The Dale Jr. Download: “My Experience As Dale Jr.'s Boss”

Guest: Rick Hendrick
Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Podcast Network: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM
Episode Type: DJD Classic

Overview

In this DJD Classics episode, Dale Earnhardt Jr. hosts NASCAR icon and legendary team owner Rick Hendrick. They go deep into their intertwined family histories, Hendrick's unlikely journey from small-town car dealer to NASCAR powerhouse, and all the human drama, business deals, and driver dynamics that have defined the Hendrick Motorsports legacy. With signature warmth, humor, and candor, the episode highlights not just racing stories but also the personal bonds, conflicts, and inside tales rarely shared so openly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Family & Early Connections

• Tight Family Ties:
  Dale Jr. explains the family connection with Rick Hendrick, going back to his grandfather, Robert Gee, the renowned body man and car builder.

  “People just think that I know Rick from NASCAR and cup racing, but it goes way beyond that.” (02:04)

• First Meeting with Robert Gee:
  Hendrick recalls getting a hood scoop installed at 15 and being intimidated by the rowdy atmosphere in Gee’s shop.

  “I was almost afraid to go in there to ask him would he do this scoop on my hood.” (03:01)

Rick Hendrick’s Path to NASCAR

• Early Career and Entrepreneurship:
  Hendrick shares stories about leaving school after flipping a car for profit, revealing his entrepreneurial spirit.

  “I need to quit working on... Start selling.” (05:52)

• Transition from Boat Racing to Racing Teams:
  After moving from racing boats to cars, Hendrick got involved with notable racing personalities like Harry Hyde.

  “I thought that we will have STP with Richard [Petty]. So we were too far along to turn back.” (10:49)

Building Hendrick Motorsports

• Recruiting Top Talent:
  Hendrick details his early attempts to sign drivers, including mishaps and close calls with Tim Richmond and Jeff Bodine.

  “Harry said, Bodine, you’re a prick and a prima donna, but I love Rick Hendrick more than I hate you, so I’m going to try to do it.” (17:09)

• Financial Struggles:
  Early days were lean, including running a full season on $800,000 in 1984.

  “We ran the whole year in 1984 for $800,000.” (16:18)

Managing Egos and Legendary Conflicts

• On-Track Rivalries:
  Stories of how battles between Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Bodine (his own drivers) led to NASCAR intervention.

  “Bill France said, ‘You two monkeys are not gonna blank my show.’” (19:54)

• Unique Conflict Resolution:
  Drivers were forced to ride together by NASCAR officials to cool tensions—a legendary behind-the-scenes move.

  “Richard, you and Rick ride together with me and Jeff. You and Dale ride together. And they didn’t wreck.” (21:10)

Rick as a Driver

• Racing His Own Cars:
  Hendrick shares what it was like racing in Cup and Busch (now Xfinity) events himself, including epic moments with Richard Petty.

  “Richard, I’m sorry. I really am.” (29:02, joking about running Petty off track)

Team Dynamics & Leadership

• Role as Mediator and Counselor:
  Rick touches on his role as a team “therapist” and how running a race team often meant managing personalities and keeping peace.

  “You’re a counselor. You’re a therapist for everybody, you know.” (18:41)

• The Value of Team Loyalty:
  Rick credits Jeff Bodine with helping Hendrick Motorsports survive its early years, demonstrating the huge gamble early star drivers took on fledgling teams.

  “I owe Jeff Bodine a lot because he took a chance and... we kind of established ourselves.” (15:44)

Memorable Moments in Deal-Making

• Dale Jr.’s Unique Contract Demands:
  The famous negotiation story—Dale Jr. didn’t care about pay, but wanted “the skirts painted to match the car” and helicopter rides.

  “I don’t care about that. I thought, give it—okay, let me have it back. Don’t look at it...” (39:25)

Behind the Paint Schemes

• Importance of Car Appearance: Both Rick and Dale Jr. share how deeply they care about car designs and the pride (and sometimes conflict) in getting them right.

  “I want the skirts on the car painted the same color as the car.” (40:47, Dale Jr.) “I like for the cars to look good.” (45:12, Rick Hendrick)

• Rejected Paint Scheme Lore:
  Rick admits he's killed some designs, even suggesting Jimmy Johnson nixed one of his ideas for being “too old-fashioned.”

  “I’m not going to say [who].” (45:32, about rejected schemes) “Jimmy killed it? Oh, no. He said that’s too old fashioned. Conservative, really.” (45:57)

Changing Crew Chiefs, Turning Points

• Pairing Dale Jr. with Steve Letarte:
  Rick discusses the rationale and process behind moving Letarte to Dale Jr.’s car, and how both men viewed it as a make-or-break moment.

  “I just felt like he would be exactly what you needed. And boy, was he.” (47:00) “We’re all in the people business... it’s got a mesh. It’s got to fit, and you got to get that right combination.” (49:08)

• Supporting Dale Jr. Through Slumps:
  Rick reveals he never considered letting Dale Jr. go, regardless of struggles, always focused on finding the right team chemistry.

  “I never thought about, this is the end of it. I thought about it, I’m not gonna let him fail.” (49:58)

Legacy, Team Building, & Succession

• Future of Hendrick Motorsports:
  Rick plans for the team’s future, including Jeff Gordon as partner and potential leader.

