CONCORD, N.C. -- Charlotte race weeks are two of the busiest on the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup Series calendar.
And for Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, the weekend of the 600-mile race took on a whole new light, as he entered it as a recently announced member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
With that in mind, HendrickMotorsports.com followed Hendrick Saturday and Sunday -- from his first visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as a 2017 inductee to his race day at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
9:15 a.m. ET: Hendrick arrives at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is escorted into the "Legends Room" along with fellow class of 2017 members Mark Martin and Richard Childress.
9:30 a.m. ET: After some time to chat with his fellow inductees, Hendrick heads on stage for a question-and-answer session moderated by Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He discusses topics ranging from the origins of Hendrick Motorsports to bringing the NASCAR Hall of Fame to Charlotte, North Carolina.
"I've been very fortunate," Hendrick tells the crowd. "Thank you guys. Thank you to the fans, thank you to my wife for putting up with racing for 44 years. It's an honor to be here with you folks."
10 a.m. ET: After the Q&A, Hendrick heads upstairs to sign autographs for the fans in attendance. He signs everything from photos to sheet metal, helmets and diecast cars. One fan even brings a book about NASCAR pets to be autographed.
11 a.m. ET: Hendrick walks back downstairs along with Childress and Martin to mingle with NASCAR Hall of Fame members at a meet-and-greet reception. He chats with fans and poses for photos before finishing up the event.
SUNDAY, MAY 29
1:20 p.m. ET: Hendrick arrives at the track for one of the biggest events on the schedule -- the 600-mile marathon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His first order of business: head to his motorcoach for a meet and greet with Nationwide Chairman of the Board Tim Corcoran.
2 p.m. ET: Joined by Childress, Hendrick visits the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center. Once again, the session is emceed by Kelley, and the two new Hall of Fame honorees discuss how the experience has affected them.
“It sinks in more and more as the day goes on and as time goes on and you really start to reflect back," Hendrick says. "It feels kind of like the first championship when you want to thank everybody who’s ever helped you and that’s how I feel today about all the drivers, Harry Hyde, and the folks that supported us all the way the last 33 years.”
2:25 p.m. ET: More one-on-one interviews follow the media availability, and along the way Hendrick meets several military members attending the race. He even takes a moment to chat with singer Lee Greenwood, who will sing "God Bless the USA" prior to the start of the race.
2:40 p.m. ET: After hearing of a special request from NASCAR Hall of Famer Leonard Wood, Hendrick walks to the Wood Brothers team hauler. En route, he stops for photos with fans, signing autographs along the way.
2:45 p.m. ET: At the hauler, he signs a special Hall of Fame helmet for the Wood Brothers, capturing a photo to commemorate the moment.
3 p.m. ET: The owner heads back to his motorcoach for a meeting.
4 p.m. ET: As is often the case on race weekends he attends, Hendrick makes his way to the driver/crew chief meeting. This time, however, Hendrick is honored along with Martin and Childress as three of the newest members of the Hall of Fame.
5:05 p.m. ET: Hendrick, wife Linda and other family members arrive backstage for pre-race ceremonies. Before long, he is recognized in front of the crowd for his Hall of Fame election. Afterward, the field for the 600-mile race is introduced.
5:25 p.m. ET: With the cars positioned on the grid, Hendrick makes his way to Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet SS. He watches as the car is uncovered and features a special decal celebrating Hendrick's Hall of Fame honor.
5:40 p.m. ET: From there, he makes his way to the other three Hendrick Motorsports cars, embracing the drivers and crew chiefs, sharing some final words before the race.
6:02 p.m. ET: With the green flag at hand, Hendrick climbs atop the No. 48 team pit box to take in the early portion of the 600-mile race.
6:21 p.m. ET: As both Johnson and Chase Elliott are racing inside the top 10 before a competition caution waves at Lap 25, Hendrick climbs down from the pit box and walks back to his motorcoach to take in the remainder of the race along with his family.
9:55 p.m. ET: The checkered flag waves at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Johnson taking home third place and Elliott joining him inside the top 10 in eighth. The performances give Hendrick his 58th top-five finish and 92nd top-10 at the track, which is less than one mile from the Hendrick Motorsports campus.
The owner departs shortly thereafter, finishing up his eventful weekend.