He can remember when Gee and Hendrick were first getting started. “That’s one of the few cars I’ve ever seen that you just have a different feeling about it.”Įdwards, 72, was one of the five original employees at Hendrick Motorsports. “That car has a soul to it,” said Frank Edwards, who works in the Hendrick Motorsports show car department. But the car, mostly known for its on-track pursuits, was more than just a bucket of bolts to those close to it. Geoff Bodine and Tim Richmond, both early drivers for Hendrick, won with Emma. Success always was a part of driving the original Emma, which was nicknamed after Gee’s mother. “This car is a tribute to him and the Gee family,” Earnhardt said. During Thursday’s Gatorade Duels, Earnhardt won the first race. And not surprisingly, success has followed. 88-475, same as Gee’s original Emma, makes sense. In a way, it’s like the family friendship has come full circle. Earnhardt and Eury joined Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 season. That relationship has led the families to this weekend’s Daytona 500 where Gee’s grandsons – Earnhardt and Eury – now are part of Hendrick’s team. It’s a link to a racing legacy, the logical generation of a friendship founded in South Hill, Va., between Gee and Rick Hendrick. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet this weekend is more than just a tribute to Gee. 15, 2008) - They’ll call the car Emma, in honor of their granddad and legendary fabricator Robert Gee.īut really the chassis model Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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