Photo courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports Twitter account, @TeamHendrick
Meet Dean “Squirrel” Mozingo, the long-time transporter driver for the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team. The story behind his nickname? Worthy of a King.
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“Back in ’97, ’98 – I was working for the Pettys at the time – and Richard (Petty) and I always had a really close relationship. Actually, it started with Lee Petty, (he) was the original Squirrel, which you can go back and see on top of his car. So, that’s what they called him and when Richard started driving, he became Squirrel Jr.
… I was living with Kyle (Petty) – his son – at the time, so we were like family back then … And when I started working for Richard – like I said, we have a very close relationship – he had snuck into Rockingham one morning and put these little gray squirrels on the door of my tractor … I still could remember seeing the feathers on his hat go by the grille of the truck, so I knew he was there doing something and when I got up there, there was this little gray squirrel on the door and he said, ‘You’re squirrel from now on.’ And I said, ‘Yes sir.’
So, that’s where I got it from: Richard Petty.
…(Chase Elliott) already calls me Squirrel, he’s already called me Squirrel a couple times when he’s been on the trailer … He’s already used to it. Kyle Busch actually texted me the other day and he called me it. I mean, all of them – everybody calls me Squirrel.
I don’t even think they know I’ve got a real name – I think they just think that’s my name anyways. Jeff (Gordon)’s kids call me Squirrel, for God’s sake. (Team owner) Mr. Hendrick calls me Squirrel … he came up to me the other day, he said, ‘Squirrel, the legend’ and he was laughing.
… I think people just find it fun … I’ve had people make me stickers over the years and sent them to me of what they portray me as … I’d like to trademark a little squirrel, that’s a good point because I’ve had my daughter work on a little squirrel. She’s an artist so I’m getting her to draw me one. I’m going to trademark it.
… James Bickford told me the other day. He said, ‘Squirrel, you’re going to be the first truck driver to make the Hall of Fame … you’re more famous that most drivers.’
I said, ‘You never know, man.’ “