Hendrick Motorsports News
Updated: 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Latest on Gordon's gasoline: Jeff Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports team avoided potential damage to its engine Friday when crewmen discovered lower-octane gasoline in its fuel cans during the day's first practice session at Infineon Raceway. The discovery was made when the team was topping off the #24 Chevry after Gordon had made brief runs early in the day's lone practice. Once the team realized the gasoline going into the car didn't have the expected bluish-green tint, crewmen alerted officials to the problem. That fuel was then drained from the car and replaced. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said officials checked every car in the garage after the Gordon issue was brought to their attention, but found no other problems. In addition to racing fuel, Infineon Raceway's tanks also contain lower-octane gas that can be used to fuel track vehicles. Track officials said Saturday that officials with Sunoco, the official fuel supplier for NASCAR, take control of the pumps a day before the track opens. In most cases, any pumps that dispense lower-octane fuel at a track are locked so that that fuel is not accidentally provided to competitors. Jeff Andrews, head of engine development for Hendrick Motorsports, said the team never made it out on the track with the lower-octane fuel. Such gasoline, he said, raised some concern initially. Teams arrive at the track for race weekends with empty fuel cells and gas cans. The cars are fueled while going through the inspection process prior to practice and only after the fuel cells have been inspected. The fuel that was added at that time, Andrews said, "looked normal" and said the Gordon team "was the only team in our camp that we know of, for sure, that had that issue."(SceneDaily)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Dale Jr & Shaq Set For Head-to-Head Race at Concord Speedway: The challenge has been issued and accepted. Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal has swapped his size-23 basketball shoes for racing Velcro; traded his breezy, cool basketball jersey for a heavy, fire-retardant driver's suit; forgone the familiarity of basketball hardwood for the cramped quarters of a stock-car cockpit – all 7-foot-1, 325 pounds of him. His reason: challenge NASCAR's most popular driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to a one-on-one race in a test of skill, endurance and speed. The competition will be featured in the second season of Shaq Vs., the popular television series that is part of ABC's new summer season. The show's premise is simple: O'Neal takes his top-level skills and athletic prowess from the basketball court and transfers it to a different and unfamiliar sporting event. The first season pitted Shaq in a head-to-head match-up against Albert Pujols in a homerun-hitting contest, Michael Phelps in a swimming race, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in beach volleyball, and Oscar de la Hoya in a boxing match. The race between O'Neal and Earnhardt Jr. will take place at 4:00pm/et on Wednesday, June 23, at Concord Speedway, a tricky, half-mile tri-oval that features some of the best weekly racing in North Carolina. The event is open to the public free of charge. Gates will open at 1:00pm/et. No cameras or phones will be allowed inside the facility. Terms of the race will be negotiated by O'Neal and Earnhardt Jr. on the day of the race. Shaq Vs. will premiere its second season on ABC Tuesday, Aug. 3.(JR Motorsports)
Kahne to remain in a Ford next season? And after qualifying at Infineon Raceway, Robbie Loomis, team manager for No. 9 Kasey Kahne, raised the intriguing idea that Kahne might stick around with his team for one more season – "Wouldn't that really be nice? And it sure would help us out." Whether Loomis was just raising an idea or whether there might be more to the issue was not clear. Kahne has signed a contract with Chevy rival Rick Hendrick beginning with the 2011 season; however Hendrick and Kahne have given no indication of what their game plan for 2011 might actually be. There is speculation that Hendrick might 'farm' Kahne out to team owner James Finch for 2011. Owners are now only allowed four Cup teams, and Hendrick already has four, before adding Kahne. But Loomis did work for Hendrick for several years, with Jeff Gordon, winning the 2001 NASCAR championship. And team owner Jack Roush, who provides engines and engineering for the Loomis-Kahne-Richard Petty-George Gillett operation, has expressed interest in how Hendrick might deal with that whole dilemma....particularly in light of NASCAR's own ruling that just forced Roush himself to cut back from five teams to four.(MikeMulhern.net)
Mark Martin presents check to hospital: Mark Martin not only made hundreds of Auto Club Speedway Hard Card season ticket holders happy, he made thousands of children at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital (LLUCH) and one little boy in the audience feel the same way. On Thursday, fresh off his 16th place finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, the driver of the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet made a quick trip South, en route to this weekend's race in Northern California to take part in an exclusive Auto Club Speedway Hard Card Members Q&A session with over 300 season ticket holders at Impulse, located in the Speedway's Opportunity, California FanZone. Martin also took part in a check presentation ceremony which saw Auto Club Speedway and Stater Bros. Supermarket officials present a check for more than $26,000 to LLUCH and The NASCAR Foundation. Present to accept the check on behalf of LLUCH was Jaylen Morris, a four-year-old heart patient who has a dream of becoming a NASCAR driver when he grows up. All were elated at the presentation. The monies raised were a result of two Auto Club Speedway "Jaylen's Car Washes" in support of NASCAR Day across the nation. More than 600 cars were washed at the Speedway on pit road to kick off NASCAR Day festivities on May 10 and two weeks later another car wash was held at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga. Turtle Wax®, the world leader in car care, donated all of the car care product used during "Jaylen's Car Wash" and each participant drove away with a sample of Turtle Wax's latest product Turtle Wax ICE. Additionally, over 3,500 NASCAR Day collectible lapel pins were given to customers who stopped by Stater Bros. Supermarkets in San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego and Kern counties in exchange for a $5 donation.(Auto Club Speedway)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Hendrick considering options for Kahne in 2011: Rick Hendrick says he has a lot more options for Kasey Kahne in 2011 than he expected when he first signed the Richard Petty Motorsports driver in April. The owner of Hendrick Motorsports offered no timeline for when a decision might be made, even though he originally said a deal should be in place within 90 days. "A lot of it is just waiting for the right time and the right deal," Hendrick said Friday at Infineon Raceway after being inducted into the track's Wall of Fame. "I haven't been in a hurry. We've got some good options and there are new deals coming out every day. I get unbelievable calls from people in this garage. We're just not ready to pull the trigger yet." Hendrick discounted a report that said Kahne would drive the No. 09 car for James Finch and Phoenix Racing next year before replacing Mark Martin in the No. 5 at HMS in 2012. That report also said Martin could take over part ownership of Phoenix Racing in 2012. Phoenix Racing officials said no conversations with Hendrick have taken place. "I don't know where that rumor came from," Hendrick said. Kahne said he and Hendrick spoke on Friday and that his 2011 situation wasn't part of the conversation. "I didn't even ask anything about next year and he didn't bring it up, either," Kahne said. "We were just talking about other stuff, so I would say there is no new news." Among the speculated possibilities for Kahne next year, in addition to Phoenix Racing, have been Stewart-Haas Racing and Red Bull Racing. Hendrick did say that Kahne would be in a Chevrolet, and Red Bull currently fields Toyotas. "The biggest problem with us, with me and the whole situation is I want to make the right decision for him and our company," Hendrick said. "I'm not really procrastinating as much as I'm trying to let everything unfold."(ESPN.com)
Gordon's fuel mystery: Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevy, for some reason no one really wanted to explain, wound up with a tank of gasoline that wasn't the right stuff, when it was filled up at the Sunoco gas pumps Friday morning. Sunoco officials said they couldn't discuss the situation and referred questions to NASCAR officials. NASCAR officials said they were studying the situation and didn't have anything to say just yet. "We'll know more after qualifying," NASCAR's Robin Pemberton said. Doug Duchardt, one of the top bosses at the Gordon-Rick Hendrick operation, likewise said he couldn't say much about the situation either. Chevrolet officials also declined to comment. A look at the three fuels available at the garage gas station shows two leaded fuels, one 114 octane, one 116 octane, and a third labeled 'unleaded' read "GTX260" at 98 octane. NASCAR teams are to be using the unleaded fuel. It would appear – and this is what some rivals were told – that a gas pumper inadvertently put some of the 'leaded' fuel in Gordon's car. The issue was apparently noted when the see-through fuel lines didn't show the blue-dye that NASCAR's official fuel carries, that it was instead clear. If there were other cars that also got the wrong fuel, it was unclear. But teams were told later to make sure the fuelers put the right fuel in their cars. There was some question that the 'wrong' fuel in Gordon's car might have been some new E-15 racing fuel, which is being tested for possible use next season in NASCAR. Duchardt said the fuel in question was not related to any fuel the team might have used in any recent testing: "We went to the pumps (Friday morning) and got the fuel. It wasn't the color we were used to. But I don't know if the contents of the fuel were incorrect or not. I haven't been in the middle of it with NASCAR so I don't know the specifics. They tested the fuel; they have the results."
