(This is the sixth in a series of memorable moments in the 62-year history of Martinsville Speedway. This TUMS moment focuses on Geoff Bodine providing Rick Hendrick with his first-ever victory in NASCAR’s premier series in 1984).
Geoff Bodine Provides Hendrick With First-Ever Victory
MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- With the success Hendrick Motorsports has experienced at Martinsville Speedway during the 21st Century, it would seem strange to think of the organization without a sponsor and on the verge of shutting down. Yet, that was the case in April 1984.
NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the sixth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 25.
In late 1983, Rick Hendrick had announced the formation of All-Star Racing, a first-year NASCAR Winston Cup [now Sprint Cup] team that would later become Hendrick Motorsports. Former Modified standout Geoff Bodine was to be the driver and veteran Harry Hyde was to handle the crew chief duties. The team had no full-time sponsor, but Hendrick was confident one would be obtained.
By the season's eighth race, the team still had no full-time sponsor. Northwestern Security Life was on the car at Atlanta and North Wilkesboro, N.C., and it was scheduled to be on the red and white Chevrolet for Martinsville. Still, the team's future appeared bleak.
Hyde traveled to the Southern Virginia short track knowing the team could be shutting down in the near future, but he believed in its potential for success. On April 29, 1984, in the Sovran Bank 500, Hyde wasn't disappointed. Bodine, who had been on the threshold of NASCAR Cup stardom for three years, finally broke through at Martinsville Speedway.
The then 35-year-old Bodine passed Bobby Allison with 49 laps remaining in the 500-lap event and was never seriously challenged. He finished six seconds ahead of runner-up Ron Bouchard.
Bodine not only obtained his first career victory in the series, but the inaugural win for Hendrick in only the team's eighth start. For Hyde, it was his first victory since the 1977 season finale at Ontario, Calif.
By the season's 14th race at Pocono, Pa., Northwestern Security Life had signed on as the team's full-time sponsor, and the Bodine-Hyde combination claimed two more victories that year. The team won the July 14 race at Nashville, Tenn., and the season finale on the 30-race schedule at Riverside, Calif. For the season, Bodine finished ninth in the standings and produced seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes to go with his three victories. He also earned three poles with the second coming in Martinsville’s September race.
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