Rick & Linda Hendrick’s #NASCAR Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech

After winning three championships as the owner of a drag-racing boat team, Rick Hendrick founded "All-Star Racing" in 1984 – the team that would later become Hendrick Motorsports. The organization has won a record 12 premier series championships with drivers Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (four) and Terry Labonte (one). Hendrick Motorsports has a total of 15 NASCAR national series titles, the most in NASCAR history. Overall, it boasts 245 premier series wins.

LINDA HENDRICK: This is an exciting night, not only for Rick and I but for our family, friends and employees who are here to share this special time. When Rick and I first met at a service station in Raleigh in 1971, we had no idea of the plans God had in store for us. We got married, and as the doors of opportunity opened, Rick embraced the challenges. He boldly and courageously walked through those doors and never looked back.

That was 46 years ago, and I stand here tonight as a proud wife because of his hard work and passion for racing with the honor, on this 20th day of January, 2017, to present the NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee ring inductee ring and officially induct my best friend and sweet husband, Rick Hendrick, into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

RICK HENDRICK: I am so humbled to be here tonight. When I look around this room and look at the front row here and all of these legends that I grew up idolizing in a sport that I idolized. For me tonight to be able to go in with my good buddy Richard Childress, I'll never follow you again, Richard, never. I never want to follow you again.

Mark Martin. Mark, you make a difference. You've made a difference in every organization that you've ever been in, and you made a big difference in ours.

I'm a pretty good car salesman because I had to talk you and your wife into coming out of retirement to do the whole deal, but congratulations. It's well deserved.

Benny Parsons. Benny was one sweet man. He loved everybody. He lifted everybody. He was such an ambassador to our sport. He was a champion, but he was a champion in the booth. He was a champion person. And when you go through life and no one has anything to say ugly about you, can say anything negative, then you are a true champion, and Benny was that guy.

And to the Parks family, I've read about him, and I've watched the videos, and we surely wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him. What he's done for our sport, to get us to this place, it's amazing, so congratulations to you. Well-deserved, he should have been in a long time ago.

To my wife Linda, I don't know if you remember this, I'm sure you do, 44 years ago this month, we swapped rings. So this ring is as much for you as it is for me, because there's nobody that's sacrificed what you've sacrificed for me to do what I've done. She stood in the back of the grocery store with me, and we counted our money before we went to the checkout line. Our bed in our first house had three legs and Muncie four-speed gearbox for the fourth leg.

When we were boat racing, she was selling tee shirts out of the back of the trailer so we could raise enough money to go back and do it again. So she sits in church on Sunday, so many Sundays by herself when I've been gone for 44 years doing what I love.

Tonight, this is as much yours, probably more, than it is mine. I love you, and thank you for all you've done.

To Jeff and Jimmie, thank you for that introduction. You two champions have been so instrumental in helping me and being such great role models, not just the champions that you are but what you've done outside of the car. You have been a great role model for a lot of people.

Tonight I'm very blessed, I've got my daughter Lynn, my three grandchildren here, Ricky, Kate and Hendrick, and Emily and Tyler and Cathy and just all of my family is here, cousins. So I'm sharing it tonight. It's about my family. I'm sharing it with them.

One of the coolest things I have is my three grandchildren interviewed me for the Hall of Fame tonight on video, so I can't wait to let them grow up and see that. This has been a special night for me, and it's just really hard for me to believe that a kid growing up on a tobacco farm in rural Virginia that dreamed about racing, just racing in hotrods and waiting for Linda, you know, those were the three things, and always wanting to be involved in racing somehow.

But I was -- I didn't know what I wanted to do in life, but I knew what I didn't want to do, and that was be a tobacco farmer. But I wouldn't take anything for the time that I spent with my mom and dad. They taught me something that really has been the pillar of my life, and that is you need to take care of other people if you want people to take care of you. You need to take care of your neighbors, and you need to do for others, and then good things will happen to you.

You know, God really blessed me by giving me terrific parents. My dad taught me how to work with my hands. It was racing that got me in the automobile business, and I think back to all the lessons. I've got a lot of friends here tonight that are bankers. My mother taught me how to borrow money. I'm very good at that.

I think back to Linda and I moving to Charlotte and I was selling parts to all the race teams that weren't funded, and I got a call one day when Richard Broom and I were drag boat racing, and we were looking for a sponsor, and Max Muhleman called me, and he said, would you like to own a race team with maybe C.K. Spurlock, the All-Star Race, and Richard Petty would be the driver? And I thought, is this a trick question? Am I really -- are you serious?

