Ricky Hendrick
Encyclopedia
Joseph Riddick Hendrick IV (April 2, 1980 – October 24, 2004), also known as Ricky Hendrick, was an American
NASCAR
stock car driver and partial owner at Hendrick Motorsports
, a team that his father Rick Hendrick
founded. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina
on April 2, 1980, and began his career in racing at the age of fifteen. He competed in both the Busch Series
and Craftsman Truck Series
before his death from an airplane accident on October 24, 2004. He was killed with seven other family members and friends during the accident.
Born on April 2, 1980, Ricky Hendrick began his career in auto racing
at the age of 15 by racing in the Legends Series Summer Shootout. In 1998, he received his first win on May 23, and earned his first pole position
on July 18. One year later, he entered the NASCAR
Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) at Myrtle Beach Speedway
, where he qualified fifth and finished 20th.
He continued to run the series in 2000, with the addition of competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series). During Busch series season he was involved in two accidents, and received a mild concussion in one of them.
In 2001, he started to compete in all the Truck races. He recorded his first NASCAR career win on July 7, becoming the youngest rookie to win a race. Hendrick was also able to accomplish 19 top ten finishes, the most by a rookie at that time. However, at the end of the season, he finished second in the Rookie of the Year Standings, with Travis Kvapil
winning the award.
In 2002, he moved to the Busch Series with Jack Sprague
. During the season he was involved in an accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
, sustaining a shoulder injury. He required surgery and two months of healing before he could race again. However, Hendrick decided to retire from driving in October of the same year. He continued to be employed by Hendrick Motorsports
, as the owner of two teams: Brian Vickers
in the Nextel Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) and Kyle Busch
in the Busch Series. Hendrick also founded a motorcycle dealership in Pineville, North Carolina
, named Ricky Hendrick's Performance Honda.
. With him were nine others who also lost their lives. The plane, on its way to the Martinsville Speedway
, crashed on Bull Mountain due to pilot error in heavy fog.
After Ricky died, his 18-year-old girlfriend Emily Maynard found out she was pregnant. She gave birth to his daughter, Josephine "Ricki" Hendrick.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
stock car driver and partial owner at Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
, a team that his father Rick Hendrick
Rick Hendrick
Joseph Riddick Hendrick III , better known as Rick Hendrick, is the current owner of the 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...
founded. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
on April 2, 1980, and began his career in racing at the age of fifteen. He competed in both the Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
and Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
before his death from an airplane accident on October 24, 2004. He was killed with seven other family members and friends during the accident.
Racing career
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
at the age of 15 by racing in the Legends Series Summer Shootout. In 1998, he received his first win on May 23, and earned his first pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
on July 18. One year later, he entered the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) at Myrtle Beach Speedway
Myrtle Beach Speedway
The Myrtle Beach Speedway, originally named Rambi Raceway, was built in 1958 and is located on U.S. Route 501 near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.The speedway is a semi-banked asphaltic oval track that spans...
, where he qualified fifth and finished 20th.
He continued to run the series in 2000, with the addition of competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series). During Busch series season he was involved in two accidents, and received a mild concussion in one of them.
In 2001, he started to compete in all the Truck races. He recorded his first NASCAR career win on July 7, becoming the youngest rookie to win a race. Hendrick was also able to accomplish 19 top ten finishes, the most by a rookie at that time. However, at the end of the season, he finished second in the Rookie of the Year Standings, with Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
winning the award.
In 2002, he moved to the Busch Series with Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is currently a free agent. Sprague has finished in the top-ten in the points standings almost every year he has raced in the trucks, and won three championships in 1997, 1999, and 2001 while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.-...
. During the season he was involved in an accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, sustaining a shoulder injury. He required surgery and two months of healing before he could race again. However, Hendrick decided to retire from driving in October of the same year. He continued to be employed by Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
, as the owner of two teams: Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
in the Nextel Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) and Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
in the Busch Series. Hendrick also founded a motorcycle dealership in Pineville, North Carolina
Pineville, North Carolina
Pineville is a suburban town in the southernmost portion of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina situated in the Waxhaws district between Charlotte, North Carolina and Rock Hill, South Carolina....
, named Ricky Hendrick's Performance Honda.
Death
On October 24, 2004, around 12:30 p.m. ET, Hendrick died in a plane crash near Martinsville, VirginiaMartinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
. With him were nine others who also lost their lives. The plane, on its way to the Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, crashed on Bull Mountain due to pilot error in heavy fog.
After Ricky died, his 18-year-old girlfriend Emily Maynard found out she was pregnant. She gave birth to his daughter, Josephine "Ricki" Hendrick.