"Jeff Gordon is a big part of that": Rick Hendrick credits the 4x NASCAR champ as key factor in HMS' perception 

From his rookie season in 1993 until his retirement in 2015, Jeff Gordon remained with Hendrick Motorsports. In fact, after years of his career as a full-time driver for Rick Hendrick's team, Gordon became a business partner in the organization through the #48 team.

But despite his driving career coming to an end, the association between Jeff Gordon and HMS remains intact. Gordon is currently the Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports.

And recently, Rick Hendrick opened up on what it was like to see his former #24 driver transition from where he was to where he is.

"It's been fun. Jeff Gordon always had a great business head on his shoulder. He was always good at business. He knew the organization so well and I go back to that chemistry and that being able to grow people from the inside and character is huge and when people come visit that place, they talk about the professionalism and the character of the company. And Jeff Gordon is a big part of that," Hendrick said on the Business of Motorsports podcast. [29:10]

Following this, Hendrick went on to narrate a hilarious story involving Gordon. He claimed it was at the time of Gordon going through a divorce from his first wife.

Hendrick said that one night, Gordon came to his house and based on his behaviour and what he was talking about, he began to worry his 'little prince' driver would announce he's leaving HMS. However, Gordon eventually told Hendrick that he was getting a divorce which came as a big relief for the HMS boss.

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Rick Hendrick opened up on his bond with Jeff Gordon in 2015

In a 2015 interview, Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon spoke about their relationship. While the two have shared a longstanding and deeply fruiftul professional association, their bond goes much deeper than that.

Hendrick said of his bond with Gordon (via ESPN):

"Some days it's father and son. Some days it's like a little brother. And some days, not many, we argue like all of the above."

Hendrick mentioned Gordon's divorce, his own battle with leukemia, the tragic plane crash in which his son Ricky died, along with the good times that includes the race wins and the championships. He remarked that him and Gordon have 'really grown up together.'

The HMS owner claimed that Gordon's arrival to HMS came to be a before and after moment for the team. He emphasized that Gordon retiring from NASCAR as a driver wouldn't result in his association with HMS coming to an end.

Hendrick added that Gordon will 'always be a part' of his organization, as he has been from the beginning of his NASCAR career.