Well, the All-Star part, Richard was smart, he didn't come aboard. Richard, how many championships would you have won then? Would it be more than seven? I'm just kidding. But anyway, I met this guy, Harry Hyde, who was a better salesman than I am. Harry Hyde convinced me if he could build one car that he could go win a race, and I believed it. And when we formed All-Star Racing in that little tin building on the hill, we had five employees. I was renting the transmissions, renting the equipment, and Harry was making $500 a week.

And we raced for six races with Geoff Bodine, and I said, Harry, we wrecked Darlington, and I said, I can't go any further. If we don't get a sponsor we've got to close the doors.

Now, true story, Linda is here. I had promised her we'd go to a revival. So on the Martinsville race, the seventh race, I was in church, and I went to a pay phone after church, and I called my mother, and I said, mom, how the race ended up in Martinsville. She said, you didn't hear? And I said, no. She said, Geoff blew up, and I said, blew up, okay. She said, no, he won. I said, he won the race? So everybody was wrapping his yard in toilet paper.

But I think I had divine intervention that day because I was in church.

But we got a sponsor that year, and kind of the rest is history.

You know, when I think about accepting this award tonight, I think about all the people that have been involved in motorsports, and I can't name them all. I won't even try, like Richard, with putting the names on the wall. You know who you are. Every person in the very beginning to today, everyone that laid a brick is part of this, and it's the same thing we talk about in the automobile business. It's together, we achieve more, working together. Dale said it. I believe that with all my heart.

I love this sport. I love the fact that we are a family. I love the fact that when I had the tragedy that all these folks, Richard Childress included, every owner, everybody in the garage reached out to us, and they were there for us. We compete on Sunday, but we are there for each other in a time of real tragedy.

And I remember, Richard will remember this, there was a movie about it. Bill France called us down to Florida, and he pinned our ears back like I've never had anybody talk to me in my life. But the day I was diagnosed with leukemia, shortly thereafter, he walked in the front door of my house, and he said, I just want to look at you and make sure you're okay. So that's the kind of direction we had with NASCAR, but at the same time, there was an awful lot of love inside this room.

I humbly accept this tonight, and all the drivers that have been involved in our company, all the mechanics, everybody that's ever been a part of it, I accept this on your behalf, past and present. I know my son is watching tonight, and he's so proud. Congratulations to Jimmie for winning No. 7, dedicating it to him. It's something those folks we lost will always be big in our heart.

But I can tell you that the feelings that I have for this sport and for all the people in it, all the sponsors, and I've got so many here tonight I can't name them all, don't want to do that, but it's your faith, it's your family and your friends that get you through life, and that's the most important thing. When it's all over, it's the people that you touch and the lives you change that make a difference in this world.

Now, to Dale and Chase and the rest of our gang, Kasey and Jimmie, I'm not retiring, so that doesn't mean we're not going to go win some more races, so it's not over. So we're going to -- and to William Byron, all these young guys, keep me pumped up.

I'm the luckiest guy in the world because of my family, because of the friends I've met in this sport. I thank you, and God bless you, and thank everyone who voted for me and all the fans because this is an honor that I will never, ever forget. Thank you.

Richard Childress (left) and Rick Hendrick pose for a photo prior to
the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Welcome Dinner.

Richard Childress (left) and Rick Hendrick shake hands
after receiving their Hall of Fame jackets.

Rick Hendrick (right) and former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon share a moment.

Rick Hendrick speaks during the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony.

Rick Hendrick poses on the red carpet with his wife Linda.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson (left) and
NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rick Hendrick

Rick Hendrick and family during the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame
on January 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The living members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame gather as a group at the
conclusion of the 2017 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR
Hall of Fame on January 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Source: NASCAR.com Release

"This is as much yours — probably more — than it is mine." — Rick Hendrick#NASCARHOF pic.twitter.com/TLGK3dy8Xs

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) January 21, 2017

 

Rick Hendrick of @TeamHendrick takes his rightful place in history & we couldn't be more proud. #CongratsMrH on your #NASCARHOF induction! pic.twitter.com/us0cWeiQVN

— Valvoline (@Valvoline) January 21, 2017

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Richard Childress’ #NASCAR Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech

A man from humble beginnings, Richard Childress bought his first race car for $20 at the age of 17. He turned that purchase into a NASCAR dynasty, winning six premier series championships with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt from 1984-2000.

Overall, Childress ranks second all-time with 11 titles across NASCAR’s three national series. His Richard Childress Racing team has won 105 NASCAR premier series races.

RICHARD CHILDRESS: Thank you. How great is that, to have your wife and your two grandsons to induct you into the NASCAR Hall of Fame? Proud of you two guys.

I am honored to go into the NASCAR Hall of Fame with my heroes. Just look around this wall and look at the greats that we'll be going in the Hall of Fame with. Unbelievable. And to go in the Class of 2017 with so many great inductees is quite an honor.

