Rick Hendrick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Rick Hendrick
Born Joseph Riddick Hendrick III
July 12, 1949(1949-07-12)
Warrenton, North Carolina
Nationality American
Occupation Owner, Hendrick Motorsports
Years active 1984-present
Employer Hendrick Motorsports (owner)
Spouse(s) Linda Hendrick
Children Ricky Hendrick (deceased), Lynn Carlson
Parents Mary Hendrick

Joseph Riddick Hendrick III (B. July 12, 1949), better known as Rick Hendrick is an owner of several NASCAR stock cars and teams, as well as Hendrick Automotive Group[1], one of the largest automotive chains in the United States.

Contents

[edit] Early Years

Hendrick was raised on his family's farm near of Palmer Springs, Virginia and attended Park View High School in South Hill, Virginia. where he excelled in athletics. Hendrick considered an opportunity to play professional baseball before entering a co-op work-study program with North Carolina State University and Westinghouse Electric Company in Raleigh, N.C.

[edit] Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports, founded in 1984, is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR racing, with Sprint Cup championships won in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. As the head of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick owns several race teams, including the Sprint Cup teams of Jeff Gordon, (car owner: Rick Hendrick), Mark Martin (car owner: Mary Hendrick), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (car owner: Rick Hendrick), and Jimmie Johnson (car owner: Rick Hendrick/Jeff Gordon). Past drivers include Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Benny Parsons, Jimmy Means, who filled-in for Tim Richmond in the #25 Folgers car for one race, at Charlotte in 1987, Darrell Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Ricky Craven, Todd Bodine, who filled-in for Ricky Craven in the #25 Budweiser car for the first race at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Randy LaJoie, who filled-in for Ricky Craven in the #50 Budwesier car in 1998 from the spring Darlington race to the spring Dover race, Joe Nemechek, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte, Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Jerry Nadeau, his son Ricky Hendrick, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Rick Hendrick himself.


Rick Hendrick drove in the 1987 and 1988 Winston Cup races at Riverside International Raceway, finishing 33rd (out with transmission problems after racing to the Top 10) and 15th. He also had a single start in the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. He had been a pit crew member for Flying 11 that Ray Hendrick drove in the 1960s.[2]

Gov. Jim Hunt recognized Hendrick in 1996 with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. The award is bestowed upon citizens of the state who have a proven record of extraordinary service. Past recipients include award-winning journalist Charles Kuralt, Rev. Billy Graham, artist Bob Timberlake and Hendrick’s late father, Joe Hendrick, who was presented the award by Gov. Mike Easley in 2004.

[edit] Hendrick Automotive Group

Hendrick, founded The Hendrick Automotive Group in 1976 as a single dealership in Bennettsville, South Carolina — becoming at age 26, the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country. [3] Today, the company consists of more than 80 franchises in 10 states, and annual revenues are over $4 billion. Hendrick is currently serving as chairman of the company.

[edit] 1997 Mail fraud conviction

In 1997, Hendrick pleaded guilty[4] to mail fraud. In the 1980s, Honda automobiles were in high demand, and Honda executives allegedly solicited bribes from dealers for larger product disbursements. Hendrick admitted to giving hundreds of thousands of dollars, BMW automobiles, and houses to American Honda Motor Company executives.[5] Hendrick was sentenced in December of that year to a $250,000 fine, 12 months home confinement (instead of prison, due to his leukemia), three years probation, and to have no involvement with Hendrick Automotive Group or Hendrick Motorsports during his year of confinement. In December 2000, Hendrick received a full pardon from President Bill Clinton.[6][7]

[edit] 2004 family plane crash

On October 24, 2004, Hendrick's son, Ricky Hendrick, two nieces and brother were killed in an airplane crash en route to the Subway 500 in Martinsville, Virginia. All eight passengers and both pilots died in the incident, the race was won by his driver Jimmie Johnson.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hendrick Automotive Group
  2. ^ Benny Parsons' commentary, ESPN 26 hour marathon for the Top NASCAR races as it turns 50 years old at Riverside International Raceway. ESPN2. ESPN. 1999. 1:00 minutes in.
  3. ^ "Rick Hendrick, Owner #24 Dupont Chevrolet". JeffGordon.com. http://jeffgordon.com/team/hendrick.php. 
  4. ^ Kurz, Jr., Hank (2004-10-25). "Hendrick Motorsports Plane Crash Kills 10". Associated Press. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/motorracing/wire/sns-ap-nascar-hendrick-plane,1,4914452.story?coll=sns-ap-racing-headlines. Retrieved 2007-06-14. 
  5. ^ "[hhttp://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/28/politics/28PARD.html?pagewanted=all Clinton Will Not Block Aides From Testifying on Pardons]". The New York Times, February 28, 2001. hhttp://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/28/politics/28PARD.html?pagewanted=all. 
  6. ^ Clinton Pardons
  7. ^ DOJ listing of Hendrick's pardon

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Hendrick Motorsports
Sprint Cup drivers Mark Martin (#5) | Jeff Gordon (#24) | Jimmie Johnson (#48) | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88)
Primary Sponsors Go Daddy (#5) | Dupont (#24) | Lowe's #48) | AMP Energy/National Guard (#88)
Sprint Cup crew chiefs Alan Gustafson (#5) | Steve Letarte (#24) | Chad Knaus (#48) | Lance McGrew (#88)
Partnerships and affiliations Furniture Row Racing | JR Motorsports | Stewart Haas Racing | Phoenix Racing
Management/Related Info Rick Hendrick | Ricky Hendrick | Ray Evernham | Brian Whitesell | Hendrick Automotive Group
Winning drivers Geoff Bodine | Ken Schrader | Tim Richmond | Darrell Waltrip | Terry Labonte | Ricky Rudd | Jerry Nadeau | Kyle Busch | Jack Sprague | Brian Vickers | Casey Mears
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Hendrick"