WebJoseph Riddick " Ricky " Hendrick IV (April 2, 1980 October 24, 2004) was an American stock car racing driver and partial owner at Hendrick Motorsports, a NASCAR team that Dick Ebersol knows. "You just don't think you can get through something like that," Hendrick said. Its very special. These Are The 10 Best-Paid Television Stars In The World. There were no survivors. These Are The 15 Hottest Wives And Girlfriends Of Hollywood! Jeff Gordon on Kyle Larson: "He does amazing things", Jeff Gordon on HMS: "This is where my true passion lies", HMS has always been Gordon's passion 47 car, we knew that with these types of races we could go run well, Allmendinger said of road course racing with JTG Daugherty Racing. He was a firm believer in that his drivers could not race in other series or partake in daredevil behavior for fear of injury. But his business card reads: "Vice President of Frivolous Spending.". For the first two or three years following the crash, Hendrick would see young men from time to time who looked like Ricky. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. It's Hendrick and Matthews. "And I really believe if you don't have any faith or a lot of friends and family -- and my family is huge, because of these folks, here. Reigning series champion Zane Smith, who won the season opener at Daytona, finished second. Thats one of the challenges when a crew chief is suspended. With the change to the penalty, Gabehart could not have the All-Star Race, a non-points race, count as one of the four races he had to miss. Or towing a racecar to New Jersey behind a pickup truck that had garbage bags taped all over it to keep the rain from pouring through the broken windows. He grew up loving the place. "One thing I can say about him: He lived his life," Hendrick said. William Byron will pilot the car Aug. 20 at Watkins Glen International. On Nov. 2, eight days after the crash, he knew it was imperative that he address the organization. The Hendrick Family Foundation will consolidate the philanthropic efforts of the Hendrick organization, including Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group. Hendrick is one of the premier Motorsports racing organizations in You cant take it for granted that theyll be here all the time.. A camshaft and a set of 15 lifters pulled from a Chevy drag racer. '", "It gets easier," he said. And he really couldn't believe he had missed it. It wouldnt stop. 1. "Papa Joe" was there when Hendrick made the transition from racing drag boats to racing stock cars, pushed off the water after the death of his friend and boat racing legend Jimmy Wright. Administration. But also, when we went to St. Louis I had no practice, had never seen the place before. It's all about folks bonding together and needing each other and working together. The towering walls are lined with faux storefronts, starting in the left hand corner with a re-creation of the ice cream parlor where he met his wife Linda and then following the walls along the chronology of his life. Most companies could not sustain a loss of that magnitude and survive. Family members were in attendance. "It was like a family reunion or something. The passenger list was not released So it does make it fun because you know if your team executes and you get the setup right, you can go have a shot to win races or run upfront.. Reportedly, Rick Hendrick has an astounding, mouth-watering, jaw-dropping net worth of $1 billion. In the same way, he owns Hendrick Motorsports, which competes in NASCAR and also All-Star Racing company, which generates revenue greater than $3.5 billion every year. After Bennettsville, the business tycoon went onto open 98 franchises. Ricky Hendricks legacy will be honored in Saturdays Xfinity Series race at Road America. So it was tough sometimes going to those race weekends and going I hope at best we can run 18th.. For more information, read our. The deal has been announced for 2024, but the AP has learned it is a two-year deal that includes the 2025 race. This headstrong celebrity originating from Warrenton, North Carolina, U.S. has a hefty body & oval face type. Sitting on the showroom floor of that mini-dealership is Cole Trickle's City-sponsored Chevy from "Days of Thunder.". "But when you start getting old like me you learn that struggles make you who you are. One day each year, during this exact week in late October, just as the wind begins to blow colder and the air breathes crisper and the leaves explode with color, Rick Hendrick removes the cover from a Chevrolet Tahoe in his garage on the Hendrick Motorsports campus, unlocks it and drives it home. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, his company had a revenue in excess of US$3.5 billion in 2009, after selling 100,000 vehicles and servicing 1.5 million, and is the sixth-largest dealership in the United States. It was Hendrick Motorsports vice president Ken Howes. He knows exactly where he was. He does not verbalize it. Ricky Hendrick, here talking to Brian Vickers when he was a Hendrick Motorsports driver in the Busch Series, was being groomed to take over HMS as his father, Rick Hendrick, stepped back from daily operations. The fans who love to loathe Hendrick -- and there are many -- point to the modern campus like bitter baseball fans point to new Yankee Stadium, the perfect example of the haves vs. the have-nots. Its one of those things you never want to forget. Daytona winner Zane Smith