Ricky Hendrick Released After Shoulder Surgery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 8, 2002) -- Hendrick Motorsports driver Ricky Hendrick was released from Carolinas Medical Center yesterday after surgery to repair ligament damage in his right shoulder. The 21-year-old is resting comfortably at the home of his father, HMS founder Rick Hendrick. “Ricky is in very good spirits,” said Lance McGrew, Hendrick’s crew chief. “He is going to work very hard at his rehab to get back on the track as soon as possible.” The NASCAR Busch Series rookie was injured last Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after hitting the wall on lap 117 of the Sam’s Town 300 when his No. 5 GMAC Chevrolet encountered oil on the track. The car slid for more than 500 feet after impact, coming to a stop in turn two. NASCAR veteran Ron Hornaday will replace Hendrick until his return. “We are doing our very best to turn a negative into a positive and use this time to learn from Ron as much as we can,” said McGrew. “Ricky wants to go to every race that his rehab schedule will allow. He wants to be at the track and be more of a crew member, doing everything he normally does without getting in the car. We are treating this like an opportunity to make us all better as a team.”