In the formative stages of Hendrick Motorsports‘ early history, Rick Hendrick made efforts to recruit Dale Earnhardt to his new NASCAR Cup Series team in 1984. At that time, Earnhardt, already a Cup champion after his 1980 title, had other commitments that ultimately kept him from joining Hendrick’s operation.
As Rick Hendrick began assembling his team with Geoff Bodine in the No. 5 car, Dale Earnhardt remained loyal to Bud Moore Engineering, a veteran NASCAR organization active since the 1960s. When Hendrick’s team finally took shape, Earnhardt had already pledged his driving talents to Richard Childress Racing, whose established reputation in the sport made them an attractive choice for the champion driver.
How Close Hendrick Came to Signing Earnhardt
Rick Hendrick revisited this near-miss in a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download, prompted by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s mention of an old photograph showing Hendrick and Earnhardt together in the Charlotte Motor Speedway garage. Earnhardt, seen in blue during a car test, had been asked by Hendrick to take the wheel and offer feedback on the Cup car.
During their conversation, Hendrick reflected on his enthusiasm for bringing Earnhardt into his team, although he admitted that at the outset, Hendrick Motorsports had no record of wins or success to entice the star driver. Acknowledging the slim odds, Hendrick recalled,
“But I’m a car salesman. I mean, I’ve got to try, right?”
– Rick Hendrick, Owner of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick accepted that Earnhardt, known as Senior by fans and in the industry, was unlikely to risk joining a startup when proven teams were vying for his talent.
The Early Connection in Stock Car Racing
The relationship between Hendrick and Earnhardt did not begin with the Cup Series; it actually traced back to 1983, before Hendrick Motorsports was officially launched. That year, Rick Hendrick partnered with Robert Gee and invited Dale Earnhardt Sr. to race their No. 15 car at Charlotte in the division then called the Late Model Sportsman, now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Earnhardt made an immediate impact, clinching victory in his debut race with Hendrick and giving him his first win as a team owner.
Later in 1983, Earnhardt once again drove for Hendrick, this time piloting the No. 5 car for what would become All-Star Racing. The season that followed marked the formal entry of Hendrick’s team into NASCAR competition, laying the groundwork for what eventually became one of the premier organizations in motorsports.
Legacy Sealed by a Second Earnhardt Generation
Years after coming close to partnering with Dale Earnhardt Sr., Rick Hendrick welcomed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to his team. When Earnhardt Jr. took the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet in 2008 during the pre-Daytona 500 exhibition event, he drove to victory in his first official race for Hendrick Motorsports, echoing his father’s debut triumph for the organization 25 years earlier.
In a touching nod to the past, both father and son began their winning journeys for Rick Hendrick driving a car named Emma, originally christened by Robert Gee to honor his mother. The tradition was revived in 2008 when the No. 88 chassis once again carried the same name, symbolizing not only victory but continuity and tribute.
The story of Hendrick Motorsports’ early history is shaped by these close brushes and milestones, forever linking the Earnhardt family to the organization’s rise, and demonstrating how moments of timing and loyalty can have lasting effects on NASCAR’s landscape. As both generations of Earnhardts delivered immediate victory for Hendrick, their intertwined paths highlight the significance of early risks and the enduring impact of racing legacies.
Rick Hendrick tried to recruit Dale Earnhardt? 🏁
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