Racing in NASCAR’s top division is hard. Staying at that level for years, even decades?
That’s even harder.
Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary season celebration took place Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, the site of the team’s first win. Four ruby-red cars (40 years is the ruby anniversary) took the green flag in front of many former Hendrick personnel.
The broadcast made a big deal out of the anniversary. It probably got talked about too much during the race, but it is a big deal.
Teams come and go in the Cup Series.
How hard is it to stick around? A look at the spring Martinsville race just 10 years ago is eye-opening. That race featured 43 starters among 22 team owners. Just eight of those teams fielded cars Sunday. The teams that have since fallen by the wayside include winners and even a Cup championship organization. A couple of the owners still have cars in the Xfinity Series, but have left the Cup Series.
But how many owners have hit the 40-year mark in the Cup Series? Hendrick became the sixth this year. Only four teams have made 40 or more consecutive seasons on NASCAR’s top circuit.
Let’s take a closer look at the 4-decade club and what those six owners have accomplished.
Wood Brothers Racing: 71 years
Wins: 99 among 19 drivers
Championships: none
Races: 1,731 among 45 drivers
Most wins: David Pearson (43)
Most recent win: Ryan Blaney 6/11/17
Petty Enterprises: 60 years
Wins: 268 among drivers
Championships: 10 between 2 drivers (Lee Petty 3, Richard Petty 7)
Races: 2,817 among 52 drivers
Most wins: Richard Petty (198)
Most recent win: John Andretti 4/18/99
Richard Childress Racing: 51 years
Wins: 116 among 11 drivers
Championships: 6 (Dale Earnhardt 6)
Races: 3,300 among 42 drivers
Most wins: Dale Earnhardt (67)
Most recent win: Kyle Busch 6/4/23
Junie Donlavey Racing: 45 years
Wins: 1, Jody Ridley
Championships: none
Races: 863 among 64 drivers
Most wins: Jody Ridley (1)
Most recent win: Jody Ridley 5/17/81
Team Penske: 41 years
Wins: 139 among 9 drivers
Championships: 4 among 3 drivers
Races: 2,442 among 20 drivers
Most wins: Rusty Wallace (37)
Most recent win: Ryan Blaney 10/29/23
Hendrick Motorsports: 40 years
Wins: 305 among 20 drivers
Championships: 14 among 5 drivers (Jeff Gordon 4, Terry Labonte 1, Jimmie Johnson 7, Chase Elliott 1, Kyle Larson 1)
Races: 4,737 among 52 drivers
Most wins: Jeff Gordon (93)
Most recent win: William Byron…
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