Conversation: Rick Hendrick

Rick Hendrick is a leader in the automotive industry, both in retail and in racing.

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He owns 60 car dealerships nationwide and has garnered 112 Winston Cup Series victories, tops among current series owners.

His five series championships are second only to Richard Childress' tally of six.

In the 20 years Hendrick has fielded a Winston Cup machine, he has employed some of the greatest drivers the series has ever seen: Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Terry Labonte and, of course, Jeff Gordon.

By hiring Gordon at age 21, Hendrick broke ground a trend that would reshape NASCAR -- taking a chance on young drivers.

He recently signed a handful of young stars in Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch that, integrated with Gordon, promise to secure a future as solid as the present is for HMS.

Currently, Gordon ranks third in the Winston Cup standings and is eyeing a fifth title. Johnson is seventh after becoming the first rookie to ever lead the championship standings in 2002.

Life is good for Rick Hendrick.

Hendrick talked with NASCAR.com's Marty Smith at Infineon Raceway to talk Nextel, Labor Day in Fontana and how deeply Gordon's divorce proceedings affected him professionally.

So I understand you're the guy who conjured up the Gordon/Montoya car-switch.

Yeah, actually Tom Purvis, the CEO and president of BMW is a friend of mine, and I'm a BMW dealer, and we were at a kind of play day and he said, 'You know, it'd be neat to let those guys swap cars one day.'

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So being a Formula One fan I thought it'd be pretty neat, and knew Gordon was going to be wetting his pants. So we put it together and it didn't work out the first year but we got it together this year.

I think it's great for the sport because it got the Formula One fans seeing Montoya in a Cup car and the Gordon and NASCAR fans to see him in an F1 car. So it was a pretty neat deal and all the teams were excited about it, and I think everybody had a good time.

What's your opinion of NASCAR's decision to move the Southern 500 date to California?

Well, the tradition of Labor Day weekend, it's always been a tradition at Darlington and I hate to see it move. But at the same time the sport's growing and the TV markets are important.

	Fontana Credit: Autostock

Big events, big days and a lot of coverage. You can see in the garage area that the cars have to change, the way we get to the racetrack has to change, so some of those things have to change, too.

It'll always be a part of history. Deep down inside I hate to see it go, but I understand that we've got to move on.

This sport has blossomed into one of the strongest sports in this country, and if you're going to do that you've got to change. Things can't stay the same.

I always look back and think it was nice and is part of history, but now we're going to move on. So I don't think it's that big a deal.

It seems like it may put added strain on your teams, though, because instead of being in the Charlotte area, you're trudging across country another time.

That's the problem right now. If you're at home and can stay at home, some of those guys drive back and forth.

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It's not too bad for the trucks to run down to Darlington and check it. But again, that's just part of it and I think we're going to have to, in the future I can see us having to service these bigger markets.

Maybe we'll have to cut a date or two or look at the schedule and try to space it out so when we do travel we have more time off. Maybe put together more Saturday night races where we're in-and-out. It's got to be a tough job, I'm glad I don't have to make those schedule changes.

How will Nextel's series sponsorship affect teams such as yours?

First of all, Winston has helped build this series and I've got a lot of friends with R.J. Reynolds and they've sure been good to us along the way.

We've won a lot of Winston Millions and championships. They've helped put the deal on the map.

But there has been growing problems with the tobacco industry and when you've got a lot of fans that are children, you see them out here in the garage area ... Nextel's got some awful big shoes to fill.

We have a lot of friends at Winston and R.J. Reynolds and we're going to miss the people but it's going to open doors to a lot of other opportunities for the sport.

And again, it's like the track dates and places we're going to visit more, it's part of growing and I think it's time. I think it'll be good for the sport, so I welcome them.

It's going to be tough getting used to saying it, though. I still call Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway, and I'm even sponsored by Lowe's.

So sometimes, after years and years you forget. But I think it's going to be a good fit for the NASCAR program. I'm looking forward to it.

How close is this sport to peaking? Are we even close to seeing that?

I don't know. I think there's still room for some expansion, as far as some of the tracks getting more seats. I think the next big challenge is going to be how to make it more entertaining for the fans.

	All four of Hendrick's cars are in the top 20 in the standings. Credit: Autostock

Maybe night races, special events around the races. That's what you get in markets like Las Vegas and California, Texas and Kansas City.

