Quotebook: Hendrick tragedy

Jeff Gordon: "We are deeply saddened by this loss to the Hendrick Motorsports family and the racing community. Not only did we lose valuable members of our organization and the motorsports community, we lost friends. "We thank all of you for keeping our families and friends in your thoughts and prayers. "

David Green: "My family and I are numb after hearing this tragic news. Ricky was a true friend that always opened his hand to anyone and everyone. The opportunities that Ricky gave my family and me were endless, and I will forever be proud to have had the chance to know him and learn from him. He was the kind of person that was always so polite and considerate of others. I can't go a second without thinking of his smile and his "always thinking of others" attitude! There will never be another young man like "Lil' Ricky."

As we go forward I will always remember what "Lil' Ricky" taught me ... that family is No. 1. From my daughter Kaylie saying, "where's my boyfriend Lil' Ricky", to the memories and time I got to share with him both on and off of the track. I will always remember Ricky as the polite, caring young man that carried on Papa Joe's character. I hope my son Austin grows up to be just like "Lil' Ricky". May God bless Rick, Linda, Lynn, and all of the families involved in this terrible loss."

Jack Roush: "My heart and prayers go out to the Hendrick family and the families of all who lost their lives in this tragedy. Like the entire Hendrick organization, fans, followers and supporters, I too feel the tremendous loss."

Mark Martin: "I was hoping never have to hear this again in my life time, I just feel so bad that it's unreal. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families of those involved in this terrible tragedy."

Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth: "I really don't know what to say, this is such a terrible tragedy. It's not only a tragedy for NASCAR, but it's a personal one for the Hendrick Family -- Rick has been through a lot this year already and I think the best thing any of us can do right now is just pray for them. We all knew the people onboard and Randy Dorton has been a very close friend of mine. We just need to pray for everybody right now for what they're going through."

Greg Biffle: "I really don't have the words to express the sorrow I feel for Rick Hendrick, the entire Hendrick organization and the families and friends of those whose lives were taken by this tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them. "I'd become very good friends over the years with many of those involved and I'm just heartbroken. I'm deeply saddened and I have an empty feeling inside of me, as does the entire NASCