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RELATED: First look at paint schemes of 2017

CONCORD, N.C. — There’s been plenty for Clint Bowyer to adjust to in the brief time that he’s officially been a member of Stewart-Haas Racing‘s driver roster.

 

He’s had to acclimate himself to the way that his new team operates. He’s also had to become more familiar with the personnel on the No. 14 Ford that Bowyer will drive in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. A helpful hand from his new crew chief, Mike Bugarewicz, has helped Bowyer adjust to both of those new concepts.

 

When Bowyer half-jokingly asked Bugarewicz if he had a team roster to keep him from addressing his crewmembers with, "Hey, buddy," or similar salutations, the second-year crew chief unexpectedly delivered.

 

"He’s such a dedicated person and so prepared, he literally went and took pictures of all the guys and e-mailed me the names of them," Bowyer said Wednesday during a preseason media event at the sprawling Ford Performance Technical Center. "I’m like, ‘Man, you didn’t have to do that. I could’ve come down.’ "

 

At which point Tony Stewart, his team owner and predecessor in the No. 14, interjected: "He says he didn’t need that. He needed that, trust me."

 

Laughing aside, Bowyer continued to underscore his point. "That’s the level of dedication that you have at Stewart-Haas," Bowyer said. "And it doesn’t just end with Mike, it’s all across the board. If you ask for something … you’ve got to be careful asking for something because it’s just done."

 
RELATED: Harvick bullish on changes | Transition to Ford among top story lines

The next adjustment that Bowyer may have to make is getting accustomed to relevance, something in short supply even before he was announced Sept. 30, 2015 as the successor to three-time series champion Stewart for the organization’s flagship team. Bowyer drove in relative obscurity for Michael Waltrip Racing in its waning days, then languished through a throwaway season in 2016 with the former HScott Motorsports operation as he waited his turn to join SHR.

 

"If he could’ve clicked his heels three times and made it 2017, he’d have done it in a heartbeat," Stewart said. "But we were all just reminding him: ‘Be patient. You’ve got a lot to look forward to.’ And we were hoping that his season would turn around at some point, too, but it didn’t work out that way and it wasn’t for a lack of effort on their side.

 

"I think the nice thing, though, is — as odd as this sounds — I’ve seen him a lot calmer than I saw him all last year. I don’t know that he’s ever calm, but you can tell he’s excited about what’s coming up. He’s genuinely excited about getting in the 14 car and that makes us happy, too."


RELATED: Stewart at ease in new role at SHR
 

Bowyer’s authentic anticipation is attached to what he calls "the best opportunity I’ve ever had." Not only does the 37-year-old driver now have an avenue to potentially return to Victory Lane for the first time in more than four seasons, he also has the chance to place his name back among the sport’s top tier.

 

Bowyer has always been known as one of the most animated and energetic figures in the NASCAR garage. But performance — or a lack of it, in the case of Bowyer’s most recent body of work — has a way of shuffling even the most engaging figures to the shadows. Bowyer’s return to a high-profile ride likely changes both the prevailing perceptions and his exposure level, but the results will need to follow suit.

 

"Here’s what I hope — I sure hope you’re watching me," Bowyer said. "At the end of the day, relevancy in this sport is everything and I’ve lost that a little bit. Not a little bit, a lot. And I felt it and didn’t like it. It’s up to me to go out and become relevant again, have you watch me and talking about me.

 

"It makes everything better. This is a business. This is racing, but once you race at this level, it becomes a business and it trickles down to everything in your life. We’re race car drivers but we do this for a business. From my dirt program, everything, my (car) dealership, it just really trickles down. Every business thing that’s happened really feeds off of your success on that race track. I had a bad year and I want to become relevant again. You don’t work as hard and you have a hell of a lot more fun."

 
RELATED: Key moments in SHR history

Before he embarks on that goal, Bowyer has had fun getting better acquainted with his new surroundings, no doubt aided by Bugarewicz’s handy chart. But the jollity has also extended to enjoying the luxuries of championship-level equipment for a change.

 

Bowyer marveled at the comfort and quality of his new carbon-fiber seat, remarking "I feel rich" with regards to the perfectly tailored fit. And in a further illustration of Stewart-Haas’ attention to precise details, Bowyer was asked last weekend about his preference for a gearshift handle. When the newest SHR driver reacted with indifference in saying that any handle would do, he was presented with eight possible choices.