Richard Childress: "I heard it (the fuel in Gordon's car) had some discoloration. It could have come from somewhere they were testing the car; they might not have gotten all of that (other fuel) out of the car. That would be easy to do." Gordon recently tested at Watkins Glen. Whether or not he might have tested with E-15 racing fuel is unclear. NASCAR teams have been testing with E-15 for some time, to help NASCAR with the planned changeover.(MikeMulhern.net)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Kahne uncertain of future plans: Kasey Kahne said he's still unsure where he'll drive next season, even with a report on Sports Illustrated's Web site that states he could be driving for James Finch's single-car team next season. "I've never even heard of that until just now,'' Kahne said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. "There's so many teams that have talked to Mr. Hendrick about 'Could we do this? Could we try this? Could we do this?' '' Kahne said. "There's a lot of them in the garage area trying to work something out with myself.''(Roanoke Times)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Wal-Mart considering NASCAR sponsorship: Walmart is in deep discussions with NASCAR team and league officials about a wide-ranging deal that has both sponsorship and licensing implications and could see the retail giant sponsor Hendrick Motorsports or another Sprint Cup team. Senior-level Walmart executives were guests of NASCAR at the May 22 Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte and returned a week later to tour race shops and meet more team executives as the mass retailer explores potential partnerships. While several scenarios are being considered and the talks remain fluid, industry sources say that Walmart is discussing the potential of a direct license that would make it NASCAR's exclusive retailer in the mass merchandise space. A direct license would give Walmart the ability to select its suppliers and set prices for certain categories, such as hats and T-shirts. These negotiations are going on as NASCAR attempts to roll its team and league licensing rights into a trust, which would create a centralized licensing agency for the sport. Walmart is believed to be exploring sponsorship opportunities with Hendrick Motorsports as well. Hendrick's drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin account for close to 75% of all licensed sales in the sport, industry analysts say, making it a logical team for Walmart to sponsor. Hendrick has also signed popular driver Kasey Kahne, who will take over Martin's No. 5 Chevy in 2012. Walmart is thought to be considering a sponsorship arrangement with a team or multiple teams, with Hendrick Motorsports in the middle of those discussions. It's unclear, though, if the mass retailer will settle on one car for a chunk of the season, sponsor multiple cars for a few races each, or perhaps put together several driver deals into a marketing platform, a la the Gillette Young Guns or the Coca-Cola family of drivers. One scenario, according to sources, has Walmart sponsoring Gordon's No. 24 Chevy for half of the season or more, as primary sponsor DuPont looks to scale back its spending. DuPont's current primary sponsorship on the No. 24 car ends this season, and while the longtime sponsor is expected to remain in some form, it's uncertain whether DuPont will remain the primary. Other industry insiders say it's unlikely that Walmart would sponsor a single driver because the retailer will potentially have licensing arrangements across a variety of drivers.(SceneDaily)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Stewart-Hass has held no conversation with Hendrick about third team: Stewart Haas Racing competition director Bobby Hutchens said on Sunday that he has had no formal discussions with Hendrick Motorsports about adding a third team for next season to accommodate Kasey Kahne. Though such decisions are usually finalized by late summer, he'd prefer to have a decision on a new program including driver and sponsor by June 1 to avoid disrupting the programs of Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman and "not be in a panic" in building cars and purchasing equipment for 2011. Kahne has signed to drive the No. 5 Chevy at Hendrick, but Mark Martin, the current occupant, is contracted through the end of 2011. Hendrick is working to outsource Kahne to a Chevrolet team under the premise that his current lineup will not change before 2012. "We have not had what I call permanent discussions with Mr. Hendrick or anybody at Hendrick Motorsports to zero in on (Kahne)," Hutchens said. "Kasey Kahne was definitely a possibility back when we started looking at this thing for ourselves in the middle of last year, so we're going to just see how all this shakes out." Hutchens said that in the current sponsor marketplace neither existing Stewart Haas team is fully funded for 2011, and Old Spice announced last week that it would not return after this season a new driver would almost certainly have to bring a sponsor.(ThatsRacin.com)
Monday, May 3, 2010
Rick Hendrick To Be Inducted Into Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick will be inducted into the Infineon Raceway Wall of Fame during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 race weekend, June 18-20. Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, is the most successful team owner in NASCAR history at Infineon Raceway with five Sprint Cup victories, all courtesy of Vallejo native Jeff Gordon. Gordon holds the record for most wins in Sonoma, including a three-peat in 1998-2000 (other wins, 2004 and 06). Hendrick drivers have also posted nine pole positions, including three consecutive poles by Ricky Rudd (1990-92), and 23 top-5 finishes in Sonoma. Brian Vickers also earned a victory for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR West Series at Infineon Raceway in 2006. Hendrick will join Gordon, who was inducted in 2006, on the Wall of Fame, as well as NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Rudd. He will be inducted into the Wall of Fame during a ceremony in the Wine Country Winner's Circle on Friday, June 18. Race fans are invited to attend. To learn more about the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway, visit infineonraceway.com/NASCAR or call 800-870-RACE.(Infineon Raceway PR)
May 1, 2010
Hendrick Motorsports announces multi-year extensions for Gustafson and Knaus: Crew chiefs Alan Gustafson and Chad Knaus have signed multi-year contract extensions with Hendrick Motorsports, the organization confirmed Friday. Gustafson, 34, is in his sixth season as crew chief of the No. 5 Chevy and has nine wins heading into Saturday night's event at Richmond International Raceway. The Ormond Beach, Fla., native joined Hendrick Motorsports 11 years ago as a chassis shop employee before being moved to the No. 5 team in 2000. He served as the shock specialist for two years and was named the lead engineer of the No. 5 car driven by Terry Labonte in 2002. In 2005, Gustafson took over as crew chief. "I'm extremely happy," Gustafson said of the extension. "I love this company. I love working for Hendrick Motorsports. I love Rick Hendrick (team owner) -- everything he has done for me in my career -- and to continue that on into the future is everything I've wanted. I truly love what I do." Now in his ninth season, Knaus is continuing his record-setting run as crew chief the No. 48 Chevy. With four consecutive Sprint Cup championships under his belt, the 38-year-old Rockford, Ill., native has etched his name in NASCAR's history books. Like Gustafson, Knaus' NASCAR career began with Hendrick Motorsports. Knaus took his first job with Hendrick in 1993 working with the No. 24 Chevy and crew chief Ray Evernham. Knaus did everything from fabricating pieces to changing tires prior to leaving the organization in 1997. He became crew chief for driver Stacy Compton in 2001 before returning to Hendrick Motorsports the following year to establish the No. 48 team with then-rookie Jimmie Johnson. Since partnering in 2002, Knaus and Johnson have turned into a dynamic duo, winning the most prestigious events on the NASCAR circuit, including the 2006 Daytona 500 and three Brickyard 400s (2006, 2008 and 2009) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'm pretty pleased, obviously," Knaus said. "I've spent the majority of my life at Hendrick Motorsports, since 1993, and I'd have a hard time thinking I would ever go anywhere else. This (No.) 24 team and this (No.) 48 team are very important to me, and I'm glad to be a part of it. I hope I'm here for a long time to come."(HMS Site)
Jimmie Johnson wants to wear down lazy drivers: There is no question that NASCAR is a sport, and a damn difficult one at that. What other criteria does Johnson have to meet to be a great athlete? Does he seek to outperform his opponents in a physical way? “I hope it’s nice and hot,” Johnson said, referring to the weather for the upcoming race in Dover, Del., on May 16. “I want to wear down some of the guys who don’t take their fitness as seriously as I do.” (Trentonian)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Report: Hendrick Motorsports renew Gustafson and Knaus contracts: Hendrick Motorsports has extended the contracts of crew chiefs Alan Gustafson and Chad Knaus. NASCAR's top team announced the multiyear extensions on Friday. Gustafson is currently crew chief for the No. 5 Chevy driven by Mark Martin. The extension likely means Gustafson will be paired with Kasey Kahne when he joins the team. Knaus has guided Jimmie Johnson to the last four NASCAR championships as No. rew chief of the No. 48.(Associated Press)
