When social media photos surface showing one NASCAR legend’s old shop wearing another powerhouse’s colors, the racing world stops and takes notice. That’s exactly what happened when images emerged of Alan Kulwicki’s iconic race shop sporting Hendrick Performance branding.

The speculation started immediately: Has Rick Hendrick just added another piece of NASCAR history to his empire?

What Made Alan Kulwicki’s NASCAR Career So Special?

When Kulwicki started his career, he raced on local tracks before going pro in 1980. Over the next few years, he built his reputation and eventually moved to North Carolina to take his career to the next level.

The story of AK Racing didn’t begin from scratch. In 1986, Kulwicki took over Bill Terry’s operation and established his own team. He made the racing shop in Concord his operating base and managed pretty much everything under one roof.

Kulwicki, who had a degree in mechanical engineering, unleashed his prowess to build the best car possible in his racing shop. Though he had offers from big teams, Kulwicki opted for the independent path and went head-to-head against several giants of the day.

While Kulwicki managed to build a car that gave competitors a run for their money, he faced a ton of resistance before arriving in the victory lane. Despite this, he managed to clinch the “Rookie of the Year” title in 1986.

His first win in NASCAR’s top tier came in 1988, when he arrived in the victory lane at Phoenix. After his first win, Kulwicki drove clockwise on the track and trademarked his “Polish Victory Lap.” Kulwicki won races again in 1990 and 1991; however, his biggest career achievement came in 1992.

With just six races remaining in the 1992 season, Kulwicki was 278 points down. Kulwicki smartly picked up points in the last few races of the season and the final race, finishing as the runner-up behind Bill Elliott.

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However, he led an extra lap and grabbed 10 more points to claim the championship title in one of the most dramatic ways in the sport’s history. After his first title, Kulwicki established his position as a formidable figure in NASCAR and showed all signs of becoming a star.

The following year, when he boarded the flight to race at Bristol, the plane crashed, and Kulwicki passed away. After Kulwicki’s death, his racing team and shop were purchased by several owners, including Geoff Bodine and, most recently, Spire Motorsports.

Did Hendrick Motorsports Actually Buy Kulwicki’s Historic Shop?

When a Reddit user posted an image of Alan Kulwicki’s iconic shop, it boasted Hendrick Performance’s colors. As the photo circulated on social media, fans speculated whether Hendrick Motorsports had added another iconic facility to its operations.

While there has been no official word from Hendrick Motorsports or Spire Motorsports, the shop’s current owner, fans believed that if the move actually went through, it would take Hendrick’s squad to even bigger heights.

Though many fans are deciphering Hendrick Motorsports’ plans after acquiring Kulwicki’s shop, the team has yet to give an official word on the deal or even confirm the legitimacy of the speculation. What started as a modest team in Concord with just five employees may become a member of the elite NASCAR club in just four decades of operation, and Rick Hendrick’s business acumen continues to drive the organization’s expansion efforts.