Rick Hendrick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rick Hendrick
Hendrick in 2015
Born	Joseph Riddick Hendrick III (1949-07-12) July 12, 1949 (age 76) Warrenton, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Owner, Hendrick Motorsports
Years active	1984–present
Children	2, including Ricky
Awards	14× NASCAR Cup Champion (as an owner) NASCAR Hall of Fame (2017)
NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish	63rd (1988)
First race	1987 Winston Western 500 (Riverside)
Last race	1988 Budweiser 400 (Riverside)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish	64th (1987)
First race	1987 Amoco 300 (Road Atlanta)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish	88th (1995)
First race	1995 Heartland Tailgate 175 (Topeka)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0

Joseph Riddick "Rick" Hendrick III, born on July 12, 1949, is a famous American businessman. He is most well-known as the owner of the successful NASCAR racing team, Hendrick Motorsports. He also helps run JR Motorsports and started the Hendrick Automotive Group. This group is one of the biggest private car dealership companies in the United States.

As of 2025, his team has won over 300 NASCAR Cup Series races. This makes him the winningest team owner in NASCAR history. His teams have also won a total of 18 NASCAR Championships. These include 14 in the NASCAR Cup Series, three in the NASCAR Truck Series, and one in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Rick Hendrick is one of only three owners to win championships in NASCAR's top three racing series. He was honored by being added to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2020.

Rick Hendrick's Journey to Success

Rick Hendrick started racing at a young age. When he was 14, he began drag racing in a car he built himself. At 16, he won a special contest for fixing cars in Virginia. This showed his early talent for understanding vehicles.

Starting in the Car Business

After high school, Rick opened a small used-car lot. By the age of 23, he became a general sales manager for a new car dealership. In 1976, he bought his own car dealership in South Carolina. This made him the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the United States at the time. He quickly made this dealership very successful.

This early success led to the creation of the Hendrick Automotive Group. Today, this company has over 100 dealerships and more than 10,000 employees across 13 states. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rick's Racing Career

Rick Hendrick also briefly raced in NASCAR himself. He competed in two NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in 1987 and 1988. He also had one start in both the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. Even though he didn't win as a driver, his passion for racing was clear.

Helping Others: The Hendrick Marrow Program

In 1997, Rick Hendrick started the Hendrick Marrow Program. This non-profit organization works with the Be The Match Foundation. It helps support the National Marrow Donor Program, which finds bone marrow donors for people who need them.

Becoming a Top NASCAR Team Owner

In the late 1970s, Rick Hendrick started a drag boat racing team. This team won three championships and even set a world speed record. He then moved into the NASCAR Model Sportsman Series, which is now called the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Founding Hendrick Motorsports

In 1984, Rick founded All-Star Racing, which is now known as Hendrick Motorsports. He started with just five employees and a small workspace. His team entered the NASCAR Winston Cup Series with driver Geoff Bodine. In their first year, they raced in all 30 events, winning three races and finishing ninth overall.

Throughout his time as a team owner, Rick Hendrick has achieved incredible success. His teams have won 18 Drivers' championships across different NASCAR series. They have also earned hundreds of race wins and pole positions. Many people consider him the most successful team owner in NASCAR history.

In 2018, Rick Hendrick announced plans for Jeff Gordon, a legendary NASCAR driver, to take over Hendrick Motorsports when Rick retires.

Rick Hendrick's Personal Life

Rick Hendrick grew up on his family's farm in South Hill, Virginia. He attended Park View High School there.

Family and Challenges

Rick is the father of Ricky Hendrick, who was also a NASCAR driver. Sadly, Ricky passed away in a plane crash in 2004. Other members of the Hendrick family and team members were also on board.

In 2011, Rick and his wife, Linda, were involved in a plane crash in Key West, Florida. Linda had minor injuries, and Rick suffered some broken ribs and a fractured collarbone.

A Past Challenge

In 1997, Rick Hendrick faced a legal challenge related to his car dealership business. He admitted to certain actions that led to a fine and a period of home confinement. During this time, his brother John and Jim Perkins managed his businesses. In 2000, he received a full pardon from President Bill Clinton.