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The co-owner of Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) Rick Hendricks has named Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon as two of the best drivers in the team's 40-year long history. Both the drivers played a crucial role in the team's success and built the legacy. The team is also the winningest in NASCAR Cup series history.
What did Rick Hendrick say about Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon?
While talking on the 'Sports Legends of the Carolinas' podcast, Hendrick revealed his best former drivers for the team. He spoke highly of Johnson and Gordon as they had immense contributions towards the team's success. Both the drivers won multiple championships and became legends in the sport.
Describing Johnson and Gordon as the best two drivers for the team, Hendrick said, "Jimmie was the guy that could pick the car apart. If you listen to drivers today, they’ll say (very detailed instructions about what the car needs). ... Nobody ever did that until Jimmie Johnson came along. And so he would start running over 200 in a corner, loose and out of control, telling Chad (Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief) what he thought the car did, what needed, and what it was doing. His attention to detail and his talent — he was unbelievable.”
Hendrick didn't stop there and praised Jeff Gordon, who is a former HMS driver and current vice-chairman of the team.
"Jeff was so talented. Jeff just could outmaneuver and outdrive (everyone). He and Ray (Evernham, Gordon’s longtime crew chief) were like magic," Hendrick further added.
Rick Hendricks is the most successful team owner in the history of the sport. He has a total of 14 NASCAR Cup championships and 304 races in the NASCAR Cup Series. Out of the 14 titles, 11 were shared between Johnson and Gordon. With seven titles to his name, Johnson is now tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. While in his driving days, Gordon managed to win 4 titles.
Apart from Johnson and Gordon, Hendrick remembers Tim Richmond as HMS's best former driver
Rick Hendricks also spoke about Tim Richmond as HMS's best former driver. He was a driver in the 1980s who was known for his raw driving skills and fearless attitude. Hendrick feels that Richmond could have won multiple NASCAR championships if he had lived longer. He passed away at the age of 34 in 1989.
"Tim Richmond had an unbelievable amount of talent. If that guy had lived, he would have won a lot of championships. He had as much raw talent as anybody I’ve ever seen, and he loved it. He would want to mess around with Earnhardt. He would want to rub on him a little bit, and he was the only guy out there that Earnhardt knew not to mess with," Hendrick concluded.
