TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Chevrolet may as well take the bow tie logo off their hood for now, because there hasn't been too much to celebrate this year.

Richard Childress, owner of a three-car stable of Chevys, is suspicious of why -- especially when he notices that the defending Winston Cup champion and two of the sports rising stars are all struggling at the same time.

How hard can it be for NASCAR to understand, he wonders, that Chevrolets are aerodynamically at a disadvantage to the Fords, Pontiacs and Dodges.

Jeff Gordon is the greatest stock-car driver of this past decade and he has not won a race.

Nor has Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Nor has Kevin Harvick.

Nor has any Chevrolet driver eight races into the season.

"I think they have all the information they need to make a decision about evening out the competition," Childress said. "They just won't do it and I don't understand why."

Childress has had to answer questions about why his driver -- Harvick -- has struggled this year after putting forth such a stellar, ninth-place points finishing season last year. And while Childress acknowledges that the team has some issues within itself that need to be worked out, he wonders how anyone can look at the timing and not see that outside influences contribute, as well.

"When you look at the time he started to struggle and you look at the time that Jeff Gordon started to struggle, it tells you something," Childress said. "I hate to compare it to someone who isn't running good, but Gordon's been the guy all this time. He's been (Chevrolet's) best driver, and when he isn't doing good then you know there is something wrong with (the cars)."

Gordon concurs with Childress. Like with Harvick, he knows that when a driver struggles there are always issues within the team, but he believes NASCAR isn't helping the issue.

"I think they tried to help us with extending the nose," he said, "but it hasn't been enough. We're still not there, and you can look across the board and see that."

On Sunday, the Chevy teams may have their best shot at ending the winless streak. After all, the make has won the past six races at Talladega Superspeedway, and in Sunday's Aaron's 499 they own the top four qualifying spots.

"I think this is a good start," said Michael Waltrip, who starts third. "But we'll have to see in the race. We qualified well at Daytona, too, but Chevrolet still hasn't won a race, yet."

Rupen Fofaria is a beat writer for the Raleigh News & Observer.