Hendrick Motorsports contributors from the 2000s share their thoughts and memories of working with Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick:
“He’s just one of those people when you walk in a room, which I’ve never met the president of countries, but he’s just one of those people where when he walks in you feel the power coming out of him and he expresses a genuineness and realness. Whether it’s the CEO of Lowe’s or a grandmother who is standing in the shop hoping to get a glimpse of one of the drivers walking by, he’ll take her from the lobby and walk her all the way through the shop and you’ll think she’s the CEO of Lowe’s getting a tour.”
Robbie Loomis, champion crew chief
“I tell people all the time, anything that I do I always think of Mr. Hendrick. The lessons of dealing with people, whether it’s a waitress at a restaurant or a CEO of a company or just a friend, just how to get along with people and help everybody be their best and realize that we are all in this world together. That’s the thing I always admired of him.”
Robbie Loomis, champion crew chief
“My impression always was that he was an absolutely great guy that had a very strong organization with really good people. But he was always first-class. He was a serious competitor and I was around from his very beginning days. I was in the sport when he was first getting in and that’s one thing – I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say something bad about Rick. He’s a fierce competitor but he’s a really first-class man.”
Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet from 2009-11
“There were just so many good times that we had but I think the one thing was the pride that I had just being one of his four drivers. We had a great team with (Dale Earnhardt) Jr., Jeff (Gordon) and Jimmie (Johnson), great teammates and great crew chiefs and great people. At that time I felt like it was the highlight of my career, to be able to step into an organization that was so strong and have so much support from people that I thought the world of. It was a real special time in my career. He made that happen.”
Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet from 2009-11
“I was very excited for sure when I first got the opportunity at such a great organization, and that’s where I got my first and only win at this point, so it’s definitely a special place for me. Knowing Rick beforehand, obviously I knew him as a car owner but I knew him probably more as a father to Ricky. Ricky and I were buddies and that’s how I first got to know Rick before I ever got an opportunity there so it was cool to drive for a guy that you respected as a successful car owner but also as a successful father. That was really cool.”
Casey Mears, driver of the No. 25 Chevrolet from 2007-08
“Obviously the record speaks for itself – all the wins, the guys that have driven for him in the past. It just goes without saying that he’s definitely one of the top guys in NASCAR’s history, period."
Casey Mears, driver of the No. 25 Chevrolet from 2007-08
“(Joining Hendrick Motorsports) was a huge event. The only event that was probably more significant in my racing career was my dad putting me in a go kart. It certainly changed the course of my career and there’s no way to look backwards in time and say what would have happened otherwise.”
Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 25 Chevrolet from 2003-06
“He was a lot of things through those years. He was a car owner, a friend, a boss, a mentor, a coach and got through very difficult times. Even though he was going through so much himself, a lot of people leaned on him and he leaned on them at the same time but a lot of people were leaning on him when it should have been probably the other way around. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 25 Chevrolet from 2003-06