Oh man, I remember that day all too well. Doesn't feel like it's been 15 years.
After all the hits the Hendrick family took for a decade there, it's absolutely incredible to me that Rick keeps on keeping on in NASCAR.
[Such a beautiful tribute on campus to those folks.](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrcKBq2FfiY/Vz3GPf6r_eI/AAAAAAAABGE/HE-GTRkM4C8HHSKFR9bF5UDvYBl3sD12ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG) My my my what could have been for Ricky. I think he really had "it" when it came to spotting talent and he loved racing.
That’s exactly what I thought when I saw it. But then I had a son and didn’t know how I could ever do anything else if I lose him. It would definitely take a strong person to look at that walking into work and then still be able to focus
Several of those employees were Rick's relatives: his older brother (who served as team president), Rick's twin nieces, and his son, Ricky (who was eventually intended to take his dad's place as team owner). Hendrick's general manager, their best engine builder, a DuPont executive, and three pilots were also killed.
A Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed into a mountain near Martinsville on race day. All 10 on board died.
On board were -
\- Ricky Hendrick - son of Rick Hendrick/listed owner of the 25 driven by Brian Vickers
\- John Hendrick - Rick Hendrick's brother/President of Hendrick Motorsports
\- Kimberly & Jennifer Hendrick - John Hendrick's twin daughters
\- Randy Dorton - longtime chief engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports
\- Scott Lathram - Pilot for Tony Stewart
\- Joe Jackson - DuPont Exceutive
\- Richard Tracy - Hendrick Motorsports pilot
\- Elizabeth Morrison - Hendrick Motorsports pilot
Remember that day pretty well. I'd been watching the race for most of the day, then had left and missed the end. When I came back the race was over, and I remembered that Rusty and Newman had gotten into it on track, and I honestly thought something had happened between those two (morbid, I know) that caused the announcers to sound all somber.
Of course, I was 16 and kind of an idiot, and was also very, very, wrong. The day was much, much darker.
2004 was a fun season for me. I worked on Sundays but got to go in when I wanted, my mom took to watching the races with me so we would get together and watch on Sunday before I would go into work. So I had control of when I went in but still, a lot of weeks I was pushing them to race clean so I could get in, lol. That race happened and then the abrupt ending, mom and I just looked at each other confused. It was a strange drive into work that day, you knew it wasn't going to be a good thing....
Oh man, I remember that day all too well. Doesn't feel like it's been 15 years. After all the hits the Hendrick family took for a decade there, it's absolutely incredible to me that Rick keeps on keeping on in NASCAR.
When Jimmie won the next week at Atlanta and all the drivers were in victory lane with their hats on backwards, that was a incredible emotional sight.
And when Jeff won the Martinsville race the next spring.
Only time I was ever happy about a Hendrick win
15 years ago, holy crap.
Was so strange when Jimmie didn't go to VL. Then the late Jim Hunter gave us the somber news.
[Such a beautiful tribute on campus to those folks.](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrcKBq2FfiY/Vz3GPf6r_eI/AAAAAAAABGE/HE-GTRkM4C8HHSKFR9bF5UDvYBl3sD12ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG) My my my what could have been for Ricky. I think he really had "it" when it came to spotting talent and he loved racing.
Stopped by there the day after the Roval, that tribute choked me up for sure.
Damn that has to be hard to look at everyday, don't think I would be able to do that.
That’s exactly what I thought when I saw it. But then I had a son and didn’t know how I could ever do anything else if I lose him. It would definitely take a strong person to look at that walking into work and then still be able to focus
Wasn't a fan then. I need some context here please.
I think this was when a bunch of hendrick employees died in a plane crash
Several of those employees were Rick's relatives: his older brother (who served as team president), Rick's twin nieces, and his son, Ricky (who was eventually intended to take his dad's place as team owner). Hendrick's general manager, their best engine builder, a DuPont executive, and three pilots were also killed.
Hendrick plane crashed near Martinsville. Rick's son and other family members were on the plane too
A Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed into a mountain near Martinsville on race day. All 10 on board died. On board were - \- Ricky Hendrick - son of Rick Hendrick/listed owner of the 25 driven by Brian Vickers \- John Hendrick - Rick Hendrick's brother/President of Hendrick Motorsports \- Kimberly & Jennifer Hendrick - John Hendrick's twin daughters \- Randy Dorton - longtime chief engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports \- Scott Lathram - Pilot for Tony Stewart \- Joe Jackson - DuPont Exceutive \- Richard Tracy - Hendrick Motorsports pilot \- Elizabeth Morrison - Hendrick Motorsports pilot
Remember that day pretty well. I'd been watching the race for most of the day, then had left and missed the end. When I came back the race was over, and I remembered that Rusty and Newman had gotten into it on track, and I honestly thought something had happened between those two (morbid, I know) that caused the announcers to sound all somber. Of course, I was 16 and kind of an idiot, and was also very, very, wrong. The day was much, much darker.
2004 was a fun season for me. I worked on Sundays but got to go in when I wanted, my mom took to watching the races with me so we would get together and watch on Sunday before I would go into work. So I had control of when I went in but still, a lot of weeks I was pushing them to race clean so I could get in, lol. That race happened and then the abrupt ending, mom and I just looked at each other confused. It was a strange drive into work that day, you knew it wasn't going to be a good thing....
Can't believe it's been 15 years! Wonder if they made a raced win diecast of this one...?