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The best way to
describe a culmination
of 25 years of success
and history is to
reference popular song
lyrics. “Some people
wait a lifetime for a
moment like this.” These
words brought American
Idol Kelly Clarkson to
fame, and certainly
describe the dynasty
that Hendrick
Motorsports has come to
represent.
Hendrick Motorsports
celebrated their silver
anniversary at
Martinsville Speedway,
when Jimmie Johnson took
top honors for his 41st
career victory. Johnson
is one of the four key
players in the HMS
dynasty, that has come
full circle from meager
beginnings. It all
started back in 1984
when Geoff Bodine
powered his No.5 machine
to claim Rick Hendricks
first win as a car
owner.
It was a fateful day.
The teams’ mere
existence was reliant on
that race and from that
moment forward, the tide
had changed. Rick
Hendrick was adamant
that without a win at
Martinsville in the
spring of 1984, he was
prepared to disband his
race team. Now, 25 years
later Hendricks’ is the
premier team in NASCAR
Sprint Cup Racing. With
176 point race wins and
nine owner’s
championship titles Rick
Hendrick has built the
sports dynasty. He has
shown perseverance,
commitment and passion
for Motorsports. The
result has been pure
excellence.
“I didn’t get to take
a picture with (Geoff)
Bodine 25 years ago, but
we got take one out here
today with Jimmie,”
Hendrick began to
reminisce. “It was a
special day. You know,
anytime you can win
here, it was a heck of a
race, it’s really neat
to be able to win one
and celebrate the 25th.”
The excitement was
empowering as Bodine
joined the Hendricks
dream team to celebrate.
“I wanted to get to
the front really bad,”
Johnson commented.
“Because I want to win
one. Also, I want to,
“win for Mr. Hendrick on
the 25th Anniversary of
Hendrick Motorsports
winning,” he finished.
Johnson earned his first
victory of the 2009
racing season and his
sixth career victory on
the Virginia short
track.
“It means a lot to
win here,” added Chad
Knaus, Crew Chief on the
No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
driven by Johnson.
“Hopefully, it is only
the first of the year,”
he added. Knaus and
Johnson have been the
dominant pair on small
and intermediate tracks.
Their success has led to
three consecutive series
championships. A feat
matched by only one
other man in the history
of the sport.
The win, Johnson
added “it is a
confidence booster for
Chad and I. We didn’t
have an easy day today.”
The three-time titlist
further described his
race noting that the
team made significant
changes throughout the
day and continued to
work on the car through
pit strategy. “It took a
team effort today,”
Johnson added, “I’m very
proud of that.”
Since Johnson has
been a dominant force in
the series, race fans
expect the Lowe’s
sponsored team to win.
“We don’t take that for
granted,” He added, “we
hoped that we would. You
never know.” Johnson
knew deep in his mind
just how special this
particular win would be.
There was no doubt that
the same thought
reoccurred before he
crossed the finish line.
Johnson took a late race
lead with thirty laps to
go before the checkered
flag flew.
“Anytime you come to
Martinsville and you got
four cars and you can
finish in the top eight
or top ten, it’s great,”
Hendrick remarked. “It
was a great day for the
entire group,” he
concluded. Hendrick
acknowledged the recent
momentum that veteran
wheeler Mark Martin has
kept in the No. 5
machine. “I think Mark
has been competitive
every week,” Hendrick
said. “You take where
he’s run and where he’s
qualified, without
failures, which were our
fault; he would be
probably top three or
four in the points.”
Martin commented
earlier in the week that
he remembered Hendrick’s
earlier beginnings in
the sport and he would
be proud to deliver his
friend and boss a win in
the No. 5. Both Martin
and Hendrick cut their
teeth on stock car
racing watching Richard
Petty and Junior
Johnson. And while times
have changed, and
obligations to sponsors
have become more
demanding, Martin
remembers those days. “I
watched and I knew of
Rick,” Martin said. “I
was envious that I
wasn’t the one that was
going to get that car
(in 1984), but I knew
Geoff was definitely in
a position to have a leg
up on me at that time I
was still trying to get
started.” Now, 25 years
later, Martin sits in
the namesake machine. He
shared these special
words about Hendrick.
“Without a doubt, the
way he treats people,
the way he motivates
people is unbelievable.
Every time I get a
chance to be around
Rick, I just want to sit
there and soak it up
like a sponge and try to
learn from him,” Martin
continued. “It’s
incredible how he makes
people feel and how he
inspires them to do more
than you could ever
think they could. I
think that everyone that
works for him wants to
succeed for him, even
more than they do for
themselves, and it’s
just a really special
quality.”
Hendrick also shared
his pride in Dale
Earnhardt Jr.’s team.
“The No. 88 team and
Dale worked hard. You
know, we have a lot of
effort behind that,” he
continued. “I think it
showed today. All the
cars were competitive.
They’re making some good
progress.” The feeling
from Earnhardt is
mutual. “I am happy for
Rick and they got a win,
especially for that
company. I am glad to be
a part of it,” Earnhardt
said referencing the
special anniversary of
HMS. “This is excellent
equipment.”
Rick Hendricks view
on his organization is
simple. “It’s a special
group and we’re all
family,” Hendrick said.
He reflected on the
mixed emotions that
always surface when the
team is at Martinsville.
His mind is never far
from the loss of his
family and friends that
were so suddenly taken
from this world. In his
view, Martinsville
drives his organization.
“It’s a special win and
maybe more so than any
win that I can
remember,” Hendrick
added.
Sunday’s win is the
18th victory at the
historic Virginia short
track for Hendrick
Motorsports in the
storied 25 years. A
Hendrick’s driver has
won 10 of the last 13
races held at the
Martinsville facility.
It is only fitting that
leaving Martinsville, a
Hendricks driver also
sits atop the point
standings. Jeff Gordon
holds that unique
position at this point
in the season.
The Hendrick
Motorsports Team, the
dream team (Gordon,
Johnson, Martin and
Earnhardt), is very
diverse. Their great
successes are etched in
the history books. Each
driver has their own
accomplishments,
history, and unique
style. But the best part
is together they create
a dynasty. The sport
without them would never
have been the same. The
same is true about Rick
Hendrick.
It is important to
note that when
Hendrick’s first win
came at Martinsville
Speedway in the spring
of 1984, Jimmie Johnson
was a mere 8 years-old
and running motocross in
California. Chad Knaus
was only 12 years-old
and living in the
Midwest. While both men
were involved in racing
early in their lives, it
would be destiny that
the three men would
unite by 2002. The rest
they say… is history. |
