On March 17, 2024, at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports led its record-extending 80,000th lap in a points-paying NASCAR Cup Series event. The milestone was reached by Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on lap 62 of the race.
Founded by car owner Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in Cup Series history and is celebrating its 40 th anniversary in 2024. With 59,969 laps led in Cup competition, Petty Enterprises ranks second in the statistical category.
1984 FIRSTS: Driving the organization’s flagship No. 5 Chevrolet, Geoff Bodine recorded Hendrick Motorsports’ first lap led on April 29, 1984, at Martinsville Speedway. That day, he led 55 total laps en route to the team’s first of 303 NASCAR Cup Series victories.
GOING THE DISTANCE: Hendrick Motorsports has led 80,000 NASCAR Cup Series laps for a total of 105,322.599 miles. The distance is equivalent to more than four trips around the world or approximately 210 roundtrips to the International Space Station.
LEADING SZN: Hendrick Motorsports’ most laps led in a season came in 2021 when it recorded 4,119 over the 36-race NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Across its 40 full seasons at the Cup level (1984-2023), the team’s fewest number of laps led (414) came in 1992 when the series ran 29 points-paying events. Hendrick Motorsports has led more than 1,000 laps in 30 seasons, more than 2,000 in 21 seasons, more than 3,000 seven times and more than 4,000 twice.
NOTHING BUT A NUMBER: At California Speedway on Feb. 27, 2005, Kyle Busch became the youngest driver to lead a NASCAR Cup Series lap for Hendrick Motorsports at 19 years, 9 months and 25 days old. Mark Martin stands as the oldest after leading at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 23, 2011, at 52 years, 9 months and 14 days. Both drove the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
MOST IN A RACE: Although the team did not go to victory lane, Hendrick Motorsports led 443 laps at Martinsville on April 1, 2012, its highest-ever total in a single Cup event.
STATE-MENT: Hendrick Motorsports has led NASCAR Cup Series laps in 21 different states across the country, with the most coming in the Commonwealth of Virginia (15,086) and the fewest in Wisconsin (75). It has led more than 7,000 laps in four states: Virginia, North Carolina (9,491), Delaware (7,549) and Tennessee (7,173). Team owner Rick Hendrick grew up in Palmer Springs, Virginia.
LEADING THE WAY: A total of 29 drivers have led at least one NASCAR Cup Series lap for Hendrick Motorsports, including 16 who have led more than 1,000. With nearly 25,000 laps led, four-time Cup Series champion and current Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon has contributed the most of any driver.
MILESTONES: Gordon dominates the list of Hendrick Motorsports’ laps led milestones, having notched its 10,000th, 20,000 th, 30,000th, 40,000th and 50,000 th. The team has now reached three 10,000-lap milestones in the month of March: 10,000 in 1993, 30,000 in 2003 and 80,000 in 2024.
TRACKING LAPS LED: Hendrick Motorsports has led on 35 different NASCAR Cup Series racetracks, with its most laps led coming at Martinsville. The team holds the record for laps led at 21 different venues. The only track where Hendrick Motorsports has competed in the Cup Series and not led a lap is the Chicago Street Course, which held its inaugural event in 2023.
— Hendrick Motorsports —