qualified seventh at 175.844 mph. He will miss this weekends NASCAR race at Las Vegas. Sometimes, I even think Im going to see him come around the corner in his Tahoe. Martinsville. "No, I didn't build this for the public. Jeff Turner was on the plane. Elliott finished second last weekend at Auto Club Speedway. family's patriarch "Papa-Joe" earlier this year. "It took so long to win the 200th I was afraid they might lock me in my office or leave me at the airport.". It will absorb the Hendrick Marrow Program, which Rick Hendrick founded in 1997 and has raised more than $15 million in partnership with Be The Match to support patients in need of life-saving marrow or cord blood transplants. At this time, we are unable to report if Kimberly was And if we didn't have the character and the chemistry we have here, it would have all fallen apart. I was thrilled that we could be there together and experience it as a family. They spent 17 races stuck on 199, the team's longest winless drought in a decade. Hendrick's mind raced. Even now, more than 17 years after Ricky Hendrick died in a plane crash, his father, Rick Hendrick, says its just hard to believe that it has been that long ago. ", Tim Richmond: "I've never seen anyone do what he did with a car. That passion motivates us every single day, and were excited about this next step., We use cookies to enhance your site experience, analyze site traffic, and serve targeted advertisements. WebNASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick lost his senior management groupand his sonin a 2004 plane crash. The Rick Hendrick who spotted Gordon that day was 43 years-old. 1998 season. All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Jim Hunter, NASCAR Vice President of Communications announced to the NASCAR teams and officials that I don't want to run from anything. He talks about Frank Edwards, the last remaining employee from the original five. Hendrick. "Welcome," he says with a wink, "to Redneck Disney World.". "And I said, 'Well, do you want to put it in here where you see it every single day? A plane owned by the Hendrick Motorsports organization crashed on its way to a NASCAR race Sunday and all 10 aboard were killed, federal officials said. They wouldn't let him go it alone. He will be joined on the front row by Justin Allgaier (182.778 mph). What for? And while walking through the house one morning he heard a report on the news that Ebersol had been involved in a plane crash. FIA tweaks F1 pitlane exit rules following Verstappen controversy, Kyle Busch kicks off Las Vegas tripleheader with Truck win, Kyle Busch kicks off Las Vegas tripleheader with Truck win oregon rainfall totals 2021 / tatum ranch golf membership cost / rick hendrick grandchildren. He's an executive now, but Hendrick describes a man laying chalk lines in the dirt around a wrecked late-model racer before they cut it in half and spent all night welding it back together so they could tow it back to the South Boston Speedway and crash it again. ET Friday. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? Elliott, Chastain and William Byron each has a series-high 13 playoff points. At the time, many in the racing world wondered if the team The GTP team was based in a tiny shop on Gasoline Alley (formerly Roena St.) in Indianapolis, Indiana and managed by Ken Howes of South Africa. My grandparents. Elliott is a part of NASCARs shrinking group of true superstars and was signed to a developmental deal by Hendrick when he was just 14 years old. Hendrick is as excited to tell that story as he is to talk about his six Daytona 500 wins. Two months ago you were just happy to be here in the field and now were (saying) its the end of the world when were fifth quick. It hit me, OK, Im never going to be satisfied.. He didnt live all that many years, but, boy, he enjoyed himself, and he had so many friends. It cant be put into words what that meant to us, and its something that can never be taken away from us. Larrie -- pronounced "Larry" -- Matthews pops into the Hendrick Heritage Center from the adjacent meeting room, the centerpiece of which is a glass conference table built upon the chassis of Mr. H's first Corvette. They blew an engine.' Hes spoken with several members of our team and is understandably disappointed to miss time in the car. Chandler Smith scored his first career Xfinity pole, posting the fastest lap in Friday nights Xfinity Series qualifying session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. During the late 1980s, Hendrick owned the Goodwrench IMSA GTP Corvette driven by Sarel Van der Merwe and Doc Bundy. Now that we dont have him with us anymore, that race is even more of a treasure, Linda Hendrick said. The pole is Buschs 23rd in the Truck Series. Who had a good race: Reigning series champion Zane Smith, who is the points leader this season, has opened the season with a win and a runner-up finish. This will be Allmendingers ninth Cup start this season, as he shares the No. I'd much rather have the pain.". Otherwise I was going to start putting my business in jeopardy.". He casts a glance across the polished floor toward a racing trailer covered in the bright green and gold colors of Quaker State. Because he knew as soon as he took that 90-degree right-hand turn and drove down that hill toward the Hendrick Motorsports museum, the entire company waited. He gushes about the pleasure of helping drivers earn career