Ricky Hendrick Memorial Charity Ride Set for May 6

CONCORD, N.C. (April 24, 2007) - The third annual Ricky Hendrick Memorial Charity Ride, presented by the Hendrick Foundation for Children, will make its way to Lowe's Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 6. Staging for the event begins at 7:30 a.m. local time at Knights Stadium, home of the Charlotte Knights baseball club, in Fort Mill, S.C., and the first motorcycle will depart at 11:30 a.m. The 48-mile trek will conclude at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., with all ride proceeds benefiting the Levine Children's Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center. Riders are asked to make a $20 contribution in advance or $25 the day of the event. "The ride has been a great success the past two years," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. "Ricky was always so passionate about helping others, especially children, and this event is a fitting way to honor his memory while giving back to the children of our community. "I can't tell you how appreciative we are of all the people -- the riders, sponsors and volunteers -- who have made the ride so much fun. To see that many motorcycles rumbling down the interstate is pretty incredible. We've been so humbled by the response." At the end of their ride, participants will be welcomed at Lowe's Motor Speedway with lunch courtesy of R&R Barbeque, live music and plenty of activities for all ages, including rides from the Richard Petty Driving Experience for $99. In addition, various show cars, including some driven by Ricky Hendrick himself, will be on display and available for photo opportunities in Victory Lane. Established in late 2004, the Ricky Hendrick Memorial Charity Ride is made possible by the generous support of sponsors and thousands of enthusiastic riders. This year's corporate partners include R&R Barbeque, Ricky Hendrick Performance Honda Suzuki, WSOC 103.7, the John Boy & Billy Big Show, Lowe's Motor Speedway, the Charlotte Knights, American Suzuki, E-dreamz, GMN Advertising and Pepsi. The son of Rick and Linda Hendrick, Ricky Hendrick was born and raised in Charlotte and quickly developed a love for auto racing and a passion for helping those in need. At 21, he was the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and later became the youngest car owner (at 23) to win a NASCAR Busch Series championship. The latter record still stands. In memory of Ricky Hendrick's giving spirit and dedication to children's charities, the Ricky Hendrick Memorial Charity Ride has raised more than $130,000 during the past two years and attendance at the event continues to grow. The inaugural ride drew more than 1,500 motorcycles and 2,000 participants and the second year expanded to 2,100 bikes and 2,500 attendees. For more information about the event, please visit www.hendrickcharityride.com. ABOUT THE LEVINE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: To accommodate projected growth of up to 100,000 children in the community during the next decade, Carolinas Medical Center will open Levine Children's Hospital -- a 12-story, 234-bed facility that will be second to none. Designed with family-centered care as a top priority, it will be one of the three largest hospitals in the Southeast. Features will include patient rooms with extra beds for parents who wish to stay overnight with their children, a children's diagnostic center and a 13-bed rehabilitation pavilion. Scheduled to open in Fall 2007, the new children's hospital also will offer several of the region's firsts, such as the first day hospital, cardiac intensive care unit and 24-hour pediatric emergency department. ABOUT THE RICKY HENDRICK CENTERS FOR INTENSIVE CARE: Encompassing the sixth floor of the new Levine Children's Hospital, the Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care will house the facility's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the region's first Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Lauded by planners as the hospital's "heart and soul," the Centers will treat the most critically ill and injured children from across the region. The Centers will feature a five-room sleep inn for parents, two private family waiting areas, a large open waiting space and a state-of-the-art business lounge.