Rick Hendrick, legendary owner of Hendrick Motorsports, announced his commitment to competing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, emphasizing that his passion and energy remain strong. Hendrick’s intentions for NASCAR 2026 reflect his continued drive to lead his team to further success, following a standout year for the organization.
Another Banner Year for Hendrick Motorsports in 2025
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season once again highlighted Hendrick Motorsports as an industry powerhouse. Under the stewardship of Rick Hendrick, drivers Kyle Larson and William Byron both secured spots in the Championship 4, maintaining the team’s competitive standard established over decades. Chase Elliott, after an injury-plagued previous season, stormed back to multiple victories, while Alex Bowman found consistency late in the year with several strong finishes, even after facing challenges during the summer stretch.
As a collective, the team posted more than 30 top-five finishes and kept an average finish inside the top 12, representing a return to form reminiscent of their dominant 2021 campaign. Hendrick’s reaction to the year was positive, with a clear belief that the best may still be ahead for the squad.
Hendrick’s Enduring Passion for Competition
With 15 NASCAR Cup Series championships and over 300 wins, it’s natural for fans and insiders to question how long Rick Hendrick’s competitive fire will last. During his 2025 season address, Hendrick definitively stated,
I still have the fire to go out and perform,
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. This comment echoes his ongoing commitment and hunger for victory.
Hendrick’s analysis of the 2025 season began with praise for Chase Elliott’s renewed performance.
I think Chase Elliott’s been running the best he’s run in a while. He’s been super competitive at every racetrack, and we were one, two, three in the points there for a long time,
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. Elliott’s return to the winner’s circle was a major storyline following a difficult 2024 season of recovery.
Elliott’s teammate, Alex Bowman, also received Hendrick’s recognition for recovering form after a challenging summer, noted by the team boss:
Alex had a rough summer, but then he’s been running really good and, in some cases, one of our fastest cars,
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. Bowman’s playoff performances at Texas and Martinsville were highlights, showing resilience and speed even as Victory Lane remained just out of reach. Bowman’s ongoing multi-year contract ensures he remains a pillar for Hendrick Motorsports going forward.
Building a Lasting Culture of Success
Hendrick has always placed tremendous value on the people within the organization, not just the trophies they’ve earned. Reflecting on the past season, he remarked,
This year, in the shop, we won 28 races,
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. These wins included those across the Cup, Xfinity, and developmental series, demonstrating the team’s sustained depth and success.
Kyle Larson and William Byron delivered multiple victories and contended for championships, supported by the steady efforts of Elliott and Bowman. These successes continued to cement Hendrick Motorsports as modern NASCAR’s benchmark team.
Yet, what most excites Hendrick is the organization’s unity and development, stating,
Keeping the people together and learning together, the young people coming in, but keeping the core and the culture there,
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. The emphasis on fostering both legacy stars and rising talent has produced not only winning teams but also influential minds like Chad Knaus and Cliff Daniels, who have shaped NASCAR’s technical landscape.
Leadership and Legacy: The Role of Jeff Gordon
Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon continues to play a crucial part in maintaining leadership continuity and mentoring emerging talent. Hendrick pointed to Gordon’s ongoing guidance as a key factor in the stable transition of leadership at the top:
You can’t build a legacy on cars alone. It’s the people that keep it running.
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. Rick Hendrick’s philosophy has always been based on developing people as well as race cars, a strategy that has benefited the organization since its formation in 1984.
Discussing the growth of team personnel, he added,
But I really love to see the people, all the crew chiefs and engineers that grow up in your organization.
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. This approach has become a hallmark of Hendrick Motorsports, resulting in a finely tuned team capable of adapting to racing’s constant evolution.
Anticipation for NASCAR 2026: Hendrick Confirms Continued Drive
Looking to the 2026 NASCAR season, Hendrick expressed enthusiasm and readiness for the new challenges that heightened horsepower and technical regulation changes will bring. He projected optimism for the team’s prospects:
We’ve got a great group, and I think next year’s gonna be even better,
— Rick Hendrick, Team Owner.
This optimism is underpinned by significant investments in engineering, analytics, and mechanical advancements tailored to meet the demands of upcoming rules. For Hendrick, now almost five decades into his career, his motivations remain constant — a determination to innovate and compete at the highest level. His message reflects a simple principle: passion endures, and retirement is not on the horizon.
The energy Hendrick brings continues to inspire the entire organization, from veteran champions to rising stars, setting a winning tone as they prepare for another campaign. This fire, in turn, positively influences team members and their families alike, building a sense of community within the group.
Kyle Larson’s Championship Joy: Sharing the Moment with Family
One of the defining stories from the 2025 Cup Series was Kyle Larson’s title run, punctuated by a memorable celebration with his children at Phoenix Raceway. The sight of Larson’s family in Victory Lane exemplified the deep personal connections within the team.
Larson, speaking on the Stacking Pennies podcast, reflected on the family’s experience during his championship win. He explained that his children—Owen (10), Audrey (7), and Cooper (2)—don’t typically have the chance to attend races because of their own activities, which made the title celebration especially meaningful. Sharing candidly, he described the unique reactions of his kids:
I don’t think I’ll ever forget Audrey. I could tell that Owen was shocked. He got it. He understood how shocking of a win that was. I could see it in his face. And then Audrey, you know, she ran down to me. She’s like, ‘Dad, finally you won again.’ And I was like, ‘Well, kind of. Not really. I still didn’t win, but yeah.’ Cooper wasn’t even born yet the last time we won the championship.
— Kyle Larson, 2025 Cup Series Champion.
Larson didn’t dominate the finale at Phoenix; instead, strategy and teamwork carried the No. 5 Hendrick team to the year’s highest honor. That result underscored the breadth of Hendrick Motorsports’ contributions — not only doing what it takes to win on the track, but bringing families, crew, and fans together in moments of triumph. The genuine joy shared by Larson’s children echoed the deeper connections fostered by the organization’s longstanding culture.
What Hendrick’s Commitment Signals for NASCAR’s Future
Rick Hendrick’s clear declaration of his NASCAR 2026 intentions removes any doubt about his short-term plans and reaffirms Hendrick Motorsports’ position as a standard-bearer both on and off the racetrack. Jeff Gordon, serving as vice chairman, remains central to succession planning and ensures that Hendrick’s philosophies will endure.
The organization’s focus on developing people, nurturing a winning culture, and leveraging elite performance analytics positions it strongly for new technical challenges. The 2026 season will bring regulatory changes, including increased horsepower, that demand innovation from every team. But the foundations of leadership, collaboration, and passion at Hendrick Motorsports suggest that, under Rick Hendrick’s continued stewardship, the group is eager to meet — and exceed — expectations once again.
As the sport evolves, Hendrick’s unwavering dedication provides reassurance for fans and competitors alike. His intent to remain at the helm signals that Hendrick Motorsports’ winning tradition and commitment to its people are poised to shape NASCAR’s next era, with the fire to achieve even more still brightly burning.
Rick Hendrick on the 2025 season for his organization: pic.twitter.com/vW1Wnq5q7U
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) November 4, 2025
Rick Hendrick on the 2025 season for his organization: pic.twitter.com/vW1Wnq5q7U
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) November 4, 2025
