Hendrick to Honor Students Before IRP Race
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 1, 2002) -- Ricky Hendrick, driver of the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Busch Series this season, will honor several Indianapolis-area scholarship essay winners prior to the Kroger 250 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday.
Hendrick served as a spokesperson for the essay contest entitled "The Most Important Educator of My Life."
The contest was held in schools throughout Indiana, with students in grades one through 12 eligible. A total of 54 deserving students in three different divisions -- elementary, middle and high school -- were awarded savings bonds valued from $100 to $1,000.
Matthew Donoho, Emma Miller and Chris Wenrick were chosen to attend Saturday's Busch Series event at IRP where they will be greeted by Hendrick and presented with $1,000 savings bonds.
"I never knew I would be involved in so many important things when I decided to be a race car driver," said Hendrick. "GMAC is very involved in the community and they have asked me to help. I learn something with each new group I meet and it has been very rewarding."
After the festivities, Hendrick will hit the IRP track for the fourth time in his racing career.
"IRP is the smallest track we run on all year," said Hendrick. "It is going to be just down-and-dirty short-track racing. Because we do everything in one day it takes a lot of pressure off of us in practice and qualifying because we will just work on our race setup and go.
“It will be fun to be out there beating and banging, just like the racing I grew up with. It is a track and facility like no other."
"We have run several races at IRP, " Hendrick continued. "We have run pretty well there in the past. I've been there once in a NASCAR Busch car and twice in a NASCAR Craftsman truck. Our best finish was 12th and we are certainly looking to improve on that."
Hendrick and his No. 5 GMAC Financial Services team will take the green flag under the lights in the Kroger 250 on Saturday, August 3 at 8 p.m. EDT. The event will be telecast live on TNT and broadcast worldwide on more than 300 MRN Radio affiliates.