(Photo courtesy of: Hendrick Motorsports)
RELATED: Darlington's throwback paint schemes
Hendrick Motorsports and driver Kasey Kahne will pay tribute to the organization's inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season this weekend with a special throwback paint scheme similar to the one run by former driver Geoff Bodine.
The majority of Sprint Cup Series teams will feature retro paint schemes on their cars this weekend as part of the return of the annual Bojangles' Southern 500 to Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway.
Known at the time as All-Star Racing, team owner Rick Hendrick fielded the No. 5 Chevrolet for Bodine with veteran crew chief Harry Hyde calling the shots during the 1984 season.
If not for a victory by Bodine, his first in the series, at Martinsville Speedway, the successful Hendrick Motorsports organization of today might never have existed.
"We finished 35th in our first Darlington race back in '84 and nearly closed the doors," team owner Rick Hendrick said. "Martinsville was next on the schedule, and Harry Hyde did a great sales job and talked me into running one more race.
"He was convinced Geoff could win (at Martinsville) and, thankfully, he was right. We were able to get a sponsor (Northwestern Security Life), which allowed us to finish the season and set the table for everything that's happened since."
Today, HMS is a four-team Sprint Cup organization fielding entries for Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. HMS drivers have won 11 Sprint Cup titles (Johnson 6, Gordon 4, Terry Labonte 1) and 237 races.
"There's so much history at Hendrick Motorsports with the wins and championships, so to go back to when it started with All-Star Racing, Geoff Bodine and that paint scheme is great," Kahne, who will run the retro look at Darlington as well as Richmond International Raceway, said.
"It would mean a lot to win the Southern 500. It's always been one of the races that I've wanted to win … To do it in this car that time of the year right before the Chase, it would be a perfect time."
RELATED: Kahne knows he needs win to earn Chase berth
As part of a two-race partnership between Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group, fans can register to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Charlotte, N.C. for a ride-along with Kahne as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of HMS. Click here for more information.
"We've had a lot of success when our two companies have worked together on programs," Hendrick said "When Darlington announced the throwback concept, we thought it would be a great opportunity to bring back the All-Star Racing car and build a sweepstakes for fans and customers.
"Seeing the paint scheme on the track at Darlington and Richmond will bring back a lot of memories."