And some of these other markets just take it for granted that we're going to be there and it's no big deal. I think we have an opportunity to have a bigger event in a bigger market and I think there is room to grow, but there's not room to add any more events.

I think we've got to get as much out of every date that we have. Get as many people in, get as many functions in and around it and try to tie into big events and make each stop a big event. That's where the growth's going to be.

How much harder would it be for an owner to break into NASCAR now as opposed when you started, 20 years ago?

Oh, man, I'll tell you what. I was talking to somebody about this the other day. The first year I raced was 20 years ago this January, and had five employees full-time and 5,000 square foot of rented space and won three races and three poles that year.

If you showed up like that this year you'd be ... it's just really hard.

It's getting tougher and tougher and tougher, when you find that teams that are so well position and situated, it just takes a long time. You can't just put chemistry together. It's got to happen.

You've got to build it. That's where the teams that are having success -- they have people that have been together a long time.

You might be able to get good people and stick them together, and that's not guarantee you'll have the success these other folks have. I'd hate to think about.

If you don't land Jeff Gordon as a driver in 1991, what does Hendrick Motorsports look like right now?

We definitely wouldn't have as many wins as we have (laughing). Jeff's added a lot to our organization.

You know, we seem to be rolling along with Tim Richmond and Geoff Bodine, win 10, 11 races in a year and finish second or third in the points, then we'd dip and come back with Darrell Watrip and Ricky Rudd and Schrader, then hit a lull and run to a championship and do real well, then dip a little bit again.

	Jeff Gordon (left) with Jimmie Johnson Credit: Autostock

When Jeff came along, he was the first young guy to have a shot. I felt like I'd found a first round draft choice, like Michael Jordan or Shaquille O'Neal.

I got him at a young age and Ray (Evernham) was along and things just really blossomed. I don't know. It sure wouldn't look like it looks today.

You're always looking for the next guys to come along and really push your program. That's what I'm counting on with Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch.

Both of them are showing really strong signs of being superstars and really competing in this sport real well. I told somebody the other day that I'm just really glad I never had to race against Jeff Gordon, you know (laughing), winning 13 races and championships.

It's got to be demoralizing to show up and he's on the pole or faster than everybody. I've been in that situation against other drivers, when you knew you were running for second place.

But at the same time, Jeff Gordon's success has brought a lot of other drivers in. So it's opened the field of opportunity for so many young guys, and we're seeing talented young guys from all different types of racing.

So I think his showing up on the scene has opened the door for a lot of talent and that's made it a lot more competitive in the garage area. The facts, look at how many teams that have won a race this year, just shows you how many good teams are out there.

Jeff sure made an impact on our organization. When I got sick and wasn't around, if Jeff wasn't there and Terry wasn't there, we might not even be here today. So I'm very thankful for those guys and looking for the next Jeff Gordon.

Speaking of Jeff, he struggled a bit early last year, and a lot of people attributed that to his situation off the track. Now that it's all over and done, how much do you think his divorce affected him professionally?

Well, the one thing I've always said about Jeff is he can always cinch it up and handle pressure better than anybody I've ever seen. He handled Ray leaving and starting all over, and came back and won the championship.

Anybody that says that (divorce) wasn't a distraction, it's got to be a distraction going through a divorce and a situation with your spouse that you've been with for seven years. You just don't flip a switch and it doesn't affect you.

	Jeff Gordon has won 62 races -- all with Hendrick. Credit: Autostock

Then when you're out in public you've got to deal with not only the personal side of the situation, but the public side of the situation. And read all the mess that's written.

It's got to affect you, when you're down there trying to qualify and people are want to talk to you about it, or something just broke in the paper about it it's a distraction.

But he just really sucked it up. But I do think, now, that he doesn't have the hanging over him, having to work with attorneys and all that, it's going to show up on the track.

But, honestly, you can look at him and his performance and say 'We should have won several races this year if we hadn't had things like cut tires and things that usually don't happen to us.' But it's got to be better for him.

You own like 50 car dealerships. What's in your garage right now?

(Laughs) I drive a Suburban every day. But I've got a Mini and I've got a 360 Ferrari Spider that I really like to drive. I'm just a car nut. I'll go pick up, I had a (Porsche) Cayenne the other day, turbo-charged, and every time something new comes out I run over and grab it.