McGrew: Dale Jr. ready for summer stretch of races: Crew chief Lance McGrew believes his Dale Earnhardt Jr. team is prepared for the summer stretch of races. “I don’t think I need to motivate my crew to do what they are supposed to do,” McGrew said. “You surround yourself with guys that want to be at the race track, and they want to better themselves and the team. To me, I just try to worry about one race at a time. As we plug through the summer, the points will be harder and harder to get and the positions will be harder and harder to overtake, so you have to just keep a concerted effort to just race one at a time and get what you can get. Richmond kind of scares me because we didn’t really run that great in the fall and I don’t know why. So that’s one of the ones that I’ve been worried about. But the team is so much better, and Dale has more confidence so hopefully that will carry us through.”(USA Today)
Latest on Jimmie and Jeff: Behind the scenes at Hendrick , the four-time Cup champions [Johnson & Gordon] needed a second straight week of talks after curt words followed incidents on the track. Johnson said on Thursday team owner Rick Hendrick told him and Gordon not to let their bubbling feud start "breaking apart the organization." Johnson, Gordon and Hendrick spoke together on the phone this week to smooth over a rough patch in the relationship between the drivers. The championship teammates tangled on the track in successive weeks, leading Gordon to lash out at Johnson after Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway. Johnson said Hendrick understood they are competitive drivers who just want to win. But Hendrick didn't want the rivalry to split apart the race teams that work so closely together. Johnson said Hendrick told him, "You guys need to voice your opinions, handle things on the track as you see fit, but let's not let this carry on too far and affect the race shop." Johnson made a mistake that ultimately led to Gordon's wreck at Talladega. That came a week after the two had a run-in at Texas Motor Speedway.(Full story and more quotes at theAssociated Press)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Kahne to drive No. 5 in 2012; 2011 plans remain unclear: It was reported initially that Kahne's deal with Hendrick would begin in 2011. A source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Kahne will take over the No. 5 car for the 2012 season, but his 2011 plans are still undecided. "I've actually thought a lot about that but I'm not sure what I'm going to do next year," Kahne said after taking batting practice with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Tuesday. "I've given it some thought though." Sources confirm that Mark Martin will drive the No. 5 car through the 2011 season. There is room for Martin and Kahne in the Hendrick family. Stewart Haas Racing receives chassis, engines and technical support from HMS. So Kahne could be housed there until Martin's contract was up. Kahne is in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, and plans to finish the season in the No. 9 Ford, sources said. It is unknown whether Kahne's sponsor, Budweiser, will accompany him to HMS. Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports and entertainment marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said Budweiser is currently focused only on the current season with Kahne. "There have been no discussions relative to our sponsorship as of yet. We look forward to having those at the appropriate time," Wright said.(ESPN)
Hendrick statement on Kasey Kahne: Beginning with the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Kasey Kahne will drive the No. 5 Chevys of Hendrick Motorsports after signing a long-term contract with the organization. Mark Martin, 51, the current driver of Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 team, will complete the 2010 and 2011 seasons. When Kahne takes over in 2012, he will join teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Hendrick's four-car stable. "In Kasey, we saw an opportunity to cement a big piece of our future," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He possesses incredible talent and a tremendous dedication to his craft, and we know he'll be a great fit within our company. Kasey has earned the respect of his future teammates by the way he's handled himself on and off the racetrack, and we know he'll be a contributor to the success of Hendrick Motorsports for many years to come. To have someone of his caliber join our team is an unbelievable opportunity for us." "I have a comfort level with Mr. Hendrick, my future teammates and the culture of the organization," said Kahne, whose contract with Hendrick Motorsports will run through the 2015 Sprint Cup season. "For me, it's the right fit on every level, and I think it gives me a great chance to win races and compete for championships. "Determining the next step in my career has been an important process, and I'm excited and relieved to have the decision made and announced. Now it's my responsibility to put all of my energy into winning races and having a successful 2010 with my current team and our sponsors." Although 2012 and beyond has been solidified, Kahne is not scheduled to drive a Hendrick Motorsports entry in 2011 due to NASCAR's four-car limit. While who he will race for has not yet been determined, Kahne intends to drive a full Sprint Cup Series schedule next season. "If this opportunity was going to happen, I knew having some unanswered questions would be part of the scenario at this stage," Kahne acknowledged. "Hendrick Motorsports has a commitment to Mark Martin that they want to fulfill, and that's important. It's part of what attracts me to the team."(Hendrick Motorsports)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Report: Kahne to Hendrick Motorsports: Kasey Kahne, the hottest potential free agent in NASCAR entering the season, has signed a multiyear agreement to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2011, multiple sources close to negotiations confirmed to ESPN.com Tuesday. The details of the deal, such as which car Kahne will drive, are still being finalized, sources said. The prevailing thought is Kahne will occupy the No. 5 car currently driven by Mark Martin, sources said. Martin signed a contract extension last year through the 2011 season. There is room for Martin and Kahne in the Hendrick family. Stewart Haas Racing receives chassis, engines and technical support from HMS. So Kahne could be housed there until Martin's contract was up, if necessary. In 2008 Dale Earnhardt Jr. signed a five-year deal with Hendrick. Jimmie Johnson last year signed an extension through 2015, and Jeff Gordon has a lifetime contract. Kahne is in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, and plans to finish the season in the No. 9 Ford, sources said. It is unknown whether Kahne's sponsor, Budweiser, will accompany him to HMS. Hendrick Motorsports officials had no comment. Calls placed to Kahne, who turned 30 last weekend, and to his agent were not returned.(ESPN)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Did you know? Atlanta marked the first time since last year’s Watkins Glen race that no Hendrick Motorsports driver finished in the top 10. Last time it happened on an oval was in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. (Philadelphia Daily News)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Hendrick Motorsports concerned about axle problems: There is some concern at Hendrick Motorsports that the broken axle that left Dale Earnhardt Jr. with a 32nd-place finish on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway could be a more widespread problem. Earnhardt's crew chief, Lance McGrew, said the axle of race winner Jimmie Johnson was about six laps from breaking and that issues were discovered on other HMS cars during Saturday's final practice. "Oh, absolutely," McGrew told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "I'm sweating this weekend along with Atlanta, which is historically really bad on axles. To say there's not a stir about it would be an understatement." McGrew said so far no explanation has been found for the extreme wear. He said the problem first surfaced during Saturday's final practice when the left rear axle on Mark Martin's car, which shares a shop with the Earnhardts, looked "really bad." He said all four HMS teams replaced the axles before the race. "Ours wore out and [Johnson] barely finished the race," McGrew said. "There's no smoking gun, which is aggravating for us. But we'll get to the bottom of it."