Rick Hendrick

Rick Hendrick (born July 12, 1949), born in Charlotte is an owner of several NASCAR stock cars, as well as one of the largest automotive chains in the United States.

Related Topics:
July 12 - 1949 - Charlotte - NASCAR - Stock car - Automotive - United States

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Hendrick Motorsports, founded in 1984, is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR racing, with championships won in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2001. As the head of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick owned several race cars, including the Nextel Cup cars of Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, and Jimmie Johnson, and the Busch Series car of Kyle Busch.

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Hendrick Motorsports - 1984 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 2001 - Nextel Cup - Jeff Gordon - Terry Labonte - Brian Vickers - Kyle Busch - Jimmie Johnson - Busch Series

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The Hendrick Automotive Group was founded by Hendrick in 1976 as a single dealership in Bennettsville, South Carolina. Today, the company consists of over 65 dealerships in about 10 states, and annual revenues are over $3 billion. Hendrick is currently serving as chairman of the company.

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1976 - Bennettsville, South Carolina

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In 1996, Rick Hendrick was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. With successful treatment, the disease went into remission within three years.

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

Related Topics:
Bribery - Mail fraud - 1980s - Honda - BMW - Prison - Probation - 2000 - President Clinton

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On October 24, 2004, Hendrick's son, Ricky Hendrick and nieces and brother were killed in an airplane crash en route to the Subway 500 in Martinsville, Virginia. All eight passengers and both pilots died in the incident.

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October 24 - 2004 - Ricky Hendrick - Killed in an airplane crash - Subway 500 - Martinsville, Virginia

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