The 1988 NASCAR Cup Series season is known for the first of the two tire wars between Goodyear and Hoosier. But, the talk of the NASCAR garage wasn’t just restricted to the tires but also the drivers who were linked to rival teams. Silly season drama was just as entertaining as racing back in the day. Although they didn’t have social media, the broadcaster did their best in shedding light on rumors and potential movement in the NASCAR garage. And in 1988, Alabama Gang’s Neil Bonnett was heavily linked with a move to Hendrick Motorsports.
After hitting highs with Junior Johnson & Associates and team Chevy, Bonnett had jumped ships to Rahmoc Enterprise and Pontiac camp in 1988. But he entered the year on a 29-race losing streak and soon there was chatter of him linking up with a Chevy team. And that team was none other than up-and-coming Hendrick Motorsports. It’s a rumor verified by Dale Jr. himself which goes to show how things could’ve been different at HMS had Rick Hendrick been able to sign the Alabama native driver.
Neil Bonnett could’ve been a Hendrick Motorsports star driver
Dale Earnhardt Jr. who is down with a fever had nothing to do but rewatch the good old races from 1980s. This is where he came across the silly season rumor from the time. “Was laying in bed with a fever watching the 1988 Nascar season as one does when they are ill. During the Martinsville broadcast they mentioned that Neil Bonnet was rumored to be going to Hendrick Motorsports the next season. I asked Rick and he didn’t recall that being a thing, and they did keep the same lineup in 1989. But just fun to imagine if that had some true.” Dale Jr. shared this story via X.
You know, the idea of Neil Bonnett joining Hendrick Motorsports back in the late 1980s is really intriguing. Just think about it—Hendrick was on a trial of making the team into a powerhouse with drivers like Darrell Waltrip coming on board after leaving Junior Johnson & Associates. Now, although it’s only considered a rumor, if Bonnett had gotten a serious spot at Hendrick, during all the chatter about it during the 1988 Martinsville broadcast. At the time the likes of Geoff Bodine and Waltrip used to race for Hendrick Motorsports, but they were still seen as the underdog team.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s thoughts paved the way for some pretty fascinating outlooks to ponder upon: In 1988, Bonnett was driving for RahMoc Enterprises and had a killer season winning two of the first three Cup points races. He even became the first NASCAR driver to win a race outside of North America at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia. Just think of the combination of Bonnett’s wins with Hendrick’s strategic prowess. It’s cool to think about.
If Neil Bonnett had teamed up with Rick Hendrick during the late 1980s, it would have been a revolution for both of them. He was one of the finest in the competition back then with 18 wins and 20 poles in his career. At the time when Hendrick Motorsports would catapult into stardom, a driver like Bonnett would have given a serious shot in the arm to any lineup consideration. Apart from on-track success, the driver had all the makings of a HMS driver. He was candid and presentable with the media and even appeared in films like Days of Thunder. But this dream partnership couldn’t materialize as NASCAR had to sadly bid farewell to the icon in 1994 because of the tire infamous tire war.
Was laying in bed with a fever watching the 1988 Nascar season as one does when they are ill. During the Martinsville broadcast they mentioned that Neil Bonnet was rumored to be going to Hendrick Motorsports the next season. I asked Rick and he didn’t recall that being a thing,…
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 28, 2025
Although Rick Hendrick’s and Neil Bonnett’s paths never crossed, Hendrick’s sharp decisions have indeed turned the tables in his team’s favor by onboarding the best talents.
Rick Hendrick’s close call on the best talents
Hiring Jeff Gordon in 1992 ranks up there as one of Rick Hendrick’s most significant choices in the chronicles of NASCAR. In all fairness, Gordon was almost an unknown quantity at that time. However, he went on with his career to become one of the sport’s forefathers, winning four Cup Series championships and a hull-raising 93 races along with Hendrick Motorsports. This union lifted Hendrick Motorsports several notches, where another pivotal decision was bringing Darrell Waltrip on board in 1987, which cemented their place as NASCAR’s finest. Waltrip racked up nine wins with the organization, which corroborated Rick’s strategic approach to forming a winning team.
As his ideology reflected when he expressed, “When you’re in two very competitive businesses like we are, that means people are always trying to beat you. But when we work together, no one can tear us apart from the outside. The only way we can fail is if we don’t work together. Together we sometimes win, together we sometimes lose … but we always do it together.”
Despite the success of drivers like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Terry Labonte, HMS hit a slump after Johnson’s departure from the team. But rather than hitting the panic button, Mr. H got back to work in identifying future stars who could add more silverware and success stories to his team. In the meantime, he partnered up with Dale Jr. and they enjoyed triumph at crown jewel NASCAR races like the Daytona 500 and an impressive 2014 season.
Behind the scenes, Mr H worked hard and identified the likes of Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and William Byron to be the flag bearers for his team. This strategic move paid big time when Elliott brought home the Bill France Cup in 2020 and Larson did the same with his triumph in 2021. Beyond these worthy drivers, Hendrick has turned its attention toward burgeoning talent. Enter 19-year-old Corey Day, a dirt track sensation who signed with Hendrick Motorsports to race in various series in 2025.
Well given how Ford and Team Penske have reigned supreme in the Next Gen era all eyes are on Hendrick Motorsports in 2025. Who among, Elliott, Larson, and Byron could help reach the pinnacle of NASCAR racing, making it 15 championship triumphs for the winningest team?
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