(ESPN.com)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Rick Hendrick getting street named after him near Hall of Fame: Visitors to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame might soon be able to take a stroll along Rick Hendrick Way. The city of Charlotte is considering a request to rename part of Brevard Street near the NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown after Charlotte businessman Rick Hendrick. Among his many ventures, Hendrick is team owner of Hendrick Motorsports. No firm decisions have been made, but officials are considering putting Hendrick’s name on at least the one block of Brevard between Stonewall and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Mayor Anthony Foxx said tonight. Foxx told council members the change could be a way to help honor Hendrick’s work in the community, including his philanthropic efforts. (Charlotte Observer)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Hendrick loans plane out to help Haitian orphans: Rick Hendrick didn't have a moment of hesitation when it came to finding a way to aid the Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Hendrick last week loaned one 45-passenger plane and an eight-person crew to an organization that is making mission flights into Haiti, but because of the desperate need in Haiti, the team has since made available a second Hendrick Motorsports airplane. In all, 10 members of the Hendrick aviation team are volunteering with Missionary Flights International to take both planes in and out of Port-au-Prince on daily flights. They are able to track the trips online, and Hendrick general manager Marshall Carlson on Monday noticed that one of the planes had not left Haiti as scheduled. Carlson said he tried to reach HMS aviation director Dave Dudley in Haiti, and received a text back: "Leaving Haiti with 26 orphans should be departing in 30 minutes," Dudley wrote. (AP)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Dale Jr: Hendrick Motorsports has made changes in engineering department: While Dale Earnhardt Jr. was here, he let everyone know that his Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 team had made some personnel changes, specifically in the engineering department. He tried to downplay them as much as possible, saying that he didn't want them to get blown out of proportion - as is the case so often even when Earnhardt Jr. sneezes. If I were a Vegas oddsmaker, I'd say Earnhardt Jr. is a decided underdog to make the Chase For The Sprint Cup in 2010. He simply didn't show enough at the end of the season - besides increased optimism - that next year could be a big rebound.(SceneDaily)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Rick Hendrick honored with Bill France Award of Excellence: Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports was honored with the Bill France Award of Excellence at the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony. The award was presented to Hendrivk by Betty Jane France, wife of the late Bill France Jr., who guided the sport from 1971-2003. "I wasn't expecting this one," Hendrick said during his acceptance speech at the Wynn Las Vegas. "This award means so much to me because of the relationship I had with Bill France and the respect I had for him." The award is not handed out annually by the France family, which has owned and operated NASCAR for 61 years. Named for NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., the award is presented when the NASCAR leadership believes someone is worthy of the recognition for contributions to the sport. "NASCAR has had many iconic figures throughout its rich history, and Rick Hendrick certainly falls into that category," Betty Jane France said. "Through the years, he has not only won our respect but our hearts as well." Hendrick did not know that Betty Jane France was at the banquet and the award was not listed in the agenda for the evening that celebrated Jimmie Johnson's fourth consecutive title in a season where Hendrick drivers swept the top three spots in the standings. "I've never seen him where he's in a position where he couldn't say what was on his mind," Johnson said after the ceremony. "It really got him. & For a minute there, I thought he was going to need to sit down and start over and come back to the podium. It's amazing. It means so much to Rick because of his friendship with Bill. I could only imagine how much that means to him. And then this year, you look at the 1-2-3 and all the success. You roll it all up in one, he's going to remember 2009 forever."(SceneDaily.com)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Update on Hendrick's niece: As much as Rick Hendrick wanted to be a part of Jimmie Johnson's record-breaking run on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his family's needs were more important. Instead of watching Johnson win his fourth straight Sprint Cup title, Hendrick was at hospital in North Carolina as his 29-year-old niece, Alesha Gainey, underwent a liver transplant. Gainey is the daughter of Hendrick's brother, John, who, along with two other daughters, was killed in a 2004 Hendrick Motorsports plane crash on the way to Martinsville Speedway. Hendrick said the surgery went well and Gainey, although not completely out of the woods, is in stable condition and recovering in intensive care.(ESPN)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Rick Hendrick to miss Homestead: A family emergency will keep team owner Rick Hendrick from celebrating a record-tying ninth Sprint Cup championship for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hendrick's 29-year-old niece Alesha Gainey, the daughter of John Hendrick who was killed in the 2004 plane crash near Martinsville Speedway, is undergoing an emergency liver transplant in North Carolina. "Rick obviously wishes he could be here . . . [but] Rick's priority at this point is to support his family at this crucial time," Hendrick Motorsports general managers Marshall Carlson said.(ESPN.com)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Chad Knaus named Crew Chief of the Year: For the second consecutive season, Chad Knaus, crew chief for Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevy, was named the coveted 2009 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. The announcement was made Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway prior to the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale. After capturing his fifth Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in 2009 during last weekend's race at Phoenix, Knaus moved out of a tie with Darian Grubb, crew chief for the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy and driver Tony Stewart. Grubb finished the season with four Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race awards. Presenting the 2009 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year trophy to Knaus was Wypall Wipers Category Manager Tom Merrill and Jeff Hammond, who also serves as a spokesperson for Wypall Wipers. In addition to the limited edition trophy, Knaus received a check for $20,000.00. The 2009 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge has been a season-long contest that has strived each week to determine the best crew chiefs in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage.(Wypall PR)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports denies Patrick deal: Rick Hendrick said Sunday he has no deal to bring IndyCar superstar Danica Patrick to NASCAR, and there's no certainty she'll even be driving stock cars next season. "I just think that they are not even close to making a decision on whether to even do it this year or next year," Hendrick said of Patrick and her representatives at IMG. "You never know until it's done. You never know until it's signed. And anybody can change their mind. When you get down to the nitty gritty of any deal, it's always complicated. There can always be someone who comes back and says `I can't do it because of this.' So until it's done, it's not done. And that's the honest truth." Patrick is reportedly in the final stages of a contract that would partner her on a limited Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports, the team owned by both Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. But speaking before Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway, Hendrick called the reports "premature" and insisted nothing is imminent. "I think everything is an option, and it's just too early to really comment on it," he said. "I can't give you anything concrete, because there isn't anything concrete right now. Nothing is imminent until it's signed. Too many things can happen." Hendrick, who just returned from a weeklong vacation in Israel, said there have been no new developments in talks with Patrick and that IndyCar remains her first priority. Existing contracts she has in that series could also complicate a potential venture into NASCAR. Patrick has said very little about her 2010 plans, including an apparent contract extension to stay with Andretti Green Racing. Part of that holdup is a pending change of team ownership, which is expected to be transferred solely to Michael Andretti.(Associated Press)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Rick Hendrick says teams' NASCAR success is "humbling": People power is more important than horsepower. Rick Hendrick believes that. The 60-year-old multi-millionaire business executive's Chevrolet team has become the NASCAR Sprint Cup series' gold standard. Hendrick is virtually assured of a ninth Cup championship - and possibly an historic fourth in a row with Jimmie Johnson. Most of Hendrick's 6,000 employees - over 500 on his race teams - swear there's no better boss. When Kyle Busch was released to Joe Gibbs Racing two years ago, crew chief Alan Gustafson dismissed reports he might follow. "I'd rather sweep floors for Rick Hendrick than be a crew chief for someone else," he said. Hendrick, who answered questions from The Republic by e-mail because he was traveling internationally, calls that "humbling." "I take so much pride in watching these guys like Alan and Steve (Letarte, Gordon's crew chief), who have come up through the organization, from literally sweeping floors in the shop to being crew chiefs. I think it goes back to putting the right people in place and then providing them with opportunities to be successful and show what they're capable of doing . . . I can't tell you how gratifying that is." (Arizona Republic)
