In the heart of NASCAR, a sport built on the soil of the Great American South, visionary owner and 18-time Championship owner across the top-three NASCAR series, Rick Hendrick, made a move so audacious it could only be likened to ‘shaking the very foundations of a Civil War’. One not fought with bullets but with 200-mph engines and checkered flags. His weapon? A “Yankee” legend named Geoff Bodine, a Northerner in a Southerner’s game.

From his Guinness Book of World Records for most race wins in a season (55) to his early role in elevating Hendrick Motorsports’ status as the premier team in NASCAR timelines. Bodine can take well-warranted pride while reflecting on his four decades-plus driving career, which saw him start in over 750 races.

Rick Hendrick saw talent and ignited change

Rick Hendrick, a North Carolina native, saw something special in Bodine in 1984. He knew talent transcended geography, and he saw Bodine as the missing piece in his fledgling team’s puzzle. But hiring a Northerner was a bold, even controversial, move as NASCAR fans were fiercely loyal to their Southern roots even if the Civil War had ended almost a century ago.

In a recent conversation with Kenny Wallace on his official YouTube channel, the 1986 Daytona 500 winner delved into Rick Hendrick’s groundbreaking decision to hire a Northerner. Bodine explained his experiences, shedding light on the unexpected warmth he received from Southern fans.

“You know what really surprised me and my whole family about moving? Well, in the Northeast, they didn’t like me. They booed me when I win. I get on the microphone, I said I love you guys booing, that’s boo power… I said, well, I’m going faster next week with the race fans. But when I came South now, I’m expecting the same thing, you know? I went in the late mod series which is Xfinity now, right? And you know what? Just the opposite. They love me because I came down here and beat some of their villain drivers like Tommy Ellis, a lot of people love Sam Ard but he won too much, Jack Ingram, Sunny Hutchins. So we couldn’t believe the friendship when we came here, and they liked me. I said it was great; nobody’s booing me much,” said the current Florida resident.

The legend further elaborated on the pivotal moment when he got the call from Hendrick himself, stating, “Rick said, ‘You know, I can only really promise you about 15 races, you know we’ll have to see how it goes…  So, okay, I like that. Now I had a full ride with Cliff Stewart the full season… but uh, I want when Harry Hyde was in that room he’s the guy I wanted to be with. It wasn’t Rick. Now he knows this story; it wasn’t Rick I didn’t know him. Harry was the guy I wanted to be with because he was a winning Crew Chief and I said he can show me how to win.” 

From 15 races to a premier racing dynasty

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Despite initial challenges, Bodine, alongside legendary crew chief Harry Hyde, secured three top-10 finishes at the start of the Hendrick Motorsports’ debut season. However, a string of unfavorable results followed, putting the team on the brink of closure. Nevertheless, with a thrilling win at Martinsville over fellow northeastern icon, Ron Bouchard, and Darrell Waltrip. Bodine not only secured his first career Cup victory, but also Hendrick Motorsports’ inaugural win in a NASCAR race. Foretelling about the prosperities awaiting them in the future.

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Bodine’s recollection of the crucial Martinsville race in a recent release by motorsport.com, reflects this integral turning point, “If it wasn’t for Harry convincing Rick to go ahead and enter the car, and we won that race, who knows what would have become of Hendrick Motorsports.”