On a homecoming weekend for many, Charlotte may be a different kind of return for one of racing’s most dominant teams.

The first chunk of the 2012 Sprint Cup season revolved around Rick Hendrick’s quest for his 200th career win.  Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne struggled with bad luck; Dale Earnhardt Jr. struggled with putting together a complete race; Jimmie Johnson struggled with an extended funk from 2011. Smart people were asking quesitons

Wow, how things have changed:

Johnson’s win at Darlington got one monkey off Hendrick’s back. Dale Earnhardt Jr. might have had the best car of anyone at last week’s All-Star race, costing me 50 fake dollars in the process. And while Gordon continues to run afoul of some crazy voodoo, Kasey Kahne is slowly showing us why he was one of racing’s most valuable free agents.

Now enter Charlotte, a track that meets the needs of all who call Team Hendrick home. Up a fake 255 dollars after a losing streak that would make even Dale Jr. blink, it’s back to the fundamentals.

20 fake dollars on Jimmie Johnson at 5/1
It’s worth the odds. Johnson has six wins at the this track. Plus, his swagger seems back. Finally, did you see that car in the All-Star race? This is Kyle Busch at Bristol kind of stuff.

10 fake dollars on Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 15/1
The #88 was a gallon of gas away from winning last year and  had the second best car out there last week. So what if he has the 40th best average finish among active drivers at this track over the last five years?

10 fake dollars on Kasey Kahne at 10/1
Kahne has four finishes of fifth or better in the last five years, and that’s with Richard Petty and Red Bull engines.

10 fake dollars on Brad Keselowski at 18/1
He wins at major tracks. This would add another feather. Plus, as much as I like Jeff Gordon, I won't pick him again this season.That voodoo even scares me.

I like Hendrick, and hot dogs. Any grilled meat really. Here’s what The Spread thinks. Thanks to those who serve. Now enjoy the weekend, and insert random catchphrase here.

Jimmie Johnson 5/1
Kyle Busch 7/1
Carl Edwards 8/1
Tony Stewart 8/1
Matt Kenseth 8/1
Kasey Kahne 10/1
Greg Biffle 10/1
Denny Hamlin 10/1
Kevin Harvick 12/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 15/1
Jeff Gordon 15/1
Martin Truex Jr 18/1
Brad Keselowski 18/1
Clint Bowyer 35/1
Mark Martin 40/1
Ryan Newman 40/1
Joey Logano 50/1
AJ Allmendinger 50/1
Kurt Busch 60/1
Marcos Ambrose 60/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Jeff Burton 100/1
Juan Montoya 100/1
Jamie McMurray 100/1
Trevor Bayne 100/1
Regan Smith 300/1
Aric Almirola 300/1
Danica Patrick 300/1
David Gilliland 300/1
David Ragan 300/1
Bobby Labonte 300/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 50/1