Emotional Rick Hendrick Gets Candid on Hendrick Motorsports Milestone Achievement: “Never Thinking We’d Get to 269”

When Chase Elliott fell out of playoff contention, Hendrick Motorsports fans wailed at the #9 sensation’s misfortune. After all, many had expected him to get Mr. Rick Hendrick‘s team their 300th Cup win. But that hope did not flicker away even after he failed to make it into the round of 16. The number 9 Chevy got in on the owner’s points and Chase Elliott perhaps looked forward to getting his boss that cherished win.

However, it was not Chase Elliott who got Rick Hendrick his 300th trip down the victory lane. And neither was it Kyle Larson. It was 25-year-old William Byron who achieved one of the biggest milestones for the winningest team in NASCAR. Moments after the race at Texas Motor Speedway, Mr. H opened up about his feelings in front of journalist Bob Pockrass.

Rick Hendrick’s drivers exceeded his expectations

Rick Hendrick is perhaps one of the most dominant team owners in the history of NASCAR. And that too, for good reason. If you google ‘most popular NASCAR team’, you’d probably see the name Hendrick Motorsports pop up on the top.

The 74-year-old billionaire was 35 when he founded his $315 million dollar Cup team. And after almost four decades of running the team, he got emotional to have won for the 300th time.

Renowned FOX Sports journalist and writer Bob Pockrass took the chance to walk up to the stock car stalwart and asked him to shed light on his feelings. Rick Hendrick tried hard to hold back tears of joy as he mouthed the words, “My knees were weak after watching that. You’d think I’ve done this a lot; not supposed to bother you that much. But anybody tells you that, it doesn’t shake you… they are lying.”

For Rick Hendrick, watching Hendrick Motorsports climb up the ladder to success is just like watching his child grow up. The NASCAR vet lost his own son to an accident back in 2004 and perhaps his team has assumed the role of his son since the demise of Ricky Hendrick.

Hendrick’s eyes were glistening red. He wiped off his tears and admitted, “I remember 100 like yesterday, never thinking we’d get to 269, and now 300.”

“I think we’re gonna go win a lot more races; we’re not done. Ever since I’ve raced, I just wanted to be competitive every week,” he added.

Watch this story: Hendrick Motorsports Driver Blamed Teammate Chase Elliott for Meeting Delay as Kyle Larson & Co. Wait

William Byron felt elated after getting the golden opportunity to get his boss the coveted win. And he revealed the real reason why he was so thankful to Rick Hendrick.

William Byron followed the footsteps of his HMS idols

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With just 6 laps to go into the 267-lap-long race, William Byron took advantage of the banking and veered down the lower groove. Making a risky three-wide pass, he cleared race leader Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain to grab the lead. After that, he stomped on the accelerator and did not look back again.

After getting his 6th win of the season, William Byron got his pass to the round of 8, regardless of his run in Talladega next week. Byron revealed that he had grown up as a Hendrick Motorsports fan and his biggest idols were Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

“I don’t know if I can even put it into words..” he said. “Just thankful for all the people and men and women back at Hendrick Motorsports and Mr. Hendrick; for his investment in me and telling me at 17 years old he was going to take me to Cup racing.”

“Just appreciate everything he’s done for me. This is awesome. We’re definitely gonna enjoy this one,” he exclaimed with a big smile on his face.

Read more: Despite His Exit, Chase Elliott Stays Integral to Rick Hendricks in the Playoffs