Wednesday, Novermber 4, 2009
Report: Danica Patrick to sign with JR Motorsports: Danica Patrick is nearing completion of a two-year contract with JR Motorsports, the NASCAR Nationwide Series operation owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a source close to the negotiations described them as "in the final phase." The partnership is expected to make its on-track debut during next February's Daytona Speedweeks. Both the Patrick and Earnhardt camps declined comment. Patrick will compete in NASCAR's second-largest series for JR Motorsports while continuing to race full-time for Andretti Green Racing in IndyCar. Earnhardt and Patrick already have a corporate connection, in current sponsorship deals with GoDaddy.com. The Web site registration service is a sponsor on JR Motorsports' No. 88 Chevy, which has been earned four Nationwide Series wins this season with Brad Keselowski at the wheel. Keselowski is leaving the team at season's end to drive for Penske Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. GoDaddy.co, also recently signed on to sponsor Hendrick's No. 5 Chevy beginning in 2010. That car is currently driven by Mark Martin, who is signed through 2011.(ESPN.com)
Delphi and Hendrick extend partnership: Delphi announced that it will continue its associate sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. Delphi will be the primary sponsor for two Sprint Cup races with driver Mark Martin in the No. 5 Delphi/GoDaddy.com Chevy. The race details will be announced in the near future. Additionally, Delphi will be an associate sponsor of all Hendrick Motorsports 2010 Sprint Cup entries. Delphi will continue to be featured on the uniforms of all Hendrick Motorsports drivers for the 2010 season, including four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin. "Our long-standing relationship with Delphi has been fantastic," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "The association has been incredibly important to our company from both a quality and technology standpoint, and we look forward to having Delphi continue as a key partner for the 2010 season."(HMS PR)
Friday, October 30, 2009
No. 88 crew chief Lance McGrew to return in 2010: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has named Lance McGrew the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevys driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series. The 41-year-old McGrew assumed the role May 28 on an interim basis. "I have total faith in Lance and what he's capable of accomplishing with Dale Jr.," Hendrick said. "There was a lot of pressure with how he came into this deal, and the way he's handled it has been extremely impressive. Lance is confident in himself and in his decisions, and all the outside distractions aren't going to faze him. He's a strong-willed guy who will keep his eye on the ball and not settle." McGrew will complete the final four races of the 2009 schedule, beginning with this weekend's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega, Ala., and return in 2010, which will mark the 11th full-time Sprint Cup season for Earnhardt.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Hendrick keeping McGrew as Crew Chief for No. 88? Rick Hendrick is committed to Lance McGrew remaining Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief for the rest of the Sprint Cup season and appears to be leaning toward keeping them together in 2010. "My philosophy has always been if you can fix something rather than start all over then I'd whole lot rather fix it," the owner of Hendrick Motorsports said before Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "When I see the car as the best car out there in my group for two or three of the races and then just have crappy luck, it's almost like, 'Hey, let's focus on the little things that can make it better.' " Hendrick's comments came 24 hours after Earnhardt expressed frustration with how his season has gone since switching from long-time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. to McGrew in June. (More at ESPN.com)
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tom Cruise narrates Hendrick Motorsports documentary: TOGETHER: The Hendrick Motorsports Story, NASCAR Media Group's documentary-style film chronicling the history of the eight-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship team, will air Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1:30pm/et on ABC, prior to the network's live Pepsi 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race coverage from Fontana, Calif. Narrated by three-time Academy Award nominee Tom Cruise and presented by Pepsi, TOGETHER employs exclusive interviews, never-before-seen archival footage, thrilling racing sequences and rare family photography to detail the personal relationships and emotional events that have shaped one of NASCAR's most decorated organizations. Cruise, an auto racing enthusiast, starred in the 1990 NASCAR-themed motion picture Days of Thunder. The script was co-written by Shawn Truax and Ray Didinger and directed by Rory Karpf.(PR)
Monday, Sept. 7, 2009
Tony Eury Jr to stay with Hendrick Motorsports: Tony Eury Jr. said Saturday he plans to remain under the Hendrick Motorsports banner. Eury, who is currently in the second season of a five-year contract with HMS, certainly has plenty of options even staying in the role he had Saturday night assisting with the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series. JRM will field two cars in the NNS the Nos. 88 and 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday that Kelly Bires is verbally committed to replace Brad Keselowski, while a variety of drivers (including Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Michael McDowell) will pilot the No. 5. When asked if Eury had visited Richard Childress Racing recently to discuss a potential job, he just laughed. "Who said I wasn't up there just to tour the museum?" Eury replied. Eury has spent the last three months since he resigned from his role as crew chief of the No. 88 Cup car completing a long awaited "honey-do" list. Professionally, he's been working on the development of the new car for the Nationwide Series. He still enjoys the occasional taste of being a crew chief with the No. 25 Cup car, but adding a full-time deal would preclude him for doing many things that he loves. And what about Eury joining Keselowski at Penske Racing next year, a possibility reported Saturday by The Charlotte Oberserver? "I'm happy at Hendrick Motorsports," Eury said. "We wish Brad well. We hope he finishes fifth behind the four Hendrick cars."(FOXSports.com)
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009
Keselowski says announcement is coming soon: Brad Keselowski remained noncommittal this weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on his future in NASCAR, though he did say an announcement on his plans will come "shortly." Keselowski, a full-time Nationwide Series driver for JR Motorsports and a part-time Sprint Cup driver for Hendrick Motorsports and Phoenix Racing, is rumored to be joining Penske Racing in 2010 - perhaps running both series full time for the team. Keselowski has said he wanted to drive full time in both series, and those plans remain in place. "I'm confident that I will run full time in both series next season," he said. If he joins Penske, he could be a teammate to Justin Allgaier in the Nationwide Series. Allgaier said Saturday he told Penske officials he didn't want to know about the team's plans until they were official.(SceneDaily.com)
Friday, Aug. 7, 2009