  “My son-in-law is the president, but also Jeff Gordon as a partner. So he'll be there to take care of it.” (56:21)

• Changing Ownership Landscape:
  Discusses how the Next Gen car might lower barriers for new owners and recruit former drivers into team ownership.

  “You don't need the engineering to build the chassis... If it does what they say it'll do... it might bring more people in.” (56:48)

• Collection Stories:
  Hendrick’s guitar collection and stories about getting started—courtesy of race wins and friends like Chet Atkins and Tim Richmond.

  “I got over 200 now... And I can't sing or can't play. Right. But in '84, our race in Nashville, we won. Chet Atkins gave me a special edition guitar.” (55:21)

Talent Scouting

• Spotting Future Stars:
  Rick identifies Chase Elliott thanks to a tip from James Finch and personally spotted Jeff Gordon during a memorable Atlanta Xfinity race.

  “James Finch was my talent scout... He called you up and said, Chase, pretty good.” (58:41) “I see him [Gordon] come down straightaway... I said, well, watch this guy. He’s gonna crash... That’s that Gordon kid... He had one [contract] the next day.” (59:00)

Days of Thunder: Reality vs. Hollywood

• Supplying Cars for the Movie:
  Hendrick's team provided real cars and racing advice for the film. Some cars entered “as extras” in actual races for filming.

  “We'd have to take... cars to the race for the movie... That was a day. Two cars started at the back of the Daytona 500 that year...” (66:26)

• Tom Cruise and The Real Story:
  Hendrick shares how his friendship with Tom Cruise led to the film being made, including testing and racing stories.

  “Tom and I and Paul Newman drove together in the SCCA... One day, Tom was driving the Busch car and said, you know, we need to make a movie about this.” (68:10)

Giving Back and Team Loyalty

• Financial Sacrifice for the Team:
  Dale Jr. once offered to take a $1M pay cut to protect employees during the 2009 economic downturn.

  “The only driver... [who] said, hey, I want you to take a million off my salary and give it to the guys in the shop.” (71:41) “He was like... are you sure? It shows you the character he has.” (72:06)

Laugh-out-Loud & Heartfelt Moments

• Legendary Room Zingers:
  On mediating between quarreling personalities:

  “Harry said, Bodine, you’re a prick and a prima donna, but I love Rick Hendrick more than I hate you.” (17:09)

  • Turned a tense meeting into a signature DJD anecdote.

• Contract Negotiations:

  “I want the skirts on the car painted the same color as the car.” (40:47, Dale Jr.)

• On Family & Change:

  “I’ve seen it from the early days to growing up, being a special father, loving his little girl. And so we’re family, and I treasure that.” (75:18, Rick Hendrick)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

(All timestamps in MM:SS)

• On Early Days:
  “I was almost afraid to go in there to ask him would he do this scoop on my hood.” – Rick Hendrick (03:01)

• On Selling:
  “I need to quit working on... Start selling.” – Rick Hendrick (05:52)

• On Running Out of Money:
  “We ran the whole year in 1984 for $800,000.” – Rick Hendrick (16:18)

• Team Drama Mediation:
  “Harry said, Bodine, you’re a prick and a prima donna, but I love Rick Hendrick more than I hate you.” – Rick Hendrick (17:09)

• NASCAR Crackdown:
  “Bill France said, ‘You two monkeys are not gonna blank my show.’” – Rick Hendrick (19:54)

• Paint Scheme Passion:
  “I want the skirts on the car painted the same color as the car.” – Dale Jr. (40:47)

• On Always Trying:
  “I’m not gonna let him fail. We’re gonna keep going, changing till we get it right.” – Rick Hendrick (49:58)

• Financial Sacrifice:
  “...said, hey, I want you to take a million off my salary and give it to the guys in the shop.” – Rick Hendrick (71:41)

• Family & Legacy:
  “I’ve seen it from the early days to growing up, being a special father... And so we’re family, and I treasure that.” – Rick Hendrick (75:18)

Supplementary: Episode Structure with Timestamps

• 01:44 – Rick Hendrick introduction; family ties
• 03:01 – First meeting Robert Gee; early cars
• 10:27 – “Richard Petty backs out” story; early days of HMS
• 13:42 – Early driver recruitment stories
• 16:18 – $800k budget & survival
• 17:09 – Harry Hyde’s infamous confrontation line
• 19:54 – NASCAR “carpool” punishment story
• 29:02 – Apology to Richard Petty for on-track run-in
• 39:25 – Contract negotiation: side skirts and helicopters
• 45:30 – Paint scheme rejections and Jimmy Johnson input
• 47:00 – Steve Letarte crew chief switch
• 49:58 – Keeping faith in Dale Jr. through struggles
• 56:21 – Jeff Gordon’s future leadership at HMS
• 59:00 – Spotting Jeff Gordon’s talent in Atlanta
• 66:26 – Entering cars for Days of Thunder movie
• 68:10 – Friendship with Tom Cruise and movie origin
• 71:41 – Dale Jr. offers pay cut to safeguard employees
• 75:18 – Rick reflects on family, change, legacy

Final Thoughts

This episode is a treasure trove of racing history, personal anecdotes, and lessons in leadership, loyalty, and legacy. For fans and newcomers alike, it’s an essential listen to understand not just the rise of Hendrick Motorsports, but the fabric of NASCAR’s modern era.