 

"I think we have dialed in the right gearshift handle for myself and my success this year," Bowyer said with a wry smile. "If not, we have plenty of extras to go around."

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RELATED: Buy tickets for the race


Atlanta Motor Speedway has partnered with Dawsonville, Georgia, native and driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott, to introduce the Chase U ticket package, the hottest new deal for college students  attending the March 5 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.

                             

The package, popular among millennial fans currently enrolled in college, offers a near industry-low price point for a NASCAR Cup Series race, a festive pre-race tailgate party, complimentary food and drink and a chance to interact with Chase Elliott, the 2016 Rookie of the Year in NASCAR’s top series.


Buyers of a Chase U ticket will enjoy a low $24 ticket for a seat in the Lower Winners Grandstand, free parking at the race and admission into the exclusive Chase U tailgate party taking place from 10 a.m. to noon on the day of the race.


The tailgate will include complimentary food and beverage for each ticketholder, live music, tailgate games, a Daytona USA racing simulator and a free-entry cornhole tournament with prizes and awards.


Elliott will make an appearance at the party for a special Q&A session with tailgate attendees and will take time afterwards to meet with fans.


"Atlanta is providing an awesome race-day experience for the students that come to Chase U," said Elliott. "I want fans to have a great time at the race, with their own party zone, live music, food, drinks, games and a grandstand ticket, all for $24. If I were able to go watch a race, this is a place that would be fun for me. Everyone there will have a great time, and hopefully we’ll make some lifetime NASCAR fans in the process."


The Chase U ticket package is available only to college students with a valid student ID and can be purchased today by contacting the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or by logging on to www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.


NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway March 3-5, 2017, featuring the Rinnai 250 XFINITY Series and Active Pest Control 200 Camping World Truck Series doubleheader on Saturday, March 4 and the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, March 5.

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RELATED: Full coverage of NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017

A full generation knows Benny Parsons best for his work behind the steering wheel, banging fenders and hoisting trophies competing alongside Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and David Pearson in NASCAR’s early heyday.

Another generation appreciates "BP" for his work in front of the television camera, his easy and enlightening way of bringing NASCAR racing into our living rooms and enticing new fans to the sport.

He was supreme at both callings, a natural.

The 1973 premier series champion Parsons won 21 races yet only competed full time for 10 of his 21 years on the circuit. His "retirement" was also highly-decorated earning him an Emmy Award for his work on the other side of the camera.


RELATED: See every premier series champion since 1972

His story is a righteous throwback to NASCAR’s formative days, the kind of shake-your-head tale of what can happen when great talent and the right opportunity fuse in unexpected ways.

This Friday, Parsons, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 65, will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame joining Raymond Parks, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick and driver Mark Martin in the Hall’s Class of 2017 (8 p.m. ET on NBCSN).

"I’m not sure how he will be remembered most — for the racing or for the announcing," Phil Parsons said of his older brother.

"We’re all just so proud, and I know Benny will be smiling down."

Smiling was something the affable and well-liked Parsons did a lot. And with good reason.

Not only was he successful in racing’s highest levels, but his course to NASCAR’s big time reads more like a grand tale than the methodical, step-by-step path of drivers in today’s era. And for Parsons, it had the happiest of endings.

So the story goes. … Parsons had moved from his North Carolina birthplace to Michigan and was driving taxi cabs for his father’s business. He met a race team at a gas station, asked how he could get involved in the sport, followed through with an invitation to join in and the rest is history, as they say.

In this case, it is truly history. Parsons turned that local racing opportunity into a highly-decorated, nationally-acclaimed career.

Over his 21 years in the premier series, Parsons won the 1973 championship (in only his second full-time season), the 1975 Daytona 500, and the 1980 World 600 at Charlotte. Parsons won at 15 different venues and varied from the smallest of the small like the .357-mile South Boston Speedway to the vast of the vast in Daytona.

Perhaps as notable as his win total is an extraordinary statistic that speaks to Parsons’ ability to make the most out of an even limited opportunity. He finished among the top-10 a remarkable 283 times in 526 starts — more than half the races he entered — a phenomenal and talent-telling indicator.


RELATED: More about the Class of 2017

From 1972 to 1980 Parsons never finished worse than fifth in the championship standings. And in 1982 he became the first driver to run a qualifying lap at Talladega Superspeedway over 200 mph.

