Rick Hendrick, one of NASCAR’s most iconic team owners, is reflecting on his decades-long friendship and rivalry with Joe Gibbs as their teams prepare to face off at the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series finale at Phoenix Raceway. The story of Rick Hendrick NASCAR legacy takes center stage as he seeks a record-extending 15th championship while sharing respect for Gibbs amid fierce competition.
A Bond Forged in Sports and Tragedy
Years before their names filled NASCAR headlines, Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs first met in an altogether different sporting world—a chilly NFL sideline, where Gibbs, then coaching in the league, invited Hendrick to experience the atmosphere as a fan. That first meeting ignited a connection that would stretch for decades, evolving from mutual admiration to a deep personal bond within motorsports’ highest ranks.
As the years have unfolded, their off-track friendship has run parallel with spirited competition on race day. With two drivers apiece aiming for the Cup Series Championship at Phoenix—William Byron and Kyle Larson for Hendrick, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe for Gibbs—their relationship has become a focal point this postseason. Both men have quietly supported one another through personal challenges, even as their teams battled on the circuit.
Mutual Admiration Between Hendrick and Gibbs
During a recent media session, Rick Hendrick recounted the journey he and Joe Gibbs have traveled together, shaped as much by partnership and support as by rivalry. Hendrick shared,
Joe and I have had some good times and some sad times together. There’s nobody I respect more than Joe Gibbs. He’s built a great organization, and I admire the man for his strength and what he’s gone through. I lost a son, he’s lost both sons, and we both had plans that kind of got shattered. But we have a bond and a friendship that, no matter what happens on the track, we talk during the weeks. When I win two races, he’s on me, and I tell him, ‘Now you’ve won three or four, it’s time to quit and let us have a chance.’ So, we both want to win, but we have tremendous respect for each other.
This respect is rooted in shared experience and enduring empathy. Hendrick faced profound loss on October 24, 2004, when a plane crash claimed the lives of his son Ricky Hendrick and nine others. The tragedy rocked one of NASCAR’s premier organizations, sending the Hendrick camp into mourning while continuing to compete at the sport’s top level. Joe Gibbs, who lost his son JD Gibbs to a neurological illness in 2019, and then his other son Coy Gibbs in 2022, understands the unique pain and burden that Hendrick has shouldered. Their friendship, built through years of triumphs and heartbreak, has brought genuine solace amidst the often cutthroat world of stock car racing.
Launching Joe Gibbs Racing: Hendrick’s Crucial Guidance
The partnership between Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs has not only survived the rigors of NASCAR but actually began with Hendrick offering heartfelt support as Gibbs laid the foundations of his own storied team. When former NFL coach Gibbs entered the world of NASCAR in 1992, he turned to Hendrick for advice and resources that would help launch the now-mighty Joe Gibbs Racing.
Gibbs recalled those early days and expressed,
I didn’t have anything. Everybody referred me to Rick. He helped us a lot and gave advice. It was a huge deal for us to be able to get off the ground. Rick played a huge role in that. I just really really appreciate that.
Under Hendrick’s guidance, Gibbs secured essential equipment, engines, and connections that gave Joe Gibbs Racing a chance to thrive in NASCAR’s upper echelon. The respect and gratitude between the organizations have lasted, even as their ambitions and rosters have become ever more competitive.
The Rivalry on the Biggest Stage
This powerful mix of kinship and competition now takes center stage as the 2025 NASCAR season reaches its conclusion at Phoenix Raceway. This finale sees William Byron and Kyle Larson representing Hendrick Motorsports, battling Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe from the Joe Gibbs Racing camp. What began as a mentor-mentee relationship has now blossomed into a rivalry that captivates fans and tests the resolve of both organizations.
Despite their mutual respect, passion on the track remains fierce. As Hendrick noted in relation to his driver Kyle Larson’s recent struggles, there will be no room for sentiment when the championship is on the line; every team is fueled by the drive to win.
Pursuing a Fifteenth Title: HMS Eyes History
During NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 week media activities, Rick Hendrick was joined by Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon to reflect on Hendrick Motorsports’ pursuit of a fifteenth Cup title—an achievement that would further distance the team as the most successful in series history. Their journey began with Gordon’s landmark championship run in 1995, which delivered Hendrick’s first of many premier series crowns.
The legacy Hendrick has carved extends into today’s roster, with Byron and Larson striving to add another trophy to the team’s storied case. Looking ahead to Phoenix, Hendrick shared,
Well, I was thinking about that this morning and how hard it is to win a championship. It’s pretty special. In some ways it doesn’t feel like it’s been 30 years. In some ways it feels like it’s been a long time. But I’m really thankful for Jeff in that first one. Hopefully we can get number 15 here next weekend.
Throughout three decades, Hendrick Motorsports has tackled constantly shifting landscapes—from format overhauls and new-generation race cars to the highs of victory and lows of personal tragedy. Yet the consistent theme has been Hendrick’s fierce competitive energy, matched by his ability to build organizations that stand the test of time.
Trust in His Team: Hendrick’s Approach to the Championship
As the stakes rise in Phoenix, Hendrick knows that experience and belief are more meaningful than pressure. With 320 race wins and 14 Cup titles earned by his teams, he focuses on empowerment rather than coaching. He explained his approach, stating,
They know what to do. The best thing I can do now … I can stand back,
and further adding,
I’ve talked to all of them and said, ‘Listen, I’m proud of you. We got two cars out of the four and let’s go get it done. You don’t want to put any more pressure on them than they already have.
This leadership ethos has deep roots for Hendrick. He has witnessed championship battles firsthand, including the memorable 1996 contest between Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte, which saw both drivers representing Hendrick Motorsports. Today, that tradition continues as Byron and Larson line up against Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, each chasing the title with everything on the line. For Hendrick, victory would not only mark a record-setting accomplishment, but would also reaffirm the principles that have guided his long-standing rivalry and friendship with Joe Gibbs.
Significance of the Hendrick-Gibbs Rivalry for NASCAR’s Future
The enduring friendship and rivalry between Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs underscore some of the most vital themes in NASCAR history: resilience, camaraderie, and a relentless drive to succeed. Their intertwined journeys have shaped the careers of leading drivers like William Byron, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Briscoe, while also impacting the direction of the sport itself. As the NASCAR community heads into the 2025 finale at Phoenix Raceway, the competitive fire between Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing adds fuel to a story as much about legacy as it is about present-day victory.
For fans and competitors alike, the Rick Hendrick NASCAR legacy serves as a benchmark of success, spirit, and humanity in racing. No matter who claims the championship in Phoenix, the impact of Hendrick and Gibbs—and their remarkable journey through triumph, tragedy, and rivalry—will continue to shape NASCAR for years to come.
