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 Tributes to former and current drivers, a tip of the hat to loved ones lost and an up-close look at race team technology all come together in the new Hendrick Motorsports Museum, reopened two weeks ago after a four-month renovation.
Fans attending the races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this month have had an opportunity to be among the first to see the redesigned museum and gift shop, where displays for each of Hendrick’s four Cup drivers share space with victorious and notorious cars from the past. Flat screen TVs overhanging each area show videos that tells the story behind the car, the driver or the event.
While soaking up almost 25 years of Hendrick history in the 15,000-square-foot facility, visitors can also pick up the latest merchandise and apparel for Casey Mears, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. From Hendrick’s first win at Martinsville in 1984, to the 2007 championship-clinching No. 48, to exhibits featuring a Hendrick engine and its carbon fiber seat, the museum gives fans up-close access to the cars, the trophies and the success of the Hendrick dynasty. Besides saluting Hendrick’s current drivers, the museum showcases the earlier efforts of Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Terry Labonte, Kenny Schrader and others. Particularly poignant is the No. 48 Johnson car paying tribute to family and employees lost in the October 2004 plane crash near Martinsville. The car’s hood shows images of those lost along with the words “Always in our Hearts.” Fans can also snap photos of Gordon’s winning Daytona and Brickyard cars. Other non-car exhibits pay tribute to Papa Joe Hendrick, Ricky Hendrick and John Hendrick and to Rick Hendrick’s “10 Keys to Success.” “We're extremely proud of the museum,” Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Marshall Carlson told members of the media gathered Wednesday for an after-hours introduction to the refurbished museum. From the No. 5 Geoff Bodine car in 1984 to now, “We've been blessed to work with some extremely talented drivers,“ but Carlson said Hendrick also owes it success to dedicated employees from marketing to the fab shop. The museum update, by Red Lion Design Group and Choate Construction Company, was completed with the 150,000 to 175,000 fans that visit Hendrick annually in mind, Carlson said. While opening for race weeks was important – “The contractor was under some pressure,” Carlson admitted – fans trek to Hendrick year-round, such as those who stop in to or from Darlington. It’s also not uncommon for families to picnic on the grounds during their visit. Further evidence of fan support of Hendrick Motorsports lies in that even though the museum was closed for four months, merchandise sales are up over last year thanks to internet sales and interest in the merchandise of Hendrick’s newest addition to its stable, Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Hendrick carbon fiber composite seat is just one example of how “our guys here have had a tremendous focus on safety,” Carlson said, from the chassis to the roll cage, electrical components and fueling system. Each seat, used by all of Hendrick’s drivers and eight other Sprint and Nationwide teams, takes six days to build. They are specifically molded to fit each driver’s specifications. Fans are encouraged to climb into the demo seat to get a feel for what drivers strap into each weekend. But even before these modern innovations, safety was foremost at Hendrick, Carlson said. Witness the wrecked car of Kenny Schrader on exhibit. The No. 25 Budweiser car flipped multiple times with 50 laps left at Talladega Superspeedway in 1995, but Schrader escaped with only bruises and sore muscles. The Hendrick Motorsports, museum, free to the public, is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended race week hours until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day. Hendrick Motorsports is located near Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Find driving directions and other information at www.HendrickMotorsports.com .
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