JIMMIE JOHNSON CLAIMS HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS 200TH WIN AT DARLINGTON RACEWAY
DARLINGTON, S.C. – MAY 12, 2012 – With his win of the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Jimmie Johnson in his No. 48 Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet captured the 200th Owner win for Rick Hendrick in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Hendrick founded All-Star Racing in 1984 as a one-car operation with Geoffrey Bodine driving an entire 30-race campaign in the No. 5 Chevrolets. The team finished ninth in championship points, earned three victories, and collected three pole positions in its inaugural season. The first Owner win for Hendrick, with Bodine at the wheel and Harry Hyde as crew chief, came at Martinsville Speedway on April 29, 1984. The company was rechristened Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) in 1985.
Hendrick Motorsports currently ranks second on NASCAR’s all-time Cup wins list and Hendrick is highly recognized as one of the sport’s premier team owners. His Cup-level teams have won at least one race each year since 1986, the longest active streak; and averaged nearly 10 wins annually over the past 10 years.
Raised on his family farm near Palmer Springs, VA, Hendrick has always had a pure passion for the automobile. With that love of cars, he made a name for himself at age 14 by setting speed records at a local drag strip in a self-built 1931 Chevrolet. His NASCAR wins have been exclusively with Chevrolet for nearly three decades.
“On behalf of everyone at Chevrolet, I am extremely pleased to offer our sincere congratulations to Rick and the entire Hendrick Motorsports family on this tremendous accomplishment of 200 race wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “This major milestone is the result of years of passion, persistence, and teamwork to get the job done. We are especially proud of the fact that all 200 wins have been in Chevrolets. Rick’s loyalty to the brand and dedication to putting Chevrolet in Victory Lane has been relentless. As a key partner and respected friend, we salute you.”
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
