Rick Hendrick created a dynasty with Hendrick Motorsports. A mammoth 14 NASCAR Cup Series owners and drivers Championship victories, along with 300 race wins, cement their legacy in motorsports history. With drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Darrell Waltrip, Terry Labonte, and Kyle Larson, the team has been an epitome of success stories. However, one confidante who has been the strongest support and driven the team to success is Chevrolet. Since Hendrick Motorsports launched in 1984, Chevrolet has been a part of the journey. 

The relationship between the two has become so synonymous that it is almost impossible to imagine a Hendrick Motorsports car without the iconic bowtie. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, Hendrick Motorsports has put together a beautiful surprise for their Chevy partner that is a unique combination of creativity and nostalgia. 

Chevy and Hendrick Motorsports account for iconic victories 

The representation of sponsors in NASCAR has always been more vibrant and eye-catching. However, you will notice that engine manufacturers often stick to some iconic paint themes or more commonly, the logo. However, Hendrick Motorsports has gone all out this year, and when it is your 40th anniversary, things deserve to be special. The camaraderie between Chevy and HMS has contributed to various victories. Be it Darrell Waltrip taking up the checkered flag at Martinsville or Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte leading to a groundbreaking success in the 1990s, capturing four titles in a row for HMS between 1995 and 1998.

However, it is not only the victories that account for the success that Hendrick Motorsports inherits; it is also about the 1-2 finishes that the team has achieved. The Daytona 500, 2024 saw Hendrick Motorsports contribute to such a legacy. While William Byron accounted for the top position, he was followed by teammate Alex Bowman. 

In honor of the loyalty and victory they achieved together, Rick Hendrick unveiled the unique surprise that the team had put together for their Chevy mates. Unveiling the same, Hendrick said, “I’ve never raced anything but a Chevrolet, just to see the success of the bowtie has been special. We wanted to do something special and our guys came up with something we hope you’d like. This was handcrafted by our folks next door and we’re super proud to unveil here today”. Hendrick unveiled a unique logo that was assembled with the help of miniature boxes, each of them representing paint schemes from some iconic races. 

Adding to what the logo represents, Hendrick further stated, “All these are wins from different paint schemes that we’ve had over the years. They all mean something special”. The design was unique and along with that, the team even showcased a video that was like a trip down memory lane. From Jeff Gordon’s 3 championships in 4 years to Kyle Larson’s present rise to power, the video was like every NASCAR lover’s memoir. As HMS and Chevy reach this milestone, it is worth looking back at where it all started.

When Hendrick Motorsports and Chevy accounted for their debut win

Hendrick Motorsports has been in the NASCAR battleground since 1984 and right from then, their camaraderie with Chevy kick-started. However, it was not always hunky dory and when the team accounted for their first victory, Hendrick was not even on the tracks. The victory came when Hendrick had given up all hopes and he had even given up to his crew chief Harry Hyde. “I told (crew chief) Harry Hyde we couldn’t go past Darlington (Speedway), or I’d be putting my entire business at risk,” Hendrick said in the book, Hendrick Motorsports 40 Years.

Despite the boss’s uncertainty, Hyde convinced him to run one last time at Martinsville Speedway, as Geoff Bodine had a solid record there. “Harry was a great salesman. He kept saying, ‘Just let us go to Martinsville, Bodine is good there. We can win.’ He talked me into it,” Hendrick added. Heading into the race, Bodine had five consecutive top-5 finishes at Martinsville, but Hendrick wasn’t convinced enough to watch it pan out.

Hendrick and his wife Linda did not even attend the race. However, Geoff Bodine had a different plan. With 49 laps to go, Bodine passed Bobby Allison for the lead. Fighting against all the odds, he made it to victory lane for the first time in his career. After this comeback, Bodine said, “We beat them all. We didn’t inherit the race by anyone falling out, so that made you feel really good. The good thing was we won. Let’s call Rick up and pray that this keeps the door open, and it did”. 

The victory at Martinsville not only marked a turning point for Hendrick Motorsports but also rekindled Rick Hendrick’s faith in his team and partnership with Chevy. Overjoyed by the triumph, Rick and Linda Hendrick drove straight to Geoff Bodine’s house to celebrate, cementing a bond that would go on to define their legendary journey in NASCAR.