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Jeff Gordon Prepared to Succeed Rick Hendrick’s Legacy in the Light of HMS’ 40th Anniversary

Published 03/01/2024, 1:16 PM EST

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In celebration of Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary, Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon comes to the limelight as an integral contributor. He’s not just a leader; he’s the embodiment of consistency and quality, striving to maintain the tradition that Rick Hendrick painstakingly built. The effortless integration of Gordon’s suggestions and management has propelled HMS to the top of NASCAR’s elite. Additionally, the team’s foray into the Xfinity Series, backed by a principal endorsement from HendrickCars.com, illustrates its commitment to excellence across every format.

With each race, HMS sustains its position as a racing powerhouse, headed by Gordon’s steadfast commitment to preserving and improving the team’s legendary legacy.

Jeff Gordon’s Forecast for Hendrick Motorsports’ Next 40 Years

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Jeff Gordon explored the team’s prospects and historic past in a recent NASCAR Live podcast episode. When asked where he saw Hendrick Motorsports in 40 years, Gordon had a mixed response, expressing both respect for the team’s history and hope for future success.

Gordon remarked, “Oh my goodness. Well, it’s going to be hard to maintain what has been set forth in the past 40 years.”

Reflecting on the challenges faced in the early days of HMS, Gordon emphasized, “We’re going to celebrate, you know, all of that success from the very beginning, Geoff Bodine at Martinsville.”

“I think Martinsville is going to be exciting for us this year,” he added. His words underscored the importance of commemorating the team’s foundational moments while also embracing future challenges.

Acknowledging the need for sustained growth, Gordon continued, “But obviously, now it’s about maintaining… And so, certainly, for the foreseeable future that I’m going to be here, I don’t know if that’s 40, but, you know, I just want to take everything that I’ve learned from the greatest mentor you could ever have in Rick Hendrick.”

Furthermore, Gordon stressed, “But also, we got to make sure we’re adding value to our sponsors because we can’t do it without them. And we got to make sure more fans are coming to the tracks and watching from home.”

Gordon’s insights reveal that HMS is ready to tackle future challenges while maintaining its legacy of excellence.

HMS’ No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro to Take Center Stage at Phoenix

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HMS is making a bold move, entering 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season with primary sponsorship from HendrickCars.com. The racing action kicks off on March 9 at Phoenix Raceway, with William Byron, the 2024 Daytona Champ, leading the charge for the team’s debut in the Xfinity series. Each of the organization’s four NASCAR Cup Series drivers competes using the legendary No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro. At the Sonoma Raceway event, the crew is also thrilled about the surprise presence of veteran road racer Boris Said.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip led the No. 17 car, winning nine races, including the 1989 Daytona 500 for HMS. This legacy dates back to the late 1980s. In 2000 and 2001, Ricky Hendrick also drove the No. 17 car in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Using the same paint job as the No. 17 truck piloted by Hendrick in his 2001 rookie season, HendrickCars.com will honor No. 17 for this season.

Recalling the legends, Rick Hendrick asserted, “The No. 17 is a big part of our story, and it would be special to see it win — and win often — during our 40th anniversary season.”



And with a view of 10 Xfinity series races ahead, he added, “The sponsorship has been a big success for HendrickCars.com and our dealerships, and we’re pleased to add more races and take it to another level in 2024. It’s Victory Lane or bust.”

The No. 17 HendrickCars.com team appeared in four and six Xfinity Series events in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Team HMS exhibited its fierce rivalry and potential throughout these visits by winning three pole positions, six top-five finishes, and seven top-10 finishes, adding three second-place results.

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HMS’ Racing Schedule for the 2024 NASCAR XFINITY Series

DATEEVENTDRIVER
March 9Phoenix RacewayWilliam Byron
March 11Darlington RacewayChase Elliott
March 23Circuit of The AmericasKyle Larson
May 11Darlington RacewayWilliam Byron
May 25Charlotte Motor SpeedwayChase Elliott
June 8Sonoma RacewayBoris Said
June 22New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayAlex Bowman
July 6Chicago Street CourseKyle Larson
July 13Pocono RacewayWilliam Byron
Aug. 13Darlington RacewayChase Elliott
Sept. 14Watkins Glen InternationalWilliam Byron

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Written by:

Susamay Dey

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Susamay Dey is a NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports. Combining his passion for writing and motorsports, he has gone on to pen down numerous articles on Stock Car Racing's fan favorites, like Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace. While his strength lies in Core Sport reporting, he can also cover lifestyle pieces, enlightening fans about the lesser-known facts about NASCAR stars and their personal lives.
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Edited by:

Ranvijay Singh