Henderson Motorsports Overview
Henderson Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team based in Abingdon, Virginia. The organization currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, fielding the No. 75 Chevrolet Silverado. Established in 1982, Henderson Motorsports has participated in multiple NASCAR national series, including the Winston Cup Series and the Busch Series, building a long presence in stock car racing across several decades.
The team runs Chevrolet vehicles and is owned by Debbie Henderson–Creasy. Over its history, Henderson Motorsports has accumulated five total race victories and eight pole positions across the various series in which it has competed, while yet to capture a Drivers’ Championship. Its identity centers on part-time competition, regional ties to Virginia, and a long-running association with the No. 75 car number.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Henderson Motorsports was founded in 1982 by Don Henderson in Abingdon, Virginia, with the goal of fielding stock cars in NASCAR’s national touring divisions. From its earliest days, the team focused on short-track and regional racing, gradually building the infrastructure needed to enter the higher-tier NASCAR series. Its NASCAR debut came in 1982 through a one-race Busch Series deal with driver Brad Teague in the No. 15 car, marking the team’s first entry into professional stock car competition.
During its first seasons, Henderson Motorsports operated on a part-time basis, running limited schedules and rotating drivers as it worked to establish itself. The team built its early reputation through Bristol Motor Speedway races, where Teague and other regional talents frequently competed. These initial years allowed the organization to develop mechanical expertise, refine race-day operations, and begin forming the technical relationships that would carry it into the Winston Cup Series in the same era.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
By the mid-1980s, Henderson Motorsports had expanded into the Winston Cup Series with the No. 26 car, running a combined 24 races between 1982 and 1984 with drivers including Teague, Ronnie Hopkins, and Morgan Shepherd. The team’s best Cup finish during this stretch was eleventh with Teague, after which the organization shifted its sole focus to Busch Series racing following the spring Martinsville race in 1984. This transition marked Henderson’s commitment to the lower-tier national series as its primary competitive home.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Henderson Motorsports developed a stable of drivers and refined its Busch Series program around the No. 75, becoming a consistent presence in the field. The team gradually built technical alliances and assembled a roster of regional and touring talent, including Brad Teague, Rick Wilson, and Butch Miller. These efforts allowed Henderson Motorsports to remain competitive even as NASCAR’s national series grew more professional and well-funded.
Henderson Motorsports Competitive Journey
Henderson Motorsports’ competitive journey spans more than four decades across multiple NASCAR series. Beginning with part-time entries in 1982, the team progressed through the Winston Cup, Busch, and Truck Series, building a record of occasional victories, consistent mid-pack finishes, and steady operational growth. The organization has remained part-time for most of its existence, focusing on select high-profile races while fielding a rotating cast of drivers.
Early Seasons and Development (1982–1991)
Henderson Motorsports’ earliest competitive years centered on part-time entries in both the Winston Cup and Busch Series. In the Cup Series, the team fielded the No. 26 from 1982 to 1984 with Teague, Hopkins, and Shepherd, logging 24 combined starts. The team also experimented with multiple car numbers, including the No. 15, No. 5, and No. 66, often using Bristol as a proving ground for new drivers and chassis setups.
In the Busch Series, Brad Teague drove the No. 75 Food Country USA Pontiac from 1985 to 1988, earning one win, two poles, and a best points finish of seventh. Rick Wilson joined the team in 1989, recording two wins and one pole. These early seasons established the No. 75 as the team’s signature entry and helped Henderson Motorsports build its technical foundation within NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
Breakthrough in the Busch Series (1992–2003)
The 1992 season represented a return to form for Henderson Motorsports, as Butch Miller earned one pole, four top-five finishes, and ten top-ten results, including a second-place run at the final race, to finish seventh in points. That performance tied the team’s best points result, set earlier by Teague. Despite 1993 bringing driver changes and the return of Rick Wilson, the No. 75 continued to log competitive finishes.
The mid-1990s brought experimentation and reduced schedules, with Doug Heveron piloting the No. 75 in 1994 and 1996. From 1997 through 2001, Henderson Motorsports entered fewer races each year, with Wilson and newcomer Kelly Denton handling most of the driving duties. A 2002–2003 resurgence saw Butch Miller and Jay Sauter lead a final Busch Series push, with Sauter recording the team’s last top-ten finish at Nashville in 2003. After 2007, the No. 75 Busch program ended, though Caleb Holman would later drive the truck in the team’s transition to the Truck Series.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2012–Present)
After five years away from NASCAR competition, Henderson Motorsports returned in 2012 by entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with the No. 75, fielded for Caleb Holman. Holman drove the team’s full Truck Series schedule from 2012 to 2016, making 32 starts and earning two top-ten finishes. He also captured the pole position for the Eldora dirt race in 2016, highlighting the team’s continued ability to compete on diverse track types.
In 2017, Parker Kligerman joined the team and delivered Henderson Motorsports its first victory at Talladega Superspeedway. Kligerman continued to drive part-time schedules through the early 2020s, recording additional top-five finishes at Bristol in 2018 and 2020. In 2021, Sam Mayer joined the team for a seven-race schedule alongside Kligerman. Kligerman earned a second team victory at Mid-Ohio in 2022, beating Zane Smith. In 2025, Kligerman unofficially won the Daytona season opener but was later relegated after a post-race inspection failure, and Patrick Emerling was announced for the North Wilkesboro race.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Henderson Motorsports’ core identity centers on part-time competition, regional driver development, and selective race entries. The team excels at superspeedway and intermediate tracks, where Parker Kligerman has produced its strongest runs. Its operational approach emphasizes efficient race-day execution and flexibility, allowing the organization to remain competitive without the full-time resources of larger NASCAR teams.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
First win, Parker Kligerman at Talladega Superspeedway in 2017; second win, Kligerman at Mid-Ohio in 2022; Caleb Holman’s Eldora pole in 2016; unofficially winning the 2025 Daytona season opener before disqualification; and the team’s transition from Busch Series to Truck Series competition in 2012. Henderson Motorsports also recorded multiple top-five runs at Bristol, including a fourth-place finish in 2018.
Henderson Motorsports Achievements and Results
Henderson Motorsports has accumulated five total race victories and eight pole positions across the NASCAR Cup, Busch, Truck, and ARCA Racing Series. The team has yet to win a Drivers’ Championship in any national series. Its accomplishments are spread across decades of part-time competition, with breakthrough wins in the Busch and Truck Series marking its most significant results.
NASCAR National Series Achievements
Henderson Motorsports has competed in the Winston Cup, Busch, and Truck Series, recording zero Cup victories, three Busch Series wins, two Truck Series wins, and eight total pole positions. Its Busch Series victories came through Brad Teague and Rick Wilson in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The team’s Truck Series wins were earned by Parker Kligerman at Talladega Superspeedway in 2017 and at Mid-Ohio in 2022.
Series Achievements
Within the Busch Series, Henderson Motorsports earned three victories and seven pole positions, with its best points finish being seventh, achieved by both Brad Teague in 1988 and Butch Miller in 1992. The team’s Truck Series program has produced two victories and one pole position across 114 starts. These results reflect a long-standing ability to compete selectively while developing drivers across multiple NASCAR divisions.
