Hendrick to be inducted into Corvette Hall of Fame

CONCORD, N.C. -- Less than one week after it was announced that Rick Hendrick will be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Hendrick Motorsports owner added another honor to his resume.

This fall, Hendrick will also be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame as one of the "most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette."

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be selected for the Corvette Hall of Fame," Hendrick said. "My love for Corvettes goes back to when I was a teenager, and it was the love for the car that got me into racing and the automobile business."

Today, Hendrick owns a large collection of Corvettes that includes many of the first and lasts in models and generations. One of his most recent additions is the VIN 1 Z06 Stingray Corvette, and the auction proceeds went in support of the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The Corvette Hall of Fame was founded in 1998 by the National Corvette Museum Board of Directors. Entry into the hall recognizes "those people who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, each having reached the highest level of accomplishment. Inductees must also possess the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the Corvette and the National Corvette Museum."

Herb Fishel and Russ McLean will join Hendrick, who is entering the Hall in the category of Enthusiast, in the Racing and GM/Chevrolet categories, respectively.

"To be honored at a place where so many of the Corvette greats are honored -- it’s just humbling," Hendrick said. "I never dreamed that I’d be recognized in such a way.”