Rick Hendrick
FameRank: 6

"Joseph Riddick" ""Rick"" "Hendrick III" is the current owner of the United States/American NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Marrow Program. He attended Park View High School in South Hill, Virginia, and began his career in auto racing at age 14. He is also a retired race car driver himself, driving in only four NASCAR races throughout the course of his NASCAR career. He is the father of the late Ricky Hendrick, a former NASCAR driver.

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You know, to see both cars run well this year, it's outstanding. It means a lot, because we know the equipment is the same. These guys have done an outstanding job.

All have become regional leaders. It's a great tie-in. It's been proven time and again that NASCAR fans are extremely loyal to the sponsors of their sport. So this makes sense from every angle.

It's fun to watch him drive, ... We're just happy we got him in the stable.

These guys have done an unbelievable job.

Ricky and I talked about it and designed a shop and put our offices in there. We got Brian Whitesell, who was the architect, really, of the 24 and 48 coming together and made him team manager. When we put the two teams together 5 and 25, we promised him a bonus when they won their first race.

[Hendrick's son, Ricky, killed in a plane wreck last year, had worked closely with Busch.] Ricky had so much confidence in Kyle and the structure of the two teams, and to see the two cars run like that, and Kyle to win, and become the youngest guy.... ... Kyle has done a super job. He got a lot of criticism early on that he was too young. But I'm just really proud.

I didn't know it would come together as quickly as it has this year.

When we run like we ran [Sunday], we don't need to be in the chase. It won't make any difference. If you can't be in it and win it or have a shot at it.

I think that Ricky had so much confidence in Kyle and the structure of the 25 and the 5, and to see the two cars run like that tonight and Kyle to win the race and become the youngest guy, it's incredible.