Wilson Eager to Author Another Bristol Dream

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The 1989 Budweiser 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway developed into a dream scenario for Rick Wilson.

Driving for the local Food Country USA Motorsports Nationwide Series team, Wilson started from the pole in his blue No. 75 Oldsmobile and dominated en route to the win.

“I’ve run a lot of races, but I’ve never had a hot rod that good,” said Wilson, in a phone interview from his Florida home. “It was almost scary how fast our car was.”

Due to harsh weather that spring weekend, the race was held on a chilly Monday afternoon. Wilson remembers all the elements, including the pulsating finish and the emotional celebration with the family of car owner, Charlie Henderson.

“It was definitely a cold day, but our car was on a rail,” Wilson said. “Mark Martin and Jimmy Hensley were running behind me when we had a caution with about five laps to go.”

With current Penske Motorsports crew chief Chris Carrier providing direction and motivation, Wilson added a dramatic flourish to his defining victory by passing Martin and Hensley on the treacherous outside lane.

“Martin and Hensley spun their tires on the restart, and I just laid it on after that,” Wilson said.

Wilson will try to repeat that feat in tonight’s Scotts EZ Seed Showdown at BMS. He will be among 12 retired NASCAR drivers in the 35-lap event.

Henderson, owner of the Food Country chain of grocery stores, was one of the pioneer owners in the old NASCAR Busch Series. Henderson was attracted to Wilson because of his homespun personality and aggressive approach to racing.

And Wilson is bringing the same mentality to tonight’s clash of the legends.

“The most fun I ever had in racing was with Charlie,” Wilson said. “I’ve kept in contact with Charlie and know how much Bristol means to him, so we’re coming to win.”

Don Henderson, Charlie’s son, has carried on the family tradition for motorsports. He owns the Henderson Motorsports entry in the United States Auto Racing Series.

Caleb Holman, who drives the Henderson USAR entry, suggested Wilson’s name to BMS officials and helped prepare the No. 75 entry for tonight’s race. All of the Showdown drivers will compete in identically-prepared USAR cars.

“We’re tickled to death to be associated with Rick again,” Don Henderson said. “The car is pretty daggone close to the original paint scheme, so we’re excited.”

Don Henderson was bundled up in the stands with his father on the memorable Monday afternoon in 1989.

“It was pretty special to walk through the gates at Bristol and go up into Victory Lane with Charlie,” Henderson said. “It didn’t surprise me when Rick won that race. Rick has always been a go-getter. That’s why we wanted him as our driver.”

Holman and the Henderson team also prepared the replica car that will be driven tonight by nine-time BMS winner Cale Yarborough. The star-studded field will feature David Pearson, Harry Gant, Dave Marcis and Charlie Glotzbach.

Henderson hopes to reunite several former Food Country USA crew members for tonight’s race, including Carrier.

Barring any misfortune, Holman plans to race the same car that Wilson will be running tonight in the March 27 USAR season opener at Greshman Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga.

“We told Rick not to wreck it, but we know how aggressive he is,” said Henderson, with a laugh.

Wilson competed in a total of 206 NASCAR Sprint Cup and 47 Nationwide Races from 1980 to 1997 before leaving the NASCAR ranks at age 44. He drove in the Sprint Cup Series for the Morgan-McClure Motorsports team, which once had a racing shop located next door to the Henderson Motorsports shop in Abingdon.

“We had a lot of fun and worked hard to achieve our goal, and then things started changing in the sport,” Wilson said.

Wilson now stays busy operating a cattle and citrus business in Florida, but he’s still involved in motorsports. Travis Wilson, Rick’s 26-year-old son, competed in a pair of American Speed Association events last year.

Like many of the drivers entered in the Showdown, Wilson has never competed on the current concrete surface at BMS. He has consulted with Gant about last year’s event, which was won by Sterling Marlin.

“The track looks nice and smooth,” Wilson said. “I just wish this race was 100 laps. The popcorn isn’t even warmed up after 35 laps.”

The circumstances may have changed, but Wilson is eager to author another Bristol dream.

“It doesn’t matter where we start this time, because we’re coming to the front,” Wilson said.