Parsons, who won the ARCA Series championship in 1968 and 1969, also went on to earn an IROC race win on the Daytona high banks in 1976. He collected top-five showings in three of the four IROC races that year pitting NASCAR’s best against the elites of other racing genres.

His was such a robust racing career, people legitimately wondered how much more hardware Parsons could have collected if he’d competed full time more than half his career.

As it turned out, Parsons would hoist other trophies — specifically an Emmy Award. When it came to broadcasting races, Parsons was, simply, beloved.

He had all the knowledge of a champion driver, and made it his passion to stay informed — working the garage for insight and, as his brother Phil likes to joke, a good meal to boot.

Fans loved that about Parsons. He was homey, comfortable, and felt like one of them. But he was also one of the best drivers to ever suit up for a NASCAR race. He brought that all to television, delivering insight and excitement that earned him the 1996 Emmy Award for his work at ESPN.

"There wasn’t a person that Benny didn’t know and not a person that didn’t know him," Phil Parsons figures.

And that is indicative of how Parsons lived his life.

For as loved and respected as Parsons was by audiences, he was the ultimate big brother to Phil, who followed a similar path, racing (and winning at Talladega in 1988) in the sport’s top series an, now, broadcasting races for FOX Sports.

Benny was just about 16 years older than Phil, who recalls their relationship being based around the race track from the very beginning. His racing hero was also his big brother.

"I remember going with my father to see Benny race once I was old enough, maybe four or five years old," Phil Parsons said. 

"That’s really my first memories of him. And I don’t have too many that didn’t involve racing somehow."

For Phil and the entire Parsons family, this week is the ultimate acknowledgement of Benny — a beloved role model in the family and a genuine success story all around.

"I know I will be emotional and not sure yet how it will manifest itself," Phil Parsons said, anticipating the moving Hall of Fame tributes to his brother to come.

"It’s just so special for my family, really a nice tribute."

And really, so very deserved.

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MORE: Buy tickets to the race

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2017) — Actor Owen Wilson, the voice of the animated character Lightning McQueen in Disney Pixar’s upcoming movie "Cars 3," will serve as Grand Marshal for the 59th annual DAYTONA 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Feb. 26 at Daytona International Speedway.

 

The Daytona 500, the season-opening race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will begin at 2 p.m. (TV — FOX, FOX Deportes; Radio — MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) following Wilson delivering the famous "Drivers, start your engines" command to the 40-car field. In addition to giving the command, Wilson will ride in one of the Grand Marshal cars during pace laps prior to the green flag of the 200-lap, 500-mile race and attend the drivers meeting.

 

"Cars 3" opens nationwide on June 16. Wilson, who voiced Lightning McQueen in "Cars" (2006) and "Cars 2" (2011), is also known for starring roles in a variety of hit comedy films including "Wedding Crashers," "Meet the Parents," "Zoolander" and "The Royal Tenenbaums." Wilson stars in the upcoming "Wonder" and the Woody Harrelson-directed live film "Lost in London."

 

"Owen Wilson is one of America’s most beloved comedic actors and his voice has brought Lightning McQueen to life for millions of movie-goers over the last 10 years," said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. "His star-power, and of course his personality, are perfect fits for ‘The Great American Race.’ "

For more information on "Cars 3" visit http://disney.com/Cars3.

 

Wilson is the latest name on a long list of actors who have served as Daytona 500 Grand Marshals including Gerard Butler, Vince Vaughn, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Nicolas Cage and Matthew McConaughey.

 

Tickets for the 2017 DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can also follow NASCAR on Twitter and stay up to speed on the latest news by using #DAYTONA500 and #SPEEDWEEKS. Stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat, and by downloading the Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.

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RELATED: Read more Inside Groove


Following its expansion from two to four full-time teams to compete for the 2017 XFINITY Series championship, JR Motorsports deemed it necessary to increase its security presence on site at its Mooresville, North Carolina shop, as well.



Who’s a good boy? Officer Gus is a good boy.

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NASCAR fans will get an inside look into Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return to racing beginning next Tuesday thanks to a six-part series provided by Nationwide Insurance.