I drove one of the new Cadillac convertibles the other day, a little roadster, at the plant. Loved it. I'm a car nut, so I just keep swapping them back and forth. But my every day piece, I like the Escalade and Suburban to get back and forth to work. It's no telling what I'll be driving tomorrow.

Is Jimmie Johnson better than you expected him to be when you signed him up?

I saw Jimmie and he drove a Late Model for me. I knew him way back in his off road Truck days, watching him in the Busch Series and thought he had a lot of talent, but he has really, man, that guy is awesome in a racecar.

His ability to drive a car out of shape is unbelievable.

And you know, he's just a good guy and he's fun to be around. He's just neat, neat people, and I'm really excited about the future with Jimmie. I think he's going to be a champion. I mean, look at the first year. He could have won it.

And he's one of just two guys in the top-10 all year and him and Chad are an unbelievable combination. So the two of them together, I'm just really proud of them.

Several people have voiced the opinion to me that he's the best driver ever at Lowe's Motor Speedway. You've been around awhile. What do you think?

Ricky staying busy, too  Ricky Hendrick is a lot of things. Son, business owner, Busch Series car owner, retired driver. You could also call him a recruiter, since Hendrick was primarily responsible for bringing Brian Vickers to Hendrick Motorsports. But there's one word Hendrick doesn't want to hear from Vickers or from Hendrick's other Busch driver, Kyle Busch. "If they ever referred to me as boss, I'd slap them," Hendrick said. Full Story

That track fits his style. He reminds me a lot of Tim Richmond. Tim Richmond could get around that track, too. There's been a lot of people over the years that could drive Charlotte well.

For a while there it looked like Jeff couldn't be beat at Charlotte, and Terry (Labonte) seems to come on there during the race.

But Jimmie, for whatever reason, fits his driving style -- the banking and the turns and exit off corners. He just loves that place and you see that. Nadeau was that way at Atlanta. You find guys that seem to find a niche -- Ricky Craven at Rockingham.

I've watched Ricky Craven drive everything in the world, but when you get to Rockingham you know that Ricky Craven's going to run up near the front. And I don't understand that, but it's just how it works.

Up near the front and on the high-line.

That's right. Always.

How good does it do your heart to see Terry's resurgence? They're far and away better than they've been the past couple years.

I'll tell you, I don't care -- anywhere you go it this sport, anytime you meet fans in this sport, they're going to say something positive about Terry Labonte and Bobby Labonte. The Labonte Brothers seem to be where everybody loves them -- even if the fan has their own favorite driver.

	Terry Labonte sits 15th in the standings. Credit: Autostock

Terry Labonte has been one of the best friends I've ever had and it hurt me to see him struggle. We did everything we knew to do to try to help.

And I think a combination of the team's better, getting this new car, getting all the cars the same, gave Terry the confidence he needs. And boy, he's running like he ran back when he won the championship.

So I think they just keep getting better and better, and I'm tickled to death because Terry deserves to be in equipment and run good because he's that kind of guy.

I think you're going to see Terry be around the sport a long time. I don't know how long he's going to drive, but he's so good with people and I think he'll great on TV one day when he decides to hang up his driving gloves.

He's a super guy, and our goal right now is to get in the top-10, next year it'll be the top-five and running for a championship again. You know, you saw Mark Martin go through it.

You see a lot of guys go through it, and you don't know what it is, it's just getting the combination right and them being comfortable and confident and giving them the right stuff. I take all the blame for that. But it's just fun to watch him again.

Do you sleep better at night knowing that (son) Ricky's no longer in a racecar?

You just don't know how good it is to be able to go to a Busch race and enjoy it, or not have to worry about testing.

	Ricky Hendrick retired at the tender age of 22. Credit: Autostock

A lot of fathers in this garage area are able to handle it, and do a good job taking it in stride. I absolutely couldn't do it.

I just could not separate the father from the owner and really, after he got hurt that time, I was just petrified of him driving a car.

He's helping me in the business and he's got his own motorcycle dealership now. We're fishing together.

I love my son to death, and the older he gets the more we find things we like to do together.

The thrill of watching him win at Kansas, and being the youngest guy to win in the Trucks was one of the really neat things in the press box, but I'm going to tell you what, that joy doesn't equal the aggravation and stress of being up on the spotting stand at Daytona and watching him run a car down there, or anywhere with speed.

So I'm a happy camper that that part of our racing life is over.