If you ever think of the term “NASCAR dominance” and the words “Rick Hendrick” aren’t the first to come flying out of your mouth, then there’s something wrong. Hendrick Motorsports has set the gold standard with an unmatched 14 Cup Series championships, 312 Cup Series wins, and a trophy cabinet that’s the envy of the motorsport world. The team’s achievements span NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity, Truck, and ARCA Menards Series, cementing its status as a powerhouse.

But dig a little deeper, and you’ll uncover a fascinating chapter from the team’s early days—one that’s often overshadowed by its stock car glory. Yes, Hendrick Motorsports once ventured beyond the oval tracks and into the world of IMSA sports car racing.

So, how did a team now ruling NASCAR spend its formative years battling in IMSA’s GTP series? And why has that chapter slipped into the shadows of its later success? Let’s rewind to the 1980s and dive into Hendrick Motorsports’ underrated stint in endurance racing.

The IMSA roots of Hendrick Motorsports

Before Hendrick Motorsports became the NASCAR juggernaut we know today, Rick Hendrick took a bold gamble in IMSA’s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) series. Partnering with Chevrolet’s Motorsports Technology Group, Hendrick Motorsports developed the Corvette GTP, a car designed to make waves in endurance racing.

From 1985 to 1988, the team fielded this striking machine—a Lola-built chassis branded as a Corvette and powered by a GM twin-turbo V6 engine. While the results were a mix of highs and lows, the Corvette GTP left its mark.

The car managed to claim 12 pole positions during its run and earned memorable wins at Road Atlanta and the West Palm Beach street course in 1986, with Doc Bundy and Sarel van der Merwe at the helm. Its performance wasn’t just about speed—it was about showcasing ambition. The No. 52 entry turned heads with its top starting position at the 1986 season finale at Daytona International Speedway, a clear sign of the car’s potential.

Adding star power to the program, Rick Hendrick enlisted drivers like John Andretti, Michael Andretti, and Bobby Rahal to pilot a second GTP car on occasion. Their presence elevated the team’s status, even if podium finishes were rare.

Yet, the project wasn’t sustainable. The Corvette GTP’s high development costs and limited victories ultimately spelled the end for Hendrick Motorsports’ IMSA endeavor in 1988. However, the legacy of that ambitious chapter remains alive in the team’s archives—through die-cast replicas of the Corvette GTP and hero cards from 1987, preserving the memory of a daring era.

Rick Hendrick’s journey from GTP to Le Mans

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Fast forward to 2023, and Hendrick Motorsports returned to endurance racing with a bang. This time, it wasn’t the GTP series but the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Partnering with NASCAR, Chevrolet, Goodyear, and IMSA, the team fielded a modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the Garage 56 experimental class.

This wasn’t a bespoke prototype like the Corvette GTP. Instead, it was a reimagined NASCAR Cup car, meticulously adapted for the challenging demands of endurance racing. Carrying the iconic No. 24, the Camaro was driven by a start-studded lineup: seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, 2010 Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller, and 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button.

While the Garage 56 entry wasn’t competing for class honors, it still impressed. The Camaro ZL1 outperformed several entries in the GTE Am class, finishing 39th out of 62 competitors—a respectable showing for an experimental project.

Beyond its performance, the Garage 56 project demonstrated Hendrick Motorsports’ engineering ingenuity. Modifications to the car included real headlights and taillights, a larger fuel tank, upgraded carbon ceramic brakes, and specially developed Goodyear tires. It wasn’t just a race car; it was a showcase of what NASCAR engineering could achieve when pushed to the limits.

The Camaro ZL1 also made waves beyond Le Mans. It became a highlight of the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, cementing its status as a shining example of NASCAR’s potentially global versatility.

Hendrick Motorsports’ dominance in NASCAR often overshadows its ventures into endurance racing, but these chapters tell a compelling story. From the raw ambition of the Corvette GTP to the groundbreaking Garage 56 Camaro, Rick Hendrick’s team has proven time and again its ability to innovate and compete at the highest levels of motorsport.

Sure, these ventures didn’t deliver the same volume of success as its NASCAR campaigns, but they remain a testament to Hendrick Motorsports’ spirit of exploration and excellence. It’s a legacy worth remembering—even as the team continues to stack up championships and wins on the NASCAR stage.