Raymond Parks, a pioneer car owner, who paved the way for owners like Rick Hendrick and myself; Benny Parsons, a great driver and a champion; Mark Martin, you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, buddy. You can win at anything. And Rick Hendrick, my friend, what an honor to go in this Hall of Fame with you. You're a champion. You did so much for this sport. It's an honor to go in with you. Thank you. Congratulations to all of the inductees tonight.

I'd like to start out by saying only in America. Only in America could a kid selling peanuts and popcorn at Bowman Gray Stadium have a dream of becoming a race driver some day, and then he goes out and buys him an old '47 Plymouth, pays $20 for it, that was the best investment I ever made, and have a dream of being a NASCAR driver some day, be standing up here tonight to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Only in America. What a great country we live in.

When I was asked, what do you want to put in the NASCAR Hall of Fame museum, I said, I'd like to put a 10-foot by 20-foot granite wall with thousands of names etched in it that's helped me all along the way to get here tonight. I can't thank you all, but I want to put you on a great granite wall to where I can thank you for getting us up here.

But on that granite wall, the first thing would be my family. My wife Judy, my daughter Tina, my son-in-law, Mike Dillon, grandson Ty and his wife Haley, she's here tonight. Grandson Austin and his fiancé, Whitney Ward. I couldn't have done it without you all's support. We are a NASCAR racing family.

Also on that wall would be the sponsors. They've helped build RCR along the way. I've built some great relationships and some great friendships along the way. Some have been with us for over 20 years, Chevrolet for 47 or 48. You know, Jim Campbell, Mark Reuss, are here tonight with Chevrolet. Thank you for all your support. Johnny Morris, thank you, with Bass Pro Shops, for all your support. Bill Jordan, Team Realtree, Ben Rilings with Coca-Cola, I remember taking that car in the '90s with Dale and Dale Jr. and introducing it with Coca-Cola on it.

And we also have Michael Gaughan, a good friend of mine, South Point Hotels and Casinos, John Menard with the Menard's stores, and Doug Oberhelman with Caterpillar and J. R. Jones with Rheem. They have been with us for years.

Also tonight we have our new partners carrying RCR to the next level. I'm so proud of them. Dow, Grainger, VF Imagewear, AAA, and American Ethanol. I will always be grateful for your support and for your support in the coming years.

Also on that wall would be the drivers, drivers like Ricky Rudd, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick. He was there when we needed him. Mike Skinner, Robby Gordon and Clint Bowyer, just to name a few. Also tonight, we have some of our current drivers here. We have Paul Menard. Paul, one of my favorite wins was winning Indy and watching your family and being with your family up there. That was awesome.

Ryan Newman, Austin and Ty Dillon, Brandon Jones, and Brandon Gaughan. I couldn't have been here without you. They tell me we had 68 drivers over these 47 years.

But there's one driver in particular, Dale Earnhardt. I wouldn't be standing here tonight without him. He was a great friend and a huge loss to all of us and to our sport. I knew Dale for over 25 years. We spent 18 seasons together racing. I have so many great memories. Winning our first championship, winning the Daytona 500, Indy, and many more.

He is a seven-time NASCAR champion.

But most of all, he's a champion to all of his fans, his friends and his family. I've got so many Dale stories, I was asked to tell a Dale story.

The only one I can think of that really stands out, it's the first time I met Dale and we were racing. We were racing down at Metrolina Speedway on the Grand National race that Ned Jarrett put together that day, and was coming into Turn 3, Cale Yarborough and myself was racing for the win, and we got together going into Turn 3. I made it back around and won the race.

After the race we was standing there having us a few cool ones, Dale was there, and in his ol' Dale Earnhardt style, he walked over, poked me in the chest, and he said, next time I race with you, I will win. What history never knew from that day.

Great times.

That's where our friendship began and lasted many years.

And then the France family would be on that wall, as well. I've got to tell a quick story. Bill Sr., 1969 when we had the boycott in Talladega, I'd ran the race on Saturday, and he gave us the deal money back then to come and race plus what you'd win in the purse. When the boycott happened he stood on that bench down there, and he said, boys, if y'all race tomorrow, I'll give you more deal money and you can take the purse. I left that day with probably more money than I'd ever seen at once in my life, probably 3 or 4 thousand dollars. I didn't think I'd ever have to work again. Hell, I'm still working. That was the break that really helped RCR get going. I'll never forget it.

He also gave me a letter, and he said, if you ever need anything, you show this letter to my family, and they'll take care of you. If I'd have knew what I know today, I'd have made a lot of copies because I've been in a lot of trouble.