firsts, recalling a time when Jimmy "Smut" Means stepped in for Richmond, who was in the midst of his battle with AIDS. "Ken said, 'Where are you right now?'" Then all of a sudden, I wanted to call every one of them back and say, Look, I really didnt understand. Ricky Henderick, 24, a former Busch series and NCTS driver until his retirement at an early age due to a race-related injury, was being groomed to eventually For the first time since 2009, Hendrick Motorsports will field a car in the Xfinity Series. Another was snapped in 1987, at the Daytona 500. The team was Allmendinger said the new car has given teams like Kaulig a better chance of competing. However, Now he's the world's largest Corvette salesman. approximately 11:45 a.m. NASCAR superstar Chase Elliott had successful surgery for an unspecified injury to his left leg Friday night, hours after a snowboarding accident in Colorado. They identify with me. John Hendrick "Go look over there in JR Hendrick General Store," Matthews says as he motions toward the dark wood front porch. As Rick Hendrick prepares for Friday nights NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony, he said there has been a river of emotions, and he cant help but think of his son, that race and the moments they spent together. Seated in a black leather computer chair at a black marble table in a conference room adjacent to his office, Hendrick discusses the crash's aftermath at length. He blossomed into a bona fide elite racer and won the Cup title in 2020. reported as cloudy with mist and poor visibility due to fog conditions. The most painful of the misses came at the Martinsville Speedway on April 1, when Johnson and Gordon ran 1-2 in the closing laps, but were simultaneously taken out by contact with onrushing Clint Bowyer on a late restart. Joe Gibbs Racing appealed the penalty and lost. Others on board the aircraft were Joe Jackson, Jeff Turner, Randy He couldn't believe he had won a NASCAR race. On the return trip home, his phone rang. Hendrick explained. Kyle Busch kicks off Las Vegas tripleheader with Truck win, RLL drivers puzzled by underperformance in St. Pete FP1, RLL drivers puzzled by underperformance in St. Pete FP1 And I think about Ricky. He was an executive for Jeff Gordon's sponsor, DuPont. He nearly won at Circuit of the Americas before contact from Ross Chastain knocked him out of the lead on the last lap. "You didn't leave," Essex said. the NASCAR trailer where they were informed of the tragedy. To see him sitting up there, where Ive seen a lot of my guys sit, and watched press conferences, but to stand in the back of the room and seeing something like an inaugural Truck (win), him achieving what he did. His son, too, had died. After narrowly missing the pole position, Hendrick drove his No. "I got so busy and I got so focused on whatever was next, the next race, the next dealership, whatever, that I think I sometimes I lost sight of all the parts and pieces that got me there," he said. chief and part of Jeff Gordon's crew. ", "Well " Hendrick continued. It's amazing when you look at the record since then. They work hard and weed out pieces that don't fit the mission's puzzle. If Hendrick pushed any further without some sort of cash in return, his little experiment was going to put his car dealerships in financial jeopardy. All four were competing today in I identify with that. He froze. Xfinity teams must use the same car this weekend as they raced at Auto Club Speedway or start at the rear of the field. Unless you are with the man they call Mr. H, you're not getting in. The last time Cup competed on a road course was three weeks ago at Sonoma. Its part of it. He was a pilot for driver Tony Stewart. And there was Ricky Hendrick, Rick's 24-year-old son and heir apparent to the Hendrick empire. His main private jet is a Gulfstream V with the tail number N500RH. "The guys on his team took this trailer, fixed it up like this, a real tribute to Ricky, and gave it to me.". But I already had all of these cars I was collecting and all of this family memorabilia piling up, so we brought Ricky's trailer in here and everything else just kind of grew up around it.". ET Saturday at the track. Caught Smoking: These Are The 60 Most Shocking Celebrity Smokers, These 50 Celebrity Tattoos Went Horribly Wrong, Top 60 Celebrities Without Makeup (Before & After), 40 Whopping Homes & Cars Of Celebrities That Will Amaze You, Top 55 of Worlds Richest Actors Current Net Worth, Top 60 Craziest Tattoos Of Celebrities in 2023, Top 15 Highest-Paid Soccer Players Of All-Time Revealed (2023). To top it off, the research that Hendrick Motorsports had done on the new We had a big lead, but he was catching us and catching us and catching us, and I was sweating it, McGrew recalled. And he has many stories, which provide uplifting moments for Rick Hendrick and his family. Sonoma should help us build toward Road America.. As a young man, Hendrick came to admire Zora because he'd installed so many of the designer's legendary high-lift camshafts into the cars of customers. The stroll through the Heritage Center continues through a plastic city park, built around a statue of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the so-called Father of the Corvette. After 10 years, the hurt is mostly manageable, he said, but it still overwhelms him at times. Plus my family ". 