Hendrick Motorsports is currently the most successful team in NASCAR. Founded in 1984 by Rick Hendrick and the legendary Harry Hyde, the team has won numerous races and championships, including the following:
- 14 NASCAR Cup Series championships most recently with Kyle Larson in 2021
- 1 Xfinity Series Championships
- 3 Truck Series Championship
It has fielded some of the sport’s most talented drivers including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Mark Kartin, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Busch, Terry Labonte and Benny Parsons.
The team was originally founded by Rick Hendrick, Raymond Beadle, and Harry Hyde (who the character of Harry Hogge was based on in Days of Thunder) under the name All Star racing, and changed to Hendrick Motorsports in 1985. Although it started with one car in the early years it expanded quickly to 2 cars in 1986, and then three in 1987. Till the four cars we know now in 2002.
Having 4 cars certainly doesn’t hurt your chances in NASCAR races, although it still took 19 more years from the introduction of that 4th car to claim the title of most team wins in NASCAR beating Petty Enterprises in 2021 (at the Coca Cola 600 no less). Petty Enterprises had held that record since 1960!
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Hendrick Drivers
Although saying the current line up of drivers is impressive is an understatement, even they are outshone by the two most iconic drivers associated with Hendrick Motorsports. These are Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Jeff Gordon won four Cup Series championships for the team in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the first in 1995, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. He spent his entire driving career with Hendrick Motorsports.
Jimmie Johnson need no introduction, but that’s what got him his start at Hendrick Motorsports when worried about his future after losing sponsors he introduced himself to Jeff Gordon and met with Rick Hendrick. It was a meeting that both sides are incredibly happy happened. He won 7 championships and 83 races in the 48 car, (no pressure Alex Bowman!) and has returned to try his hand on a part time basis in 2023.
| Team Name | Hendrick Motorsports |
| Founded | 2020 |
| First Race | 1984 Daytona 500 |
| Location | Concord, North Carolina |
| Team Owner | Rick Hendrick Linda Hendrick Jeff Gordon |
| Current Drivers and Numbers | Kyle Larson (5) Chase Elliot (9) William Byron (24) Alex Bowman (48) |
| NASCAR Cup Championships | 14 |
| Total Daytona 500 Wins | 8 |
| Total Cup Series Races | 1307 |
| Total Cup series Wins | 291 |
| Total Cup Series Pole Positions | 240 |
| Website | Hendrickmotorsports.com |
The Daytona 500 and Hendrick
There are 8 victories in the Superbowl of NASCAR, the Daytona 500, with the first coming 2 years after the teams debut. When Geoffrey Bodine won from 2nd place on the grid in 1986. The last victory was in 2014 which was a back to back victory with Jimmie Johnson, who has returned to NASCAR racing for the 2023 Season, at least some of it, with Legacy Motor Club (formally Petty GMS).
2023 may well be the year that Hendricks take the flag at America’s most coveted race with 2 cars on the front line. (we wrote this about 13 hours before the start of the race, so we can be proved write or wrong very quickly!)
Alex Bowman leads the pack in Pole, with his Teammate Kyle Larson in the number two spot. Hendrick have another car in the top ten starters with Chase Elliot in 8th spot. William Byron starts a little further down the order in 21st. However it is the Daytona 500 so anything can happen!
In Recent Years: Hendrick Motorsports
In recent years, Hendrick Motorsports have continued to be a hugely dominant force in NASCAR, with drivers like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman. Elliott won the Cup Series championship in 2020, and was followed in 2021 by Kyle Larson.
Despite being the most winning team in NASCAR the hunger is clearly still there, from the boardroom to the track and you can expect them to be fighting for that 15th Championship deep into the 2023 season.
Links to Other NASCAR Team Information
| 23xi | Front Row Motorsports | Hendrick Motorsports | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| JTG Daugherty Racing | Kaulig Racing | Legacy Motor Club | Live Fast Motorsports |
| RFK Racing | Richard Childress Racing | Rick Ware Racing | Spire Motorsports |
| Stewart Haas Racing | Team Penske | Trackhouse Racing | Wood Brothers Racing |