“I'm fortunate we were able to get him in" - When Rick Hendrick discussed the decision to hire Kyle Larson

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick once talked about the decision to hire Kyle Larson after the driver lost his seat for using a racial slur. Hendrick said the team knew how good Larson was and they were fortunate to have him on board.

HMS signed Kyle Larson in 2021 after Chip Ganassi Racing fired him in 2020 for using a racial slur during an iRacing event. Larson’s first year with the Concord-based outfit saw him win the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

During the championship celebration ceremony at Phoenix Raceway, Hendrick was asked about the second chance the team gave to Larson.

“We’ve also known he’s a wheelman and he works so hard off the track and man he deserves this and what a year. I am so proud of everyone,” Hendrick stated.

Rick Hendrick was then asked whether he felt like the team was taking a risk hiring the driver.

“I never thought I was taking a risk. I mean I know how good he is and I’m just fortunate we were able to get him in,” he said. [0:33 onwards]

Jeff Gordon, who assumed the vice-chairman role at HMS in early 2022, also had high praise for Kyle Larson, saying:

“Unbelievable, you know, by the whole team, and Kyle Larson’s a great talent. You give him a great race car, great race teams and he does amazing things.” [1:42 onwards]

The 2021 season was arguably the best year of Kyle Larson's career, amassing 10 wins, 20 top-5s, and 26 top-10s. He also led a whopping 2,581 laps in the No. 5 HMS Chevrolet Camaro. The season was capped off with his first championship title, beating teammate Chase Elliott in the Championship 4 along with Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr.

Today, Larson remains a top contender. The California native entered the 2024 postseason as the top seeding driver, albeit he lost the regular season championship title to Tyler Reddick by a single point (860 to 859). He is currently 4th in the playoff standings and +18 to the cutline.

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Rick Hendrick exchanged his car for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s helmet in the driver’s final race

Rick Hendrick had talented drivers on his team throughout the years including Dale Earnhardt Jr. When Earnhardt Jr. ran his final race of his Cup career with HMS at the 2017 Homestead-Miami Speedway race, the driver swapped his helmet for the No. 88 Chevrolet, which he drove starting in 2007.

According to the now 49-year-old driver, Hendrick was like a father to him. He thanked the team owner for his support, saying:

“I got very emotional talking to Rick. He’s been like a father to me. It’s easy to thank him for making me a driver for his team. But to thank him for being what he’s been to me as a person and a friend and a father figure is very hard.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had nine of his 26 NASCAR Cup Series wins at Hendrick Motorsports. His best race with the team was winning the Daytona 500 in 2014. Meanwhile, he recorded his last win in the No. 88 Chevy in the penultimate race of the 2015 season at Phoenix Raceway.