CONCORD, N.C. – Rick Hendrick built automobile and racing organizations from the ground up.
And since founding Hendrick Motorsports in 1984, Hendrick has dedicated his life not only to the industry, competition and sport, but also to the people around him who have helped along the way.
“It’s all about the chemistry and the people inside the company,” he said.
Hendrick was elected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Wednesday evening and said it’s an honor to be chosen while he’s still involved in the business.
Now in his 33rd season as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner, Hendrick shows no signs of slowing down and said there are still factors that drive him to achieve more in the sport.
“You get tired and your body is telling you that you need to slow down,” he said, “but for all the people that have worked there and are working there now that have worked hard and have grown up in the company, you want to keep it going. You want to see it continue. It’s kind of like when you build something and momentum is there and you just want to keep it going.”
Since 1984, his organization has amassed 242 wins, 208 pole positions, 995 top-five finishes and 1,660 top-10 finishes along with 11 Sprint Cup Series championships. But Hendrick is still aiming for more.
“It’s one of those things that I’d love to see 250 wins and maybe end up with another Cup championship or two,” Hendrick said. “We’ve accomplished so much and I’m very appreciative of where we are, but the competitive side in me and with the team that we have, we want more. You’ve just got to go dig every day.”
And Hendrick plans on staying active in the sport for the foreseeable future.
“I’m going to keep going as long as I can,” he said. “It’s just the love of the sport I’ve felt all my life and I’m very fortunate that I get to do something in life that I love."