CONCORD, N.C. – Winning 269 races in the NASCAR Cup Series takes a team of dedicated drivers, sharp crew chiefs, and an organization with a passion for winning. Throughout the last 38 seasons, Hendrick Motorsports has had 20 different drivers make a trip to victory lane, helping set the all-time wins record.
In the 1990s, Hendrick Motorsports had one of NASCAR’s most iconic names in their stable of drivers: NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon.
“I heard Rick (Hendrick) wanted to meet with me and wanted to know if I had a contract,” said Gordon. “That just blew me away.”
Gordon was brought on as a driver at Hendrick Motorsports in 1992, running his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“When I saw Jeff Gordon, I said ‘Man, this kid’s got so much talent,’" said Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick. “He could do things with a car that I hadn’t seen anyone do.”
NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte signed with Hendrick Motorsports in 1994 and became the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet. Labonte won 12 races and the 1996 Cup Series championship in his 10-year tenure with Hendrick Motorsports. He and Gordon finished 1-2 in the rankings that season, which earned him his second championship and Hendrick Motorsports’ second title.
“I left there and I said, ‘That’s where I want to drive,” Labonte said of his initial meeting with Hendrick. “I knew they had all the parts, pieces and the people to win a championship and I wanted to win another championship.”
Gordon, with Ray Evernham on top of his pit box as crew chief, went on to win 47 Cup Series races and three championships in 1995, 1997 and 1998 together. Evernham joined Hendrick Motorsports as Gordon’s crew chief in 1992 for the final race of the season and worked with him through the end of 1999. Between Labonte and Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports secured four championships in a row.
“The constant has always been Mr. Hendrick," Evernham said. “Drivers have come and gone, car models have come and gone. His commitment to always getting back to winning, no matter what the process has been for as many years as he’s been doing it, just astounds people.”
Hendrick has fostered a winning environment through his teams, keeping his relationships at the core of Hendrick Motorsports through all 269 wins.
“He is a fierce, fierce competitor,” said Gordon. “He loves to see his people come together and have success.”
To listen to Hendrick, Gordon, Evernham and Labonte look back on their time with Hendrick Motorsports, check out the video above.
Watch more of our “The Road to 269” video series by clicking here to listen to Geoff Bodine, Darrell Waltrip and Ken Schrader discuss our humble beginnings and here to reminisce with Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus about the dynasty the iconic driver-crew chief duo built together.