Keselowski only option for 2010 is the No. 09? Brad Keselowski may only have one option if he wants to drive full-time in a Hendrick Motorsports-supported Sprint Cup car in 2010: Phoenix Racing. Tony Stewart told reporters on Wednesday in Texas that it was doubtful Stewart-Haas Racing will expand to three teams next season. Plus, sources said Stewart had no interest in Keselowski, anyway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently said it was doubtful his Nationwide Series team supported by HMS would expand to Cup. Red Bull general manager Jay Frye, on the chance that his organization moves to General Motors with Hendrick support, said he is not looking at expansion. That leaves Phoenix Racing, which is running 10 races with Keselowski in cars with HMS motors and chassis this season [and the rest of the season in Dodges]. They already teamed for a win at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this year. Keselowski says he has about six options, but most of those are now outside of HMS. One appears to be moving to Penske Racing, but that would throw a wrinkle in his plans to stay in Earnhardt's Nationwide program that runs Chevrolets. Penske runs Dodges and it's not likely the driver will be allowed to compete for two manufacturers.(ESPN Insider)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Edwards: Hendrick Motorsports has closed the gap: Hendrick Motorsports is batting .400, having won eight of the 20 Sprint Cup races this season. That already matches the organization's number of wins in 2008 and has rival teams scrambling to close the gap before the Chase begins. "There are no big gaps anymore," said Carl Edwards, who won a series-most nine races last year but is still looking for his first 2009 win for Roush-Fenway Racing. "But whatever gap (Hendrick) has is just enough to be pretty strong." Though Tony Stewart, of his newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing, leads the standings heading into Sunday's Pennsylvania 500, Hendrick drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are running second and third. (KC Star)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Despite success Hendrick is not resting easy: Rick Hendrick has a bad feeling. Actually, it's just not as good a feeling as he often has. And this was after his driver, Jimmie Johnson, won Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the third time in four years, beating another Hendrick driver, Mark Martin, and third-place finisher, Tony Stewart, who drives equipment provided by Hendrick Motorsports. "I never get comfortable," Hendrick says. That's why Hendrick Motorsports is NASCAR's premier organization. Look around, though, and no one is close to Hendrick Motorsports, not counting Stewart-Haas Racing, which gets chassis, engines and technical support from the same group working on the cars of Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Johnson and Martin. (Carroll County Times)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Keselowski happy to forfeit ROTY to get more seat time: It looks like Brad Keselowski won't run for Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2010. The hot, young driving prospect has started seven Cup races in 2009, which is the maximum allowed by NASCAR in order to retain a rookie standing. Keselowski, who won the Cup race at Talladega, will lose the chance to run for rookie honors with one more Cup start. After his seventh start at Chicagoland on Saturday night, Keselowski said, "I just want to continue to gain experience and have fun at the same time." Back in May, the 25-year-old driver said he would give up a chance for the rookie title if he continued to get quality seat time. (Daytona News-Journal)
Dale Jr is happy to be a racecar driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked if he has ever questioned his decision to be a racecar driver: "Never a moment, never happens�That's what being a racecar driver so cool is you know what you want to do, you know where you want to be, you know where you have to be and it's easier. I had to work at a real job and I know what that's like. Being a racecar driver is where it's at�The business part of it is not a real pain. It's not what I got into the sport for. Parts of it is pretty interesting, parts of it aren't, parts of it are boring. I don't like meetings any more than the next guy. The driving part is what you get into it for. There's other things that come along with it, good and bad. You just take it." (WDNE)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Keselowksi to Red Bull Racing? Brad Keselowski wasn't kidding when he said he had "options" for next season. In addition to being close to re-signing a deal with JR Motorsports to run in the Nationwide Series, the latest buzz has Special K paired with Red Bull Racing. If Keselowski indeed stays with JRM, the only scenario that would work on the Cup side would be with a Chevy team. Maybe Red Bull is closer to inking a Chevy deal. Rick Hendrick said on Saturday that HMS has the resources to include Red Bull in its engine program.(FOXSports.com)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Eury Jr to crew chief for Keselowski this weekend: This weekend will mark the first time that Brad Keselowski will work with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. Prior to this weekend, Keselowski worked with Lance McGrew, and the pair scored a team-high finish of seventh at Darlington Raceway. In the Nationwide Series, Keselowski works with Eury's father, crew chief Tony Eury Sr.(Hendrick PR)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Danica Patrick to Hendrick Motorsports... With Dale JR to JR Motorsports? If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Jr Motorsports to move to Cup series; Red Bull Racing to Chevrolet? Car owner Rick Hendrick said before the race that such a move is being examined by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelley. Hendrick mentioned that as he discussed possible teams be working with next year through engine programs, chassis programs or technical support. One report has stated that Red Bull could leave Toyota and join Chevrolet and be aligned with Hendrick like Stewart-Haas Racing is. Hendrick also said his organization could handle it if Stewart-Haas expanded to three teams as Tony Stewart said could happen this year.(The Virginian-Pilot)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Hendrick releases statement concerning GM bankruptcy: Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group, today responded to the announcement by General Motors that it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection: "The products General Motors offers are the highest quality and most fuel efficient in its history, and I have an unwavering faith in the company's leadership team and our government's commitment to support this reorganization. After all of the efforts of the past several months, it's unfortunate that bankruptcy has become the only option, but we at Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports are certain that GM will emerge from this stronger and better equipped to compete than ever before. Hendrick Automotive Group can say with confidence that the customers of our 27 General Motors franchises can expect the same high level of care and service that our dealerships have always provided, and that the full range of warranties and parts will be available. From a racing perspective, our heritage is with General Motors. In 25 years together, Hendrick Motorsports has won eight Sprint Cup Series titles with Chevrolet, which has more NASCAR championships and wins than any other auto manufacturer. Since I was a kid, Chevy has represented the highest level of performance. I've never wanted to race anything else, and I have every confidence that we will continue to celebrate victories together for many more seasons to come. Speaking for the more than 6,000 teammates at Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports, it has been a great privilege to be a small part of GM's rich history, and we are looking forward to an even brighter future together."(HMS PR)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Official announcement - Eury Jr released of No. 88 crew chief duties: Hendrick Motorsports today named Lance McGrew as interim crew chief of the No. 88 Sprint Cup Series team of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. beginning with the June 7 event at Pocono Raceway. Team manager Brian Whitesell will lead the team this weekend at Dover. "Our performance hasn't been where it should be," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "It's impossible to pin that on any one factor, but a change is the right decision at this point. We have a plan in place, and we're going to move forward with it." Whitesell and Rex Stump, Hendrick Motorsports' lead chassis engineer, have been assigned to support McGrew on a full-time basis. Whitesell, who won two of seven races as Jeff Gordon's interim crew chief in 1999, will join McGrew and team engineer Tom Stewart on the No. 88 pit box to assist with race strategy. "We're going to put our full resources toward improving the situation and winning races," Hendrick said. "It's going to be a collective effort that includes all of our drivers, all of our crew chiefs and all of our engineers. Everyone in our company will be involved on some level." Tony Eury Jr. will move from the crew chief position into a key role with Hendrick Motorsports' research and development group. Eury posted one victory, one pole position, 19 top-10 finishes and 11 top-fives in 48 races with the No. 88 team. "I have mixed feelings, and that's just natural," Eury said. "But I enjoy working at Hendrick Motorsports, and this is where I want to be. I'll do whatever I can to help all of our teams and try to be a part of another championship. I think a new challenge will be good." McGrew, 41, earned the 2003 Nationwide Series championship with driver Brian Vickers. He won the October 2006 Sprint Cup race with Vickers at Talladega, and most recently led Cup rookie Brad Keselowski to a seventh-place finish May 9 at Darlington. As a crew chief, McGrew has posted victories in all three of NASCAR's major touring series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck. He has won races with drivers Vickers, Jeff Gordon, Ricky Hendrick, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin and most recently Tony Stewart Feb. 14 at Daytona Beach.(HMS PR )
