Led 160 fewer laps.
• Averaging nearly nine positions worse in 2020.

Highlight

• Denny Hamlin's second straight Daytona 500 win carries enough weight to keep the ship afloat.

Prediction

• Almost any way you slice it, JGR is having a down year thus far despite the D500 win. No, it won't last. Yes, all four drivers will be in the playoffs.

Hendrick Motorsports

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Won in 2020 already; first win in 2019 came in race No. 10.
• Three top-five finishes; first top five in 2019 didn't come until Race No. 6.
• Double the number of top-10 finishes in 2020 vs 2019 (six vs three).
• Led 244 more laps in 2020 than in 2019.

Highlight

• Alex Bowman's absolutely dominant win at Auto Club Speedway.

Prediction

• Hendrick came to play in 2020, boosted by a new Chevrolet body. All four drivers are averaging more points per race so far, and I'm not sure that's going to change.

Go Fas Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Averaging five spots better in 2020.
• Scored a top 10; first top 10 in 2019 was race No. 18.

Highlight

• Corey LaJoie led a lap and finished eighth in the Daytona 500.

Prediction

• LaJoie would likely need a superspeedway victory to make the playoffs, but the talent and experience gains are evident. Look for him to turn heads a few more times this year.

Front Row Motorsports

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• One less team in 2020 than 2019.
• Averaging 5.5 positions better in 2020.

Highlight

• Nemechek nearly earned a top 10 at Daytona, finishing 11th.

Prediction

• We've seen Front Row make the playoffs in the past (Buescher, 2016) but not without some wackiness. Still, Nemechek has shown ability already just four races in, and McDowell typically has some good sporadic runs in him, particularly at road courses.

Chip Ganassi Racing

Key stats, 2019 vs. 2020

• Same number of top fives (two) and top 10s (four).
• Led 164 laps fewer in 2020 (166 vs two).
• More than four positions worse in 2020 in average finish (13.9 vs 9.6).
• Kurt Busch (-9) is down in points per race.

Highlight

• A trio of top-five finishes between Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson, who is no longer with the team.

Prediction

• Busch and Larson had their moments in the top five, but did seem to be lacking a bit in consistency compared to Chevy stablemate Hendrick Motorsports. HMS has twice the cars CGR has, however, so look for Ganassi to find its footing and show strength over the summer. (Note: Matt Kenseth, pictured above with Busch in 2008 while each was driving for a different team, has replaced Larson in the No. 42 Chevrolet.)