It was the joker in the Le Mans pack, with its sheer size literally dwarfing the outright Hypercar prototype racers, but the Hendrick Motorsports Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 not only performed above expectation but also captivated fans, media, and even rival competitors. Crewed by Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller, the invitational class entry was impressively fast, consistently outpacing cars the GT class cars and running as high as 27th (and ahead of the entire GTE-AM field) before being forced into the pits with transmission issues just after the 20-hour mark.
The Hendrick team fitted a new gearbox and the Camaro was able to return to the track and finish the race. Completing 285 laps of the famous 13.5km Le Sarthe circuit, the NASCAR was classified 39th place in the 62-car field.
"That was unbelievable," expressed Jim France, whose inspiration for the project stemmed from his father, NASCAR founder Bill France Snr, who took two NASCAR stock cars to Le Mans in 1976.
"Countless hours of hard work by hundreds of individuals went into making this dream a reality. The team, the pit crews, and everyone involved performed fantastically throughout the week.
"I hope my dad and my brother are somewhere up there looking down and smiling. Our initial goal was to finish the race running at the end and not be last. And we accomplished that."
Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, shared his pride in the sport's representation.
"The last thing I wanted was for us to come here and stumble," he said. "That was my concern from the beginning. I stressed the importance of doing things right with Chad (Knaus) and Greg (Ives). We spared no expense. Our NASCAR teams are capable of competing in any race. They possess the talent, the engineers, and a lot of brilliant minds to accomplish anything."
Chad Knaus, Vice President of Competition at Hendrick Motorsports, who oversaw the Garage 56 program, expressed his sense of triumph, saying, "I already felt like we won the trophy the moment the green flag dropped. What makes me proudest is that this wasn't just the job of a few people; it was a passion project that everyone eagerly participated in. When you assemble people like that, you can achieve anything."
Jimmie Johnson, having fulfilled his goal of driving in various conditions - day, night, and wet - was the one to bring the Garage 56 team across the finish line, completing the final 90 minutes of the race.
"My heart is full," exclaimed Johnson. "There were so many reasons to be thrilled: representing NASCAR, Hendrick, Chevrolet, and Goodyear. Many of the individuals working here were part of different teams with whom I won races and championships. Seeing so many familiar faces and experiencing this journey has been incredible. I couldn't be happier."
"Finishing the race was our top priority," said Mike Rockenfeller. "This will always be a cherished memory of mine, among the highest level of races I've participated in. The team, including my team-mates, and everyone involved has been exceptional. It has been a remarkable journey, and I've made many friends along the way. I believe we did a fantastic job."
Former F1 world champion Jenson Button played a key part, completing no less than 97 laps.
"What an amazing group of people," Button said. "Transforming their Cup car into an endurance vehicle for Le Mans is mind-blowing. They are the best in the business, and I'm proud to work alongside them.
Reflecting on the bittersweet moment of the car's final race, Button said: "It's difficult because there's so much emotion, and we're all exhausted. But this is it, you know? This is the last time this car will race. It's a bit sad, but we must savour the present moment."
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