Monday, May 18, 2009
Rick Hendrick to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show: Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group, will make an appearance on the Tuesday, May 19 edition of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." The episode is entitled "Heroes in Hard Times." "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is produced in Chicago by Harpo Productions Inc. and syndicated to 214 domestic stations by CBS Television Distribution Group and to 143 countries by CBS Paramount International Television. It has been the No. 1-rated talk show for 22 consecutive seasons. Visit www.oprah.com for local listings.(HMS PR )
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports pilots cleared in crash: Hendrick Motorsports pilots Richard Tracy and Elizabeth Morrison were not willfully and recklessly negligent in the October 2004 crash near Martinsville, Va., that killed 10 people, a federal jury has decided in U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, N.C. The decision, filed May 5 and entered into the court docket Thursday, ended the first phase of the trials surrounding the crash, which killed four members of the Hendrick family, two Hendrick employees, two others and both pilots. The verdict, which followed a 10-day trial, ended the first of two trials associated with the crash. The second phase will be a bench trial, which will begin July 7. The jury trial centered around a claim from widow Dianne Dorton, wife of HMS engine builder Randy Dorton, on whether the pilots’ estates could be held liable for the actions of the pilots. The jury decided that the actions of the pilots did not meet the negligence requirements for their estates to be held liable. The bench trial will cover five cases involving widows Dorton; Linda Turner, wife of HMS general manager Jeff Turner; and Tracy Lathram, wife of Tony Stewart pilot Scott Lathram, a passenger on the plane; HMS Holdings, parent company of Hendrick Motorsports; and the United States.(SceneDaily)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Hendrick returns after illness: Rick Hendrick was stricken with a sinus infection that spread to both his chest and ears, keeping him away from the track another three races. He needed tubes inserted in both ears to fight the infection. "They say the tubes are for kids, so I guess I'm a 59-year-old kid with ear infections," he said Tuesday. "I've got a weak immune system, and this infection just jumped on me. I was a sick puppy there for about three weeks. But I am much better, feeling more like myself." Hendrick's immune system was weakened by a long, but successful, fight with leukemia 12 years ago. "If I am not careful, I get knocked on my butt," said Hendrick, who spent more than four hours with employees Tuesday passing out the championship rings from Johnson's third title. (AP/ESPN.com)
Monday, May 11, 2009
Brad Keselowski a little disappointed with not being in No. 5: When asked if he was disappointed he lost out on a chance to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports next season, Brad Keselowski waited a few moments to answer. “That’s a tough question. Every driver feels they are ready and capable of doing it, and I’m no exception,” Keselowski said after finishing seventh in Saturday night’s Southern 500. “That’s a premier ride. “I’m disappointed with any ride I don’t get at this point. I sure would like to drive that car.” (ThatsRacin.com)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Keselowski evaluating next year's options: Brad Keselowski wants to race full-time next season in the Sprint Cup Series, he's just not sure where he'll find the seat. His first choice, he said Friday, is Hendrick Motorsports. NASCAR's newest Cup winner is exclusively negotiating with Hendrick on a long-term contract. He currently races full-time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, and has a developmental deal with Hendrick that runs through the end of the year. "The key part of it is to stick with what got you where you're at," Keselowski said at Richmond International Raceway. "Having competitive cars and support from Hendrick Motorsports is what got me to Victory Lane at Talladega."It's hard to run from that, but at the same time there isn't a clear opportunity. So we have to see how that works out." (AP)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Report: Hendrick denies any Crew Chief swap: Will rumors of a Hendrick Motorsports separation of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. ever end? Ever? Ever? Never, as long as there are upstart, cottage-industry Web-sites churning this stuff out, and others linking to it. "There's absolutely nothing to this," came an e-mail reply from high-up inside Hendrick, when the latest one was checked. The wackiness warranted a double-check high-up at Hendrick, which brought the firm reply, "Not a shred of truth to any of it."(ESPN Insider)
Rick Hendrick considered swapping Eury and Gustafson? Sources within Hendrick Motorsports confirmed to Captain Thunder that discussions were held over the Easter break regarding the possible switching of crew chiefs between the #5 and #88 teams. Mark Martin's crew chief Alan Gustafson was said to be on the block and was willing to move to the #88 team and Martin was willing to support the move. The discussions over Easter ended with an agreement between the two teams and Mr. Hendrick to keep their current teams in tact for at least three more weeks to see if both teams could improve on the slow start they have endured through the first part of the 2009 Sprint Cup season. Sources said Eury Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin, and Gustafson all agreed that if Mr. Hendrick wanted a change, they would be willing to swap Gustafson for Eury Jr. However, with Martin's win Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix, any switch is now out of the question for the foreseeable future. (CaptainThunderRacing.com)
Hendrick plane crash trial began Tuesday: A trial to determine who was responsible for the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash that killed 10 people Oct. 24, 2004, on the way to a NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled to begin Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, N.C. At issue is who is responsible for the accident – HMS Holdings (parent company of Hendrick Motorsports), the pilots themselves or the government, which is responsible for the air-traffic controllers.The trial covers five cases involving widows Dianne Dorton (wife of HMS engine builder Randy Dorton), Linda Turner (wife of HMS general manager Jeff Turner), and Tracy Lathram (wife of Tony Stewart pilot Scott Lathram, a passenger on the plane); HMS Holdings; the pilots’ estates; and the United States. According to court documents, the crash resulted when the pilots overshot the airport by five miles and failed to follow the missed-approach procedure for the Martinsville/Blue Ridge Airport, which requires a climbing right turn to avoid Bull Mountain. The plane, in heavy cloud cover, climbed without turning and crashed into the mountain, killing all 10 aboard. According to court documents, the government blames Hendrick pilots Richard Tracy and Elizabeth Morrison for failing to follow procedure. Hendrick and the widows believe the government shares some of the responsibility for the actions of the air-traffic controllers. (SceneDaily.com)
No. 5's Alan Gustafson Named Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race
Friday, April 3, 2009
Brad Keselowski in No. 25 at Texas: Brad Keselowski will attempt to qualify the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. This is Keselowski's fifth attempt at making a Sprint Cup Series event and his fourth for Hendrick Motorsports. Keselowski has qualified three times driving the No. 25 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports and most recently drove the #25 Chevy to a 38th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 1. After this weekend at Texas, Keselowski will attempt to make the field in five more Sprint Cup races this season for Hendrick Motorsports. Keselowski will try to line up the No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet at Darlington on May 9, Dover on May 31, Chicago on July 11, Michigan on Aug. 16, and Kansas on Oct. 4. Crew chief Lance McGrew has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 25-537 for this weekend's event at Texas Motor Speedway. The car, which will be pitted by Keselowski's No. 88 Nationwide Series crew, has not been raced or tested, although McGrew and his team took it to the wind tunnel last month.(HMS PR)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Hendrick, ex-gov had close relationship: Former Gov. Mike Easley crashed one of NASCAR titan Rick Hendrick's race cars, went with him to receptions and hung around with him at races. But the relationship between the two men goes deeper than public appearances, and it has been good to both. Records obtained by The News & Observer show that Easley traveled last year on a Hendrick racing team jet to Hendrick's retreat on a Florida island. The records also show that former first lady Mary Easley has been driving a new $30,000 Honda Accord that the Easleys didn't buy. It belongs to one of Hendrick's Charlotte dealerships, which bought it during the final week of Easley's administration. Racing businesses owned by Hendrick and others have received tax breaks for corporate jet fuel and other government help, sometimes with Easley's assistance. (Charlotte Observer)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
