The four full-time NASCAR racing teams under the Hendrick Motorsports include:
- Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet Car #5, driven by veteran Mark Martin
- DuPont Chevrolet Car #24, driven by four-time champion Jeff Gordon
- Lowe’s Chevrolet Car #48, driven by three-time champion Jimmie Johnson
- AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet Car #88, driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
In the 2008 racing season, Hendrick entered a fifth car, the Go Daddy Chevrolet #25 driven by rookie Brad Keselowski for a pair of races. The #25 Chevrolet will run part time in the 2009 season.
Hendrick Motorsports Beginning
In early 1980 a veteran NASCAR crew chief was working his farm near Charlotte, North Carolina when he was approached by a young businessman with a NASCAR dream – a dream of Championships. That meeting between Harry Hyde and Rick Hendrick was the beginning of Hendrick Motorsports.
“All Star Racing” started in 1984 with driver Geoff Bodine in the Chevrolet Car #5, with no sponsorship. Eight races into the season and still no sponsor, Bodine managed to win at Martinsville Raceway. That win catapulted All Star Racing to where Hendrick Motorsports is today, 25 years later.
In 1985 Rick Hendrick became sole owner and the name was officially changed to Hendrick Motorsports Racing.
Hendrick Motorsports Champions
In 1992 a young driver named Jeff Gordon started driving Car #24. Gordon provided Hendrick Motorsports with its first NASCAR Cup championship in the 1995 season. In 1997 Gordon won his second Cup championship and again in 1998. In the 2001 season, Gordon took the Cup championship a fourth time.
In 2001 a driver named Jimmie Johnson made his debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the Lowe’s Chevrolet Car #48. Johnson has driven Hendrick Motorsports to three consecutive NASCAR Cup championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the first to tie the record set by veteran Cale Yarborough.
Tragedy Strikes
Hendrick Motorsport members had to overcome a horrific tragedy in October, 2004. A plane carrying ten passengers crashed on its way to Martinsville’s Blue Ridge Regional Airport. All aboard were killed in the accident.
The passengers were Ricky Hendrick, Rick Hendrick’s son, John Hendrick, Rick Hendrick’s brother, Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, John Hendrick’s 22-year-old twin daughters, Joe Jackson, executive with DuPont, Jeff Turner, general manager of Hendrick, Randy Dorton, chief engine builder, Scott Lathram, pilot for driver Tony Stewart and pilots Dick Tracy and Liz Morrison.
Rick Hendrick was supposed to be on that plane, but declined to attend the race because of ill health. The deaths devastated the drivers, the entire Hendrick organization and spread shock throughout the NASCAR circles.
Championships
In 25 years, the organization has won 12 NASCAR championships-eight Cup, three truck, one Nationwide and 11 car owner titles.
Today, all Hendrick race cars are constructed start-to-finish at the 100-plus acre Hendrick Motorsports complex in Concord, North Carolina. More that 550 engines are built or re-built on this site each year, some leased to other NASCAR racing teams.
Hendrick Motorsports employs over 500 people, operates a 15,000 square-foot museum, team store, marketing, public relations, sponsor services, licensing, show cars, merchandising and an on-site fitness center with trainers in a fully equipped gym to assure that personnel are fit and ready for race day.
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