From National Champion to Pit Road: Hendrick Motorsports’ Blaine Anderson Finds Familiar Success in NASCAR
A unique sense of nostalgia washes over Blaine Anderson whenever he travels to Phoenix Raceway. While many NASCAR competitors view the Arizona track as the sport’s championship battleground, Anderson—a tire changer for Hendrick Motorsports—sees it as the site of a different kind of championship victory: his 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship with the University of Alabama.
“I always look forward to going back to Phoenix every single time,” Anderson told NBC Sports.
This weekend, as Kyle Larson and William Byron compete for the NASCAR Cup Series title at Phoenix Raceway, Anderson’s connection to the city runs deeper than the race itself. He recalls the electric atmosphere surrounding the 2016 championship game, where Alabama defeated Clemson 45-40 at the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, a stadium located less than 10 miles from the racetrack. Though he was a member of the scout team and didn’t see playing time, the feeling of winning a national title—and receiving a championship ring alongside two Southeastern Conference championship rings—remains vivid.
Anderson’s path to NASCAR wasn’t a direct one. Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, he boldly declared to friends his intention to walk-on to the Alabama football team, despite admitting he lacked a clear plan. After staying in shape his freshman year, he tried out as a sophomore in 2014, earning a spot with the team for spring and summer practices before ultimately being cut. Undeterred, he tried out again the following year and secured a position as a safety for the 2015 team, led by head coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart—who would later become head coach at Georgia, winning national championships in 2021 and 2022.
The 2015 Alabama team finished the season with a remarkable 14-1 record, claiming both the SEC championship and the national title. Anderson vividly remembers the celebratory chaos that followed the championship win. “You see a pile of confetti and everyone’s doing snow angles and you’re like, ‘Well, I want to do that, too,’” he said. He specifically recalled the honor of holding the Alabama flag and passing it along, eventually handing it to star running back Derrick Henry. “That was a special moment to give it to our captain, our leading rusher, our Heisman Trophy winning guy. That was super special.”
A decade after the championship victory, Anderson reunited with teammates at Alabama’s home game against Tennessee the day before the Talladega playoff race. “It was so fun to see those guys,” Anderson said. “Having everyone together during our pre-game ceremony, it’s wild how like being around everyone it doesn’t feel like 10 years.”
Following his football career, Anderson transitioned to motorsports, joining Hendrick Motorsports’ rookie mini camp in 2018. He quickly proved his worth, earning a permanent position as a tire changer for Hendrick cars and teams. His dedication is rewarded whenever a Hendrick car wins a championship; he proudly owns rings commemorating Chase Elliott’s 2020 Cup title and Kyle Larson’s 2021 crown.
Anderson draws a compelling parallel between his experiences with Alabama football and Hendrick Motorsports. “You could look at it either two ways,” he explained. “Like Alabama is the Hendrick of college football, or Hendrick is the Alabama of NASCAR. I’m very fortunate. I’m very, very lucky to be a part of both great organizations. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
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