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. It follows along to a scaled-down version of the Person County Dragway, where little Rick watched his father do straight-line racing against other local heroes. COTA, we missed the setup and werent great and we ran 13th there. Denny Hamlin was third at the time of the final caution. Ricky parked the vehicle just before noon and boarded a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 with nine other people. would survive. Winning 200 races isn't going to change it, either. It was Hendrick Motorsports vice president Ken Howes. "But you get to a certain point in your life where you start losing people. Because I wasn't sure -- I really wasn't -- that I could do it again.". If they were OK, they'd have called. I was on the pit box and remember thinking, I know that they can hear my heart beating over all these trucks.. Afterward, Ebersol, then president of NBC Sports, handed him a DVD of family memories. Busch will be joined on the front row by rookie Nick Sanchez (177.608 mph). At this time, the NASCAR community and the Henderick family, including He earned it with a lap of 178.678 mph. He has endured unimaginable success at the racetrack and unspeakable grief off of it. "I read somewhere, if you had a choice to forget all the pain, you'd never have to think about it again, if you never knew him -- would you rather have him for that period and have the pain, or never have him at all and have no pain? In 1997, Hendrick began the Hendrick Marrow Program, a non-profit works with the Be The Match Foundation to support the National Marrow Donor Program. He wont get any of the bonus playoff points awarded to those who finish the regular season in the top 10 in points. ", Darrell Waltrip: "He would've won more championships if he'd stayed here. To this day, Ricky Hendrick continues to make an impact on his fathers life. Who's on it? When Ricky died, he was just 24 years old. And I'd tell them sometimes when they'd say, 'Man, I'm sorry about Ricky.' "I went up there, I remember just how emotional it was, how hard it was just to try to talk. Why? It was all new everybody was on the same page, he said. He changed this sport forever and he changed life forever. I love doing things with them. I still had tears in my eyes because I remembered when he was in the second grade. "And I go up there and I look at the cross. (He jokes: "You know you're a real redneck if you have a chandelier made from a Chevy engine block."). John Hendrick remained with his brother as they led Hendrick Motorsports These 10 Whopping Homes & Cars Of Celebrities Look Amazing! Alex Bowman and Ally the Nextel Cup race at Martinsville. Ty Majeski placed fifth, giving him finishes of sixth or better in the first two races of the season. Josh Berry (182.168) qualified fifth. We cried, we laughed it was just very, very special.. We have an amazing extended family that continues to inspire us with their generosity and passion for giving back. "I know that something came over me when I walked in. The sold out Learn Live Hope celebration will represent the new foundations first formal fundraising initiative. It stood as proof that they would stand as a company and as a family and fulfill the dreams of the people who died on that airplane. For reasons he has long ago forgotten, that bucket made its way into the attic of his parents' house in Virginia. Team owner Rick Hendrick told The Associated Press that Elliott was just out of surgery and it went well. Hendrick gave no additional details about Elliotts condition or the accident. It will absorb the Hendrick Marrow Program, which Rick Hendrick founded in 1997 and has raised more than $15 million in partnership with Be The Match to support I was renting the tools. "Rick lost his, but I always kept mine. That ranks second only to now-defunct Petty Enterprises. "All I see is that kid with that fishing rod. It ran in his blood.. Matthews is from back home in Virginia. We're going to get through this.' "To be honest, I have a hard time even comprehending that," Hendrick confesses. In 1997, Hendrick pleaded guilty to mail fraud. "When I see Rick I don't see all of that. 17 truck to the front multiple times throughout the day, taking the lead for the final time with 24 laps to go. The only way Hamlin can earn playoff points is by winning a stage (worth one playoff point) or a race (five playoff points). XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? It is black, a 2004 Z71 model. McGrew said it was clear at the time just how important the win was for Ricky and the Hendrick family and called it hands down, my favorite win of all time. I told him that last night. They had just spoken a week before this interview. Among them were his brother John, nieces Kimberly and Jennifer, and engine builder Randy Dorton, one of the race team's original five employees. Of course, he has our full support and well provide any resources he needs.. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. It happens, Gabehart told NBC Sports of the miscommunication on the radio. And his daughter, Lynn, wanted to join him. It wont be that far off for us. "We bought two rods together when we were 14 years old," Matthews said. Ben Rhodes placed third and was followed by Corey Heim and Ty Majeski. In 1976, he sold his assets to purchase a franchise in Bennettsville, South Carolina. "It was like I was with my extended family, and the love and support in that room was just overwhelming, how we all were so emotional," he said.