Nationwide is the official primary sponsor of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Earnhardt in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

"Unfinished Business" documents the offseason preparation and work behind Earnhardt’s return to competition following last year’s injury-shortened season. NASCAR’s most popular driver missed the final 18 races of the year after suffering a concussion.

The series is scheduled to go live on the Nationwide 88 Facebook page each Tuesday between Jan. 24 and this year’s Feb. 26th running of the Daytona 500. Two episodes will air the week leading into the season-opening race.

A preview (trailer) of the series was posted to the Nationwide 88 Facebook page Thursday just before 6 p.m. ET.


"Based on everything that happened last year, we wanted to really capitalize on Dale getting back in the car and all the excitement and interest, just the fans’ general hunger for as much Dale Jr. content as we could provide," Jim McCoy, director of sports marketing for Nationwide, told NASCAR.com.

"Going into the offseason as we did our production shoot for 2017 as we normally do, we wanted to add on a new layer … a behind-the-scenes unique look around Dale. The offseason processes around production shoots, around designing the car, all the things that go into getting ready for Daytona. And having a real personal view from Dale conveying that."

Each segment of the six-part series is short, informative and entertaining.

For 2016, Nationwide produced a successful paint scheme unveil for Earnhardt’s No. 88 entry. But following his injury officials wanted to go a little deeper this year.

Portions of the series include Earnhardt’s wife, Amy, car owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Greg Ives. "Just the people that are really close to everything … that fans don’t normally get," McCoy said.

Earnhardt’s prior medical condition didn’t hinder the process, but sensitivities surrounding the issue were addressed with the Hendrick organization. McCoy said it is "a very small part of this six-episode series."

"This is truly more about getting ready for Daytona; we absolutely touch on the subject of him being out of the car because you have to," he said. "But I would say the majority of it is around what goes into the offseason preparation, why he is even more excited for this year and all that."

Among the information provided to fans will be why there may be a different look to this year’s No. 88 Nationwide paint scheme. Earnhardt has always been actively involved in determining the appearance of his race cars and coming up with the look for this year’s car was no different.

"There was a unique little nugget that came out that we’d not heard on him growing up around his grandfather and his dad racing based on the car coming back from the race track," McCoy said. "The lighter cars you could always tell how the race went based on where the tire marks were, the dirt and everything else. On a white car you always had a better sense of that and we’ve really transitioned to a lighter paint scheme this year with more white mixed into it.

"He pulls in some of those personal stories that we hadn’t heard and I think the fans will get a really big kick out of learning a little bit more about why he likes lighter paint schemes."

Earnhardt has 26 career wins in NASCAR’s top series, and his final three — at Talladega, Daytona and Phoenix in 2015 — came with Nationwide on the car in a primary role. The company, which previously was the title sponsor for what is now the XFINITY Series, has been affiliated with Earnhardt and his family for many years.

McCoy said the series sponsorship, which ran from 2008-14, was crucial in helping to prepare Nationwide for its relationship with Earnhardt.

"We learned a lot and we would not have been ready and in position to be able to take over as majority primary (sponsor) of the No. 1 driver in the sport, for the fans’ demands and what they would want out of a sponsor," he said. "I think the Nationwide Series allowed us to really learn and do a lot of great things.

"But we’ve taken the program to new levels and heights in partnership with Dale. He’s our best customer and we can authentically connect with him and our products and services because it’s real. It’s been real since he was 16 years old. As we’re trying to expand the message of who Nationwide is and what we do, the many sides of our company."

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RELATED: See the new website

WELCOME, N.C. — In honor of Richard Childress’ upcoming induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has rolled out a digital video series highlighting milestones throughout his illustrious career. Entitled ‘Richard Childress: A Career of Firsts,’ the series features Richard Childress himself recounting significant ‘firsts’ from his long career in motorsports, from the first race car he purchased to the first time he took grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon to drive at a racetrack. RCR has partnered with Chevrolet for the video series.

 

"I was thrilled to work on a project like this with such a longstanding partner as Chevrolet," said Childress. "This video series has been a unique trip down memory lane. I really hope NASCAR fans and RCR employees enjoy the stories as much as I have enjoyed the adventure over the last 48 years."

 

The retrospective video series is featured on RCR’s newly relaunched website, for which they partnered with NASCAR Digital Media (NDM) in the second half of 2016 to develop. The new website will support RCR’s focus on producing and distributing original content and give visitors an improved overall digital experience.

