Abingdon’s Michael Hodges Finds Niche In NASCAR With RCR Team

BRISTOL, Tenn. – It’s six hours before one of the grandest and loudest spectacles in American sports.
Area roads are clogged. Starstuck fans roam the grounds, and media types from across the country chase stories.
Michael Hodges is in the middle of the gathering storm at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The 26-year-old Abingdon resident works as the shock specialist for the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Hodges and his fellow crew members performed a multitude of tasks before driver Clint Bowyer stepped into the form-fitting seat of the RCR Hamburger Helper Chevrolet. Bowyer finished 21st in the Aug. 22 Sharpie 500 at BMS.

It’s an enviable position for which Hodges has spent half his life preparing. Hodges was 13 when he made his racing debut in the Mini-Stock division on the high-banked dirt oval at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va.

“When I was younger, I wanted to race as a profession,” Hodges said. “After I realized that it just cost way too much money to be a driver, I decided that I wanted to work on the cars and try to become a crew chief or team manager one day.”

On and off the race track, Hodges has been working overtime to reach his goal ever since.
After graduating from Abingdon High School in 2001, Hodges began the familiar dues-paying process. His first stop was with the Abingdon-based Henderson Motorsports Nationwide Series team.

“We had a small crew, but those were fun and educational times,” Hodges said.

Working under stock car racing Charlie Henderson,  Hodges learned the value of networking and multi-tasking. While attending Elon University in Elon, N.C., Hodges seized on the opportunity to perform an internship with the RCR team.

“I was still working with the Henderson team in the summer, and [former Henderson and RCR driver] Jay Sauter hooked me with up Will Lind of the Childress team,” Hodges said, referring to the general manager of the RCR organization. “Childress gave me an opportunity, and things have worked out well so far.”

The past three years have unfolded in dream-like fashion for Hodges. In fact, he has earned three Nationwide Series championship rings as a crew member with RCR.
Kevin Harvick won the Nationwide title as the driver of the No. 21 car in 2006, while Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer combined to win the 2007 owner’s championship in the No. 29 Chevrolet Bowyer claimed the 2008 championship in the No. 2 RCR Chevrolet.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Hodges said.  “The cool part of this job is that it’s always something different.”

Though many fans dream of working on a NASCAR pit crew, the position involves far more grit than glamour.
For example, crew members often receive 5 a.m. wakeup calls during race weekends. The duties continue long after the final lap.

“The travel does get a little old,” Hodges said. “We had a run of five straight races before the Bristol race, then we have a weekend off before the final 12 races. 
“When you are around people that are motivated and committed that makes your job fun.”

Chad Haney, car chief on Bowyer’s No. 33 team, said that Hodges has the mentality and versatility for success at the top levels of NASCAR.

“Michael’s job title is shock specialist, but we utilize him in a variety of ways,” Haney said. “Whenever we have to make a big change to the car or something goes on in practice, Michael can jump in there and do anything that’s needed.”

For the past two years, Hodges served as the assistant to Haney on the RCR Nationwide team.

“And Michael has actually been my roommate on the road,” Haney said. “I’m an old dirt racer, too, so we talk about Michael’s days racing four cylinders.”

Given his passion for the sport and willingness to learn, Haney feels that his apprentice limitless potential for growth.

“I’m sure Michael can go as far as he wants to go in racing,” Haney said. “He’s already had a very good career with our team.”

Caleb Holman, current driver for the Henderson Motorsports team in the USARacing Series, hasn’t been surprised by the success of Hodges.

“Michael is a very smart person and a hard worker,” Holman said. “I knew Michael was going to do well, and I’m proud of what he has accomplished.”

Hodges is one of several former and current Mountain Empire residents who work with NASCAR teams.

Bristol’s Bob Jeffrey serves as a spotter for Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart, Tazewell’s Kevin Kidd works as a engineer for the No. 19 Richard Petty Motorsports team, Abingdon’s Ben Atkins is an engineer for the No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge, Bristol’s Anthony Cardamone is the jackman on the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, and Bristol’s Ron Denton works on the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Abingdon’s Eric McClure drives for the No. 24 Rensi-Hamilton Racing Ford in the Nationwide Series.

According to Hodges, there no shortcuts to pit road.

“You just have to pay dues, keep showing your face around the garage, and learn all you can,” Hodges said. “There’s such a high level of professionalism with the Childress team, and Clint is real fun to work with as a driver.
“We’re always trying to make our car faster and better.”

From Wythe Raceway to Bristol Motor Speedway, Hodges said the allure of racing remains the same.

“I love to compete, and NASCAR is certainly competitive.”

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Who: Michael Hodges
What: Shock specialist for the No. 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup team
Hometown: Abingdon, Va.
Age: 26
Fast Fact: Hodges earned a sports management degree from Elon University