FORTH WORTH, Texas – Thursday night in Texas, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick was honored as a Hall of Famer.
“I’ve been so blessed in my life because I get to do the two things I enjoy the most, outside of my family, and that’s racing and the automobile business,” Hendrick said as he became the 17th individual inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Hendrick, who estimated that he has been to 1,000 NASCAR races, accepted the honor in The Speedway Club’s Grand Ballroom at Texas Motor Speedway.
The banquet benefited Speedway Children’s Charities.
“This sport’s been so good to me,” Hendrick said. “In some of the darkest hours of my life, NASCAR’s been there. I’ve been to the top of the mountain and all of my friends have been with us. But in any business you’re in today, it’s all about people.”
Some of those people were at the banquet to support Hendrick from both the automotive business and the Hendrick Motorsports race teams.
“Would you guys please stand up? Because this award is for you,” Hendrick said. “We win together, we lose together, but we always stick together.”
Also in attendance was Chase Elliott, who was honored with the Texas Motor Speedway Racer of the Year Award. On April 4, 2014, he became the first XFINITY Series rookie driver to win at Texas Motor Speedway. Later in the year, the eventual series champion took home his second top-five finish at the track in the second XFINITY race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Jeff Gordon was also presented with an award – the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award. It was a nod to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, which has raised more than $15 million for children's health organizations. In addition, the Jeff Gordon Corvette Raffle raised $425,000 for Speedway Children's Charities.
Though Gordon was not in attendance, he delivered a video message to the crowd.
And Hendrick made sure to mention the driver, who is in the midst of his final full-time Sprint Cup Series season.
“When I hired him he had this little pencil mustache, he was about the age of Chase,” Hendrick smiled. “Now he’s retiring and I’m still here. I’m a fossil. I’m thinking, ‘What am I doing here if Jeff Gordon’s leaving?’”
Hendrick then thanked the fans for all they do as he closed out his speech.
“To everybody that supports our sport, I’m one of the luckiest guys in the world. I grew up on a farm in Virginia, always dreamed about having a race car,” he said. “Thank you for this terrific honor. I’m blessed to be here. Thank you to NASCAR, Mr. (Bruton) Smith, the fans – everybody that has made this sport what it is.
“I’m honored and humbled.”