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The Deal That Never Was: How Dale Earnhardt Sr. ‘Used’ Rick Hendrick to Get a Raise

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
December 17, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
The Deal That Never Was: How Dale Earnhardt Sr. ‘Used’ Rick Hendrick to Get a Raise

Nov 3, 2024; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; Pit box for NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (2) has photos of ex Richard Childress racing greats crew chief Larry McReynolds and driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. during the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Rick Hendrick shared a bond built on mutual respect, friendship, and fierce competition. But in a twist of history, Hendrick recently revealed how close he came to signing the Intimidator—and how Dale Sr. may have used him as leverage to line his own pockets.


From Gamble to Glory: Hendrick Motorsports’ Humble Beginnings

Before Rick Hendrick built NASCAR’s most dominant team—Hendrick Motorsports, home to 18 Drivers’ Championships and 347 wins—he was a bold, young entrepreneur with little more than a dream, two cars, and five employees. Speaking with Kelly Earnhardt on her Business of Motorsports podcast, Hendrick reflected on the wild risks he took when starting out.

“I thought I was going to be partners with Furlock and Kenny Rogers. Richard Petty was going to drive the car. And then it all fell apart. I had no sponsor, no driver,” Hendrick recounted.

Yet, against all odds, Hendrick and his partner, Robert Gee, threw caution to the wind, fielded their cars, and won races—a daring move that eventually secured them sponsorship.


The Almost Deal: Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Hendrick Motorsports

While Hendrick carved his way into NASCAR greatness, there was one driver who eluded him: the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Hendrick revealed just how close they came to striking a deal. “The only thing I really tried to do early on that never happened was your dad driving the car,” he told Kelly Earnhardt.

And what was Dale Sr.’s reaction? “We came close one time. I told him, ‘You just used me to get a raise!’” Hendrick said with a laugh.

The moment likely refers to 1983, when Dale Sr. negotiated his return to Richard Childress Racing. At the time, Hendrick was desperate to sign the seven-time champion, but Earnhardt Sr. played his cards perfectly, leveraging Hendrick’s interest to sweeten his deal with Childress.

While some may call it shrewd, Hendrick harbored no ill will. The two remained close friends, and Earnhardt Sr. even played a pivotal role in Hendrick’s early NASCAR journey.


Dale Sr.’s Quiet Influence on Hendrick’s Rise

Although Earnhardt Sr. never drove a full-time schedule for Hendrick, his fingerprints were all over Hendrick Motorsports’ origins. In 1982, Dale introduced a young Rick Hendrick around the NASCAR garage as “a fellow who wants to go NASCAR racing.”

By 1983, Hendrick had bought into Robert Gee’s Late Model Sportsman operation, and Earnhardt Sr. helped seal their first sponsorship by running a few races for the team. Dale even tested Hendrick’s Winston Cup cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway—the very cars that Geoffrey Bodine later drove to three wins and 14 top-ten finishes in 1984.

While Earnhardt Sr. chose a different path, his influence on Hendrick Motorsports’ rise to NASCAR dominance is undeniable.


The Legacy Fulfilled: Dale Jr. Joins Hendrick Motorsports

Years later, fate took a twist. In 2007, Dale Earnhardt Jr., the Intimidator’s heir, left the turmoil of Dale Earnhardt Inc. following bitter clashes with his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. Junior signed with Rick Hendrick, carrying the weight of his father’s legacy on his shoulders.

Though he couldn’t take his iconic #8 with him—locked in by Teresa—Hendrick gifted him the #88, a number that became synonymous with Junior’s own success and brand. For Hendrick, the son fulfilling a dream the father never pursued was poetic justice.

“Dale Jr. gave us something Dale Sr. couldn’t: a chance to see an Earnhardt win races for Hendrick Motorsports,” fans would later say.


What Could Have Been: Did Dale Sr. Miss a Golden Opportunity?

As Hendrick Motorsports went on to become the winningest team in NASCAR history, fans can’t help but wonder: what if Dale Sr. had joined Hendrick early in his career? Would the team’s dynasty have started sooner? Would Dale Sr.’s legacy include championships under the Hendrick banner?

Or was Dale Sr. right to “use” Rick Hendrick for a raise and stick with Richard Childress Racing—a move that secured his iconic legacy?


The Earnhardt-Hendrick Bond Lives On

Though Dale Sr. never donned a Hendrick suit, his son Dale Jr. brought the family name full circle. Now, with the #8 returning to NASCAR under JR Motorsports, a chapter of the Earnhardt-Hendrick story feels complete.

Rick Hendrick may have missed out on signing the Intimidator, but the friendship, influence, and legacy Dale Sr. left behind still reverberate through the team that became NASCAR’s unstoppable force.

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