HMS engine failures caused by bad parts: Hendrick Motorsports officials say a bad batch of parts led to engine failures by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. "Both cars had valve train failures that were related to a specific batch of parts from a vendor," said Doug Duchardt, HMS' vice president of development. Duchardt said the parts were not restricted to use by Earnhardt and Martin, whose cars are prepared out of the same building. He said they also were used by Hendrick drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, as well as lease programs such as Stewart-Haas Racing. Earnhardt finished 39th and Martin 40th after both lost their engines within 25 laps of each other. Gordon finished second and Johnson was ninth, combining to lead 138 of 250 laps. Tony Stewart was eighth and led three laps. "So we're glad it wasn't more widespread," Duchardt said. (ESPN.com)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Langenstein recipient of 2008 Papa Joe Hendrick Award of Excellence
Brad Keselowski to attempt seven races: Brad Keselowski will kick off his 2009 Sprint Cup Series schedule by attempting to qualify for the March 1 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports this week finalized the Shelby 427 and six other Sprint Cup events for the 24-year-old driver. It was announced Jan. 7 that Keselowski, a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., will attempt a seven-race Sprint Cup schedule this season for Hendrick Motorsports in the #25 GoDaddy.com Chevys. The effort will be led by veteran crew chief Lance McGrew. "It's exciting to have everything finalized and ready to go for 2009," said Keselowski, who also will compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. "We're going to some tracks where I'm pretty confident, and we're going to some places where I really need the additional seat time. I'm especially excited about going to Michigan. The track isn't far from Rochester Hills, and it's going to be really cool to race in front of all my family and friends. All the tracks we're going to are great, but that one will definitely be a highlight for me. .(HM PR)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Ginn/HMS Holdings contract numbers: If you’re looking to lease engines from Hendrick Motorsports for a NASCAR operation, you’d better be prepared to open up your wallet. A legal battle being played out in North Carolina courts is offering rare insight into the usually secretive world of the sport’s finances as the Hendrick operation seeks compensation from the Ginn Racing team that wound up as part of Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2007. According to a contract filed as part of the case, the Hendrick engine lease agreement with Ginn Racing called for Ginn to pay a base rent of $12.8 million in 2007 and $13.7 million in 2008 to lease engines for its three Sprint Cup teams and one team in what is now the Nationwide Series. The fee covered Cup engines for 36 race events and up to nine tests or special events and Nationwide engines for 35 events, according to the contract filed as part of a lawsuit by HMS Holdings against Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. over the termination fees resulting from the Ginn-DEI merger in July 2007.(SceneDaily.com)
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Jeff Gordon willing to take salary cut: On Monday, Jeff Gordon, four-time Cup champion, told the Sporting News wire service he is willing to take a salary cut -- Forbes magazine lists his annual income, including endorsements, at $32 million -- if it would help his team, Hendrick Motorsports, through the economic crisis. "It's no laughing matter," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. "It's tough times. It's something to be very serious about. ... I'll do whatever it takes for us to have the best team we can possibly have. If that means take part of my salary to keep certain people on or hire certain people, I'll do it." Gordon added that luxuries that go with being a racing star probably no longer are warranted. "It's stupid what we spend on motor homes and planes and all this," he said. "Do we need that? No." (ThatsRacin)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
HMS Holdings sues DEI: HMS Holdings, which operates the Hendrick Motorsports engine shop, is suing Dale Earnhardt Inc. for $1.5 million for the payment of a termination fee stemming from a contract to supply Hendrick engines to Ginn Racing. Ginn Racing, which also is a defendant in the suit filed Friday in North Carolina Superior Court, merged with DEI in July 2007. As part of the merger, DEI and Ginn Racing signed a termination agreement to a contract that was originally signed by Ginn in 2006. The termination agreement required payments to HMS of $1.754 million by July 31, 2007, and $1.5 million by Nov. 15, 2008, according to the suit. (SceneDaily.com)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Brad Keselowski to attempt Homestead: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #25 GoDaddy.com Chevy, will attempt to qualify for his second Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Keselowski, 24, made his Cup debut earlier this month at Texas Motor Speedway and picked up Sunday's race at Homestead after his first qualifying attempt at Lowe's Motor Speedway was rained out. Keselowski joined elite company after making his Cup debut on Nov. 2 at Texas Motor Speedway, rallying from a 37th-place starting spot to finish 19th. Of his four Hendrick Motorsports teammates, only Dale Earnhardt Jr. did better in his Cup debut. Earnhardt scored a 16th-place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1999. Veteran crew chief Lance McGrew once again will call the shots for Keselowski and the #25 GoDaddy.com Chevy team at Homestead-Miami Speedway. McGrew, who has been successful working with young drivers like Ricky Hendrick, Vickers and Kyle Busch, is a former Sprint Cup Series race winner and Nationwide Series champion.(HMS PR)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Johnson, Hendrick on ABC/ESPN's Phoenix telecast: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series viewers in two time zones were somewhat surprised to see Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway moved to another network before it was concluded. After a pair of red-flag periods delayed the race, which had engines firing for the start at 3:52 EST, ABC officials made the decision to shift the conclusion of the race to ESPN2 in order to show the regularly-scheduled "America's Funniest Home Videos" to viewers in Eastern and Central Standard Time zones. Race winner Jimmie Johnson and team owner Rick Hendrick were surprised to hear of the switch following the event. "It doesn't say very much," team owner Rick Hendrick said when asked what the move said about the Chase. "I didn't know that. That's where my mother is. I'm glad my phone went dead at the end of the race." Johnson laughed in his response, but admitted his own surprise. "Well, I thought it went dark and nobody could watch it," he said. "So the fact that it was on another television channel was, I mean, it's better. It's still somewhat on a prime channel of course on ABC, but to go to America's Funniest Home Videos, that one hurts, no doubt. I thought we have a lot of characters. Why do we need that show?" (ScaneDaily.com)
Friday, July 4, 2008
Hendrick Motorsports announces Mark Martin in the #5 in 2009: Mark Martin, a 35-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner and the all-time leader in NASCAR Nationwide Series victories, has signed a two-year agreement to drive for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2009. Martin will race the full 2009 Sprint Cup schedule in the No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolets, becoming teammates with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. It will mark his first full season of Cup competition since 2006, when he finished ninth in points. A Batesville, Ark., native, Martin also is slated to run a partial Sprint Cup schedule for Hendrick Motorsports in 2010, sharing the No. 5 Chevys with a to-be-determined second driver. Martin will enter 26 events, including the non-points Budweiser Shootout and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. "Mark is an incredible racer and one of the classiest guys around," said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, whose organization will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009. "He is a driver who makes everyone around him better, and our entire company is going to benefit from his presence." (HMS PR)
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