 

"Our digital efforts and original content have become a major focus for RCR and many of our partners over the past few years," said Ben Schlosser, Chief Marketing Officer of RCR. "How better to celebrate Richard’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and launch our new website than to have Richard tell the stories about his ‘firsts’ over his amazing career? The website designed and built by NDM allows RCR to fully showcase this type of engaging content."

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona International Speedway will rekindle one of its fan-favorite traditions next month in partnership with Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America. The Advance Auto Parts Clash will open the 2017 NASCAR season under the lights on the evening of Feb. 18, featuring an elite field of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in a 75-lap sprint.

The annual all-star event was first held in 1979, originally known as the Busch Clash. A number of name changes ensued over the years, but now the once-iconic label is back.

"The Clash was a classic race name, one that truly resonated with our fans," said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. "It evokes the rich history of both NASCAR and our facility. We are honored to have Advance Auto Parts — a company that resonates with our current fans — join us as we bring the name back to our Speedweeks schedule. We’re coming full-circle for this event, honoring our past while also looking to the future."

In addition to the race entitlement, Advance Auto Parts will also serve as the Official Auto Parts Store of DIS.

"Advance Auto Parts is proud partner with Daytona International Speedway to kick off the 2017 NASCAR season," said Advance Auto Parts Marketing and Sponsorships Manager Matt Davis. "Daytona is the birthplace of NASCAR and we couldn’t be more excited to be the official auto parts of Daytona International Speedway and entitlement sponsor of the Advance Auto Parts Clash."

The 75-lap/187.5-mile race will be split into two segments, separated by a mandatory caution period at Lap 25. The race will be broadcast live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 8 p.m. ET.

Recently crowned seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will be part of the field that meets exclusive criteria: 2016 pole winners, former Clash champions, former DAYTONA 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2016 and Chase drivers from 2016 are eligible.

Tickets for the Advance Auto Parts Clash, the 59th annual DAYTONA 500 and all other Speedweeks events can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway‘s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.

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RELATED: See the 2016 Darlington retro schemes

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Jan. 18, 2017) — Another historic celebration of the sport is in store for Darlington Raceway in 2017.

The track is pleased to announce "Year 3" of its award-winning throwback campaign for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 race weekend on Sept. 1-3, 2017.

The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR will be celebrating the 1985-89 era of the sport in 2017, which like the 1975-84 period it celebrated in 2016, was a time of exceptional growth and exposure for NASCAR.

"The track will be celebrating the 1985-89 time period of the sport during our throwback weekend in 2017,"Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. “As we enter the third year of our throwback campaign, we’ll be focusing on drivers, personalities and moments that were compelling in that timeframe, such as the emergence of Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bill Elliott winning the first Winston Million, and the growth of the NASCAR XFINITY Series(formerly the Busch Grand National Series). It will be an exciting era for the track and industry to celebrate."

As the sport moved into the late 1980s, NASCAR champions such as Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace, among others, made a tremendous impact on the sport and will be celebrated during the Labor Day weekend festivities. This year is also the 50thanniversary of Richard Petty’s one and only Southern 500 victory (1967).

The honoring of champions from 1985-89 is just one part of the track’s overall strategy to celebrate its history. Darlington Raceway‘s throwback campaign focuses on specific eras plus the historic moments and drivers that made impacts at "The Track Too Tough to Tame."

For the third straight year, Darlington Raceway is also excited to announce it will once again highlight its rich history with a commemorative ticket design for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 linking the past, present and future.

"We’ve enjoyed producing the commemorative tickets for our fans every year of the throwback program,” said Tharp. “It’s important that our fans who attend the Darlington Raceway NASCAR weekend walk away with a special keepsake that recognizes our rich history and honors the stars of our sport."

The retro design will link 1987 Southern 500 champion Dale Earnhardt, who ranks second all-time with nine NASCAR Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway, as well as 2016 Bojangles’ Southern 500 winner Martin Truex Jr.

These special tickets will be used for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500. Tickets are expected to be mailed to customers starting in mid-June. There will also be a retro-style ticket for the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 that will be unveiled at a later date.

Ticket renewals have been mailed so current fans can renew their seats and race day experiences for the 2017 Labor Day weekend. Renewing tickets early guarantees seats at the track’s best prices prior to the opening of all remaining seats to the general public on February 22.

