Bobby Hamilton’s big break—one race in the Hendrick “movie car” (1989)
Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).
Why? Bobby Hamilton turned a promising rookie year in the Busch Series into one of the most-unusual ways to make a debut in the Cup Series. Hendrick Motorsports was providing “Days of Thunder” with movie cars, and needed someone to drive the black #51 of Rowdy Burns in a race to get the necessary footage. That someone was was Bobby Hamilton.
How successful were they? Despite driving what was essentially an “R&D” car, Hamilton qualified fifth and led five laps at Phoenix. It was only an engine issue that would sink his chances of a strong finish.
What was the aftermath? Hamilton went on to a successful Cup (4 race wins) AND a successful Truck (10 race wins and a championship) career before succumbing to head and neck cancer at age 49.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 10 slow-motion crashes out of 10—only in NASCAR could you make a movie and enter a car legally in the competition—and be competitive!
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A MOXOC Media production