Jimmie Johnson reveals the significance his 2004 Atlanta Cup race win after tragic plane crash
Jimmie Johnson and HMS has recalled the tragic memory of 2004 plane crash that took the life of 10 Individuals associated with them.
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Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)
The 2004 NASCAR Cup season was one of the most complicated years of Jimmie Johnson’s career as well as for his team Hendrick Motorsports. He finished P2 in the title race that season, his sophomore year, securing eight race wins, while Kurt Busch secured his maiden and only championship.
Regardless off all the triumphs and records set, the Atlanta Cup race win will always be the highlight of the season. The victory came in the same week where a tragic plane crash took the life of 10 Hendrick Motorsports associates, including Ricky Hendrick, the son of the team owner Rick Hendrick.
The whole team was mourning the death and was unsure if they want to race that week, but Mr. H and his wife Linda stepped up, urging everyone in the team race that week. Jimme Johnson made that week special by securing an impressive win putting smile back on the face of HMS crew who was struggling. He recalled this moment with HMS for their “40 wins in 40 days” series on their website.
It really put a smile back on a lot of faces. For me, it was more about the unity of the group. Every team member, every driver, anyone in Hendrick Motorsports apparel, we just stood there, cried and hugged.
Jimmie Johnson said via HMS.com.
Jimmie Johnson explains how much he respects Mr. & Mrs. H stepping up that day
In the same discussion Jimmie Johnson recalled how Rick Hendrick and his wife spoke to the team amidst the heartbreak, losing the significant members of their family, and urged them to race that week. He still doesn’t know how the duo showed the courage to be there and inspire the team to race at Atlanta.
Rick and Linda stood up in front of all of us at Hendrick Motorsports and gave us an authentic and real point of view of where their hearts were… they let us know that the ones we lost would’ve wanted us to go to the track. To this day, I don’t know how they found the courage to be there, but we went down to Atlanta on a mission.
Jimmie Johnson said.
The couple knew that the best way to honor the death was to race for the last week and secure the win. HMS cars featured images of their lost ones on them in the remaining races of the season as part of remembering their legacy and honoring them.
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Justin P Joy
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