Jimmie Johnson recently honored Rick Otis Hodges, a veteran hauler driver for Legacy Motor Club, with a deeply personal tribute as the NASCAR community mourns his passing. The Jimmie Johnson tribute Rick Otis was echoed by teams and individuals across the sport following Hodges’s significant contributions over more than two decades.
NASCAR Faces a Difficult Month of Losses
This past month has been particularly somber for NASCAR. Alongside Rick Otis Hodges, notable personalities such as former JR Motorsports driver Michael Annett and Bill Huskins, who was celebrated as the last surviving competitor from NASCAR’s inaugural 1948 season, have also passed away. Huskins was 100 years old, marking the end of an important chapter in the sport’s early history.
Legacy Motor Club and Jimmie Johnson Lead Tributes
Legacy Motor Club publicly remembered their teammate, expressing both grief and gratitude for his role with the team. The organization reflected on Otis’s longstanding commitment to the sport and his time as a truck driver for their operations, highlighting the camaraderie he fostered among crew members. In their official message, LMC stated:
“We’re extremely saddened by the loss of our LEGACY MOTOR CLUB teammate Rick “Otis” Hodges.”
“Otis worked in our sport for many years and joined LEGACY last year as one of our truck drivers. He was such a great person to be around and we were all lucky to call him a friend. Otis will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Jimmie Johnson personally shared these sentiments online, underscoring the void Otis’s absence leaves in the racing community and garage area. Johnson’s heartfelt message read:
“I can’t imagine a garage without Otis. He was known and loved by so many. Our hearts are heavy and they are with his family.”
Celebrating the Legacy of Rick Otis Hodges
Rick Otis Hodges was widely respected for his expansive career, having worked with legendary teams such as Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Stewart-Haas Racing. After Stewart-Haas Racing ceased operations in 2024, Hodges transitioned to Legacy Motor Club, where he assumed the pivotal role of hauler driver for Jimmie Johnson’s team. Previously, he contributed to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No.8 Budweiser Chevrolet under the guidance of crew chief Tony Eury Sr.
Hodges’s association with the No.8 entry began in 2003, and he was an integral part of the crew during their iconic Daytona 500 win in 2004. Nicknamed ‘Otis’ after the memorable Otis Campbell character from The Andy Griffith Show, he became known for spreading good spirits and forming meaningful relationships throughout the paddock.
Rodney Childers and Kevin Harvick Join in Remembrance
Rodney Childers, who was the crew chief for Kevin Harvick’s championship-winning No.4 team in 2014, reminisced about Hodges’s vital presence during those victorious seasons. In a dedicated social media post, Childers expressed his appreciation:
“Otis, you meant the world to me and everyone on the 4 team. We made lots of trips to victory lane and sprayed a lot of beer over the years. You were such a special part of that. My boys loved you so much. Thank you buddy! We are going to miss you every day,” Childers wrote in an X post.
Kevin Harvick also recognized Hodges, raising a toast in his memory during a celebration for his son, Keelan Harvick, who recently became the youngest winner of the Snowflake 150 at just 13 years old by triumphing over 15-year-old Tristan McKee.
The Enduring Mark of Rick Otis Hodges on NASCAR
Rick Otis Hodges’s influence went far beyond his duties as a hauler driver; he was a friend, mentor, and beloved fixture in the paddock, remembered affectionately by those who worked with him across various top teams—from Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Stewart-Haas Racing to Legacy Motor Club. His long-standing relationships with figures like Jimmie Johnson, Tony Eury Sr., and teammates at every stop contributed to the collaborative spirit celebrated in the sport. As NASCAR moves forward from this period of loss, the memory of Hodges’s work ethic and kindness promises to inspire those who continue to carry the tradition of racing excellence and fraternity in his honor.
I can't imagine a garage without Otis. He was known and loved by so many. Our hearts are heavy and they are with his family. https://t.co/c9BFjzUnm3
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) December 10, 2025
