KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It’s turned into the joke that nobody can really laugh about, the cloud hanging over one of the most successful teams in the history of NASCAR.

Thirteen races have passed since Hendrick Motorsports reached Victory Lane, the longest drought the team has experienced since the 2002-03 seasons. And the result is that Hendrick is still stuck on 199 victories, the milestone maddeningly just out of reach.

“You know, now it’s turned. We’ve been so close to getting it the last month or so,,” said five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who claimed the team’s last victory in October at Kansas Speedway.

The series is back this weekend for the first of two races this year.

It should give the team some positive vibes.

Johnson also won from the pole at Kansas in 2008, and Jeff Gordon won the first two races here in 2001 and ‘02. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has five top-10 finishes on the 1Z\x-mile oval.