Renewing customers receive many great benefits for being a loyal customer, including the raceway’s best pricing, for Labor Day weekend.

Renewal benefits include:

-The track’s best prices for the Bojangles’ Southern 500

-Convenient five-part payment plan

-Special renewal pricing for Darlington Stripe Zone Hospitality ($30 savings)

-Special renewal pricing for pre-race pit passes ($10 savings)

-Special renewal pricing for all-inclusive driver intros, pre-race concert and pre-race pit road access ($15 savings)

-Special renewal pricing for FanVision rentals ($25 savings)

-Special renewal pricing for Racing Electronics scanner rental ($15 savings)

-Special renewal opportunity to purchase NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 tickets for just $25 each when you renew your Bojangles Southern 500 ticket package ($5-10 savings)

Guests may renew their tickets and campsites by calling 866-459-RACE (7223) or visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com/renewals. The renewal deadline is Friday, Feb. 10.

The Tradition Continues on Labor Day weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500® is set for Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.

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RELATED: Everything to know about Friday’s NASCAR Hall of Fame induction

Rick Hendrick is going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the owner of Hendrick Motorsports might be the one most surprised by his selection.


"It is more than just ‘Hey, this is cool,’" the 67-year-old said recently. "It’s more than that to me. It’s humbling; it’s just very humbling to me that I could even be looked at."


Hendrick will be inducted into the Hall Friday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN), along with fellow team owners Richard Childress and Raymond Parks and drivers Benny Parsons and Mark Martin.


There hasn’t been much time for reflection, Hendrick said, as he continues to oversee an organization that fields four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams in addition to one of the nation’s most successful automotive sales groups.


"I think when you are in the day-to-day and in a day-to-day race and you are going to the track and you are trying to win races … or you are running for a championship, all that other stuff is kind of back there, but it doesn’t come to the forefront," Hendrick said. "But then when you get to an event like this and you are going into the Hall of Fame with Raymond Parks and Benny and Richard and Mark and all these guys and you look at who is in there and you look at what the sport has meant to you and your family, it is really special and it’s very emotional. 


"You think about those things. It’s humbling. I think the word is humbling because … I never thought I would ever race in NASCAR. I never thought I would ever win a NASCAR race. I never really thought we would win a championship and now to be in the position we are in to win as much and have the success we have had and to be recognized as doing something in the sport to get into the Hall it’s a tremendous honor.”


Parsons and Martin each drove for Hendrick at one time. Childress and his Richard Childress Racing organization were the benchmark when Hendrick arrived on the scene in 1984.

 
RELATED: Racing lifer Childress ready for induction

"Really when I first started I didn’t think anybody would ever beat them," Hendrick said of Childress and his driver, Dale Earnhardt. "I thought they were just, basically, unbeatable."


That changed with Jeff Gordon‘s arrival at HMS in the early ’90s, and for nearly a decade, the two organizations were the best in the NASCAR garage, winning seven championships between themselves from ’93 through ’01.


The Hendrick organization continues to set the pace today, with Jimmie Johnson winning the 2016 championship to become just the third driver to win seven titles. Officially, HMS teams have won 12 championships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and 245 races. Previous programs in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series produced nearly 50 more victories and three additional championships.


It’s almost overwhelming for Hendrick, who built his first car (for drag racing) when he was a teenager with help from his father.


"When you get something like this in life, when someone recognizes you, you think about going to Hillsborough (North Carolina) to watch a race on dirt," he said. "You think about all the sacrifices your Dad made to get you in the cars and your son’s love for the cars, your brother, (engine builder) Randy Dorton, all those guys that aren’t here now that gave it all. 


"It’s super emotional for me because I know how much they loved it, how much they sacrificed for it and this is almost like the culmination."


Sixteen drivers have won at least one race while competing for HMS at the NASCAR Cup level. Johnson, Gordon and Terry Labonte won championships as well.

 
RELATED: Johnson’s seventh title leaves him speechless, but peers say plenty

In spite of all his accomplishments and those of his organization, Hendrick said he still feels a bit awed by his selection.


"I think it feels a lot like the first time I went to New York after I won a championship, the first championship," he said. "You feel … it’s an unbelievable accomplishment when you dreamed about being involved in a sport or just watching the sport and to think that now you are being recognized in the Hall of Fame, it’s a really emotional and a very special feeling."