CONCORD, N.C. -- A career-long 24-race winless streak.Only two cars qualifying for the Chase for the Cup championship.Dale Earnhardt Jr.s season-ending concussion.Yep, it has been a rough season for Hendrick Motorsports -- but Jimmie Johnson is out to salvage it.Johnson gained some big-time momentum and a measure of breathing room on Sunday in his quest for a record-tying seventh Cup championship, winning at Charlotte to advance to the third round for the first time since the new playoff format was established in 2014.Johnson was knocked out in the second round two years ago. He bowed out in the first round last year.We knew we would get back in victory lane, Johnson said. Yes, it was slower than we wanted it to be, but to be here today and have this victory is great.Hendrick said he was so excited to win that he took his first champagne bath ever after the race.It feels good, Hendrick said with a satisfying smile.Johnson and Chase Elliott were the only Hendrick drivers to make the Chase after Earnhardt was forced to call it a season while dealing with concussion symptoms and Kasey Kahne was unable to find victory lane.It looked like it might be another tough-luck day for owner Rick Hendrick when Elliott was knocked out of the race in a wreck after leading 103 laps. But Johnson took the baton in the second half of the race and led 155 laps.Johnson passed Matt Kenseth on the restart with 17 laps remaining and held on to win his third race of the season and his record eighth win at his home track.Together, Hendrick drivers combined to lead 258 of 334 laps, leaving Chase driver Kyle Busch to wonder if the powerhouse team is back.They had some speed, Busch said. Maybe they are bringing new cars and they have found something -- and have been holding out on us. We will have to be start doing the same thing.Said Johnson: We have hit on some things. But we cant celebrate too much. But this does buy us a couple of weeks of freedom in the Chase.Hendrick said the last few months were difficult, saying for a while we were struggling to get in the top 10.I cant tell you how many races we were in a position to win, Hendrick said. There would be a caution or something and we would just fumble the ball.Hendrick said the team went back to the wind tunnel for testing and worked hard to find more speed.Usually teams come apart when they are not finding speed, Hendrick said. But the guys came together.Said Hendrick: Charlotte is like home to us. Its been a drought.After the race, one of Johnsons children pulled a fake $1 million bill out of Johnsons pocket that he been given a long time ago by Humpy Wheeler.That seemed to match Johnsons million-dollar smile on Sunday.Really we just fell back on what we are made of at Hendrick Motorsports, he said. There is a culture there and a belief. It was not fun to experience all that we have been through, but we have seen the cars get stronger, better and faster. We were able to execute all day long here.Among active drivers at Charlotte, Johnson came in ranking first in average running position (8.3), driver rating (109.6) and laps led (1,740).Johnson said his team might have benefited from Saturday nights race being postponed because of Hurricane Matthew.He likes running at Charlotte in the daytime.We like the sun, Johnson said. Cheap Cleveland Cavaliers Jerseys . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.cheapnbaoutletjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-miami-heat-jerseys . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Cheap Orlando Magic Jerseys . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Authentic NBA Jerseys Store ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts receiver Phillip Dorsett may be about to get his first big opportunity in the NFL.The 2015 first-round draft pick will be asked to play a much bigger role over the next month -- and perhaps longer -- after learning No. 2 receiver Donte Moncrief will miss four to six weeks with a fractured left shoulder blade.Moncrief was injured in the first quarter of Sundays loss at Denver and did not return, another big blow for a team already hit hard by injuries.Its a skill set that well miss, coach Chuck Pagano said Wednesday after making the announcement. Thank God weve got 13 (T.Y. Hilton) and thank God weve got 15 (Dorsett).Fortunately for the Colts (0-2) they have Hilton, who has been to the past two Pro Bowls, and Dorsett, who was drafted early because of his game-breaking speed.After that, Indy has a group of unproven youngsters.Quan Bray and Chester Rogers, the only other receivers the Colts kept to start the season -- had combined for just one NFL reception. So on Wednesday, they signed Devin Street off the New England Patriots practice squad.Street has seven catches, all with the Dallas Cowboys from 2014-15, and hell have four days to learn the offense and get in sync with Andrew Luck before Sundays game against San Diego.The Colts are trying to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2011, when Peyton Manning missed the entire season with a neck injury, and only their second 0-3 start since 1999, Mannings second season in the league.Hilton became one of Lucks favorite options after Reggie Wayne was not re-signed following the 2014 season and knows hell need to do even more with Moncrief out.Its hard, but I told my brother, weve got your back, Hilton said. The team will be looking to me and Phil more now.But now Dorsett will be thrust into a higher-profile job.The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Miami product struggled to make a difference early last season. He fell behind Hilton, Andre Johnson and Moncrief on the depth chart, and just when it appeared Dorsett might be ready to break out, he broke his lower left leg.He caught only four more passes after returning in December.The Colts released Johnson in March, movingg Dorsett into the No.dddddddddddd 3 spot and now with Moncrief down, hell move into the No. 2 spot. He promises to be ready.Im light years better than I was last year, Dorsett said, referring to an 18-catch rookie season. Its different ways I watch film now, that helps me slow stuff down, see how you adjust when the ball is in the air, that sort of thing.The difference has been noticeable on the field.He already has five catches for 124 yards and his average of 24.8 yards is much closer to what general manager Ryan Grigson envisioned when he took Dorsett at No. 29 overall.Teammates also have seen a change.Hes a young kid, who is making big strides from last year, Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis said. And hes more confident.What the Colts need most, though, is productivity.Moncrief emerged last season as a solid No. 2 option and started this season with seven catches for 73 yards and one touchdown in less than five quarters.Now, its up to Dorsett to prove he can live up to the hype.The Colts already believe in him.Hes making plays down the field and hes not thinking, Pagano said. Hes speeding up and youre starting to see and feel his presence out there.Game notes Quarterback Andrew Luck was not on the field for the early portion of practice Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if the absence was part of the Colts plan to manage him better throughout the week. Pagano did not talk about Luck when listing the injuries Monday or Wednesday. Luck is expected to take questions following practice. ... Davis did limited work Wednesday, the first time hes been on the practice field since sustaining an ankle injury in mid-August. ... Safety T.J. Green (sprained right knee) also did limited work at practice while starting cornerback Patrick Robinson went through non-contact drills after being cleared from the concussion protocol. Safety Clayton Geathers (sore foot) did not practice for precautionary reasons, Pagano said.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '