CONCORD, N.C. - In the throes of a heated NASCAR Cup Series playoff battle, Thursday stood as a day of reflecting, reconnecting and remembering at Hendrick Motorsports.
At the memorial fountain on the team’s campus, a touching ceremony honored the 10 victims of the accident that occurred Oct. 24, 2004, when a Hendrick Motorsports plane was lost en route to Martinsville Speedway. Thursday marked 20 years since the tragedy.
Friends and family members of the victims attended as did a large gathering of Hendrick Motorsports employees with everyone packing in to listen. On a beautiful fall afternoon, company chaplain Donnie Floyd spoke as did team owner Rick Hendrick and wife Linda.
"Today is a time to reflect and remember our loved ones and friends," Floyd said. "We remember the day of October 24th, 2004, but mostly we remember the lives, the people, the names, the gifts and talents of the 10 beautiful souls that are no longer with us."
One by one, the names of all 10 were called: Company president John Hendrick and his daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly; general manager Jeff Turner; chief engine builder Randy Dorton; DuPont executive Joe Jackson; pilots Richard Tracy and Elizabeth Morrison; Scott Lathram, the helicopter pilot of driver Tony Stewart; and Ricky Hendrick, the son of Rick and Linda and a budding team executive.
Loved ones placed bouquets of flowers around the fountain, while teammate Austin Darling bookended the proceedings with a song. Just before the conclusion, Rick and Linda Hendrick each delivered words of remembrance and encouragement to the crowd.
“I want to thank all of the families and all of our extended families (employees) for loving these people and supporting these folks and remembering what a treasure each one was,” Rick Hendrick said. “Never to be replaced and never to be forgotten but to always be loved and remembered.
“I just appreciate the warmth and love that's around this fountain today. We will never, ever forget these souls.”
Linda Hendrick echoed her husband’s sentiments, reemphasizing the couple's reliance on unwavering faith and the support of their extended Hendrick Motorsports family to make it through such an unspeakable tragedy.
“Looking back 20 years I remember how much support and love all of you gave to us and continue to,” she said. “I thank you for that. Thank you for who you are.
“They say that it's not what you go through in life, it's how you get through it. I think there's a lot of truth to that. There are many choices we can make when we feel like we don't know which way to go and our life is turned upside down.
“Nothing is ever hopeless. We always have hope.”