Hendrick kicks off 25th anniversary with event

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Hendrick Motorsports kicked off its 25th anniversary season Saturday at Daytona International Speedway with a lap around the historic speedway in four specially designed silver race cars.

All four drivers from the Hendrick Motorsports stable -- Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson -- joined team owner Rick Hendrick in a special ceremony to celebrate the occasion and officially begin the 2009 season.

"We started this organization back in 1984 with one team and five full-time employees, and it's amazing to me that we're here celebrating 25 years," Hendrick said. "I'm proud to look back at what our people have accomplished together, but I'm even more excited about what the future holds."

Hendrick Motorsports has a long-standing history in racing and is home to some of the top drivers in NASCAR. In 25 years, the team has secured eight Cup championships, three Truck Series titles and one Nationwide Series crown and holds more than 200 combined victories.

In support of the team's 25th anniversary, Motorsports Authentics is offering collectable die-cast versions of the four silver Hendrick Motorsports cars through its Action Racing Collectables die-cast brand and a variety of hats and T-shirts through its Chase Authentics apparel line. Pre-orders are being taken at the NASCAR.COM Superstore and through Motorsports Authentics authorized dealers nationwide. The Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA) is also offering versions of the die-cast through its RCCA Elite brand.