And today, taking this sport to the next level, is the France family of today, Jim France, Brian France, Lesa France Kennedy, and Ben, I know you're going to be right there.

Also, my friend Mike Helton. Call him a friend although he's fined me a whole lot, sent me out a lot of things, but he's a true friend. And thank all the NASCAR employees for everything they've done over the years for us. None of this would be possible without all of them.

Also on the granite wall would be the hundreds of employees with RCR and ECR. I couldn't stand here or I'd be here all night thanking them all. But I was very fortunate and I am very fortunate to get to work with each and every one of them every day, and all of my friends, a lot of them are here tonight, came a lot of long distances, for supporting me over the years throughout my career.

I've got to thank the millions of fans that support NASCAR racing. Without our fans, none of us would be here tonight.

Last but not least, our military, for protecting our country and giving us freedoms that we've got.

I'd like to close by thanking the NASCAR Hall of Fame and its members, Winston Kelley and your staff. You do a great job, and the voting members, thank you again, and I'm very fortunate in my life, and I'm humbled and honored to be inducted in this NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Thank you, and God bless America.

Richard Childress and family during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class
of 2017 Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on
January 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Richard Childress (left) and Rick Hendrick pose for a photo prior to
the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Welcome Dinner.

Richard Childress (left) and Rick Hendrick shake hands
after receiving their Hall of Fame jackets.

Richard Childress speaks during the NASCAR
Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony.

Richard Childress poses on the red carpet with his wife Judy.

The living members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame gather as a group at the
conclusion of the 2017 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at NASCAR
Hall of Fame on January 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images 

Source: NASCAR.com Release 

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The newest @NASCARHall inductee is back at it this morning, answering questions alongside grandsons @tydillon & @austindillon3 pic.twitter.com/NfS6Yr97Mm

— RCR (@RCRracing) January 21, 2017

For Hendrick Family, One Win Stands above the Rest

Through all the highlights, the wins and championships, there is one moment in Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick’s career that will always stand out.

In 2001, Ricky Hendrick – Rick and Linda’s late son – found Victory Lane in the NASCAR Truck Series for his first career win.

“The most important race we’ve ever won – the highlight of our racing career,” Linda Hendrick said. “It can’t be put into words what that meant to us, and it’s something that can never be taken away from us. That’s certainly at the top of the list.”

It was Saturday, July 7, and it was the very first truck race at Kansas Speedway.

Ricky Hendrick’s crew chief, Lance McGrew, noted the track was new to everyone, meaning veteran drivers had less of an advantage. That helped level the playing field for Hendrick, a series rookie.

“It was all new – everybody was on the same page,” he said. “We just unloaded, and we were fast from the get-go.”

"The most important race we've ever won -- the highlight of our racing career." Linda Hendrick

After narrowly missing the pole position, Hendrick drove his No. 17 truck to the front multiple times throughout the day, taking the lead for the final time with 24 laps to go.

But the second-place competitor was mounting a charge.

“We had a big lead, but he was catching us and catching us and catching us, and I was sweating it,” McGrew recalled. “I was on the pit box and remember thinking, ‘I know that they can hear my heart beating over all these trucks.’”

The crew chief said that wanting the win so badly made the white flag lap “grueling,” but when the checkered flag flew, the wave of relief and excitement was palpable.

“I just remember how nervous we were coming down to the end of that race,” Rick Hendrick said, “and when he got out of the truck and we all embraced and we were all crying, how special it was.”

Both Rick and Linda Hendrick were at the race, and together they made their way to Victory Lane.

“I never missed any of Ricky’s races,” Linda Hendrick said. “I was thrilled that we could be there together and experience it as a family. I can’t put into words what it felt like to be there. We cried, we laughed – it was just very, very special.”

For Rick Hendrick, one of the most memorable moments of the win came after the family left Victory Lane.

“Going into the media center and watching him up there on the stage talking about the race and getting questions from the media, it was so special because I can remember when he was just old enough to talk, talking about racing,” he said. “It ran in his blood.”

McGrew said it was clear at the time just how important the win was for Ricky and the Hendrick family and called it “hands down, my favorite” win of all time.

“Now that we don’t have him with us anymore, that race is even more of a treasure,” Linda Hendrick said. “It’s something that we’ll always cherish, being there with him and seeing him so excited to win his first race.”

As Rick Hendrick prepares to for Friday night’s NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony, he said there has been “a river of emotions,” and he can’t help but think of his son, that race and the moments they spent together.

“When he first started to be able to say words, they were ‘car’ and ‘race,’ and he wrote little poems at school about one day driving,” he said. “When you get to an event like this and you look at what the sport has meant to you and your family, you think about those things.

“I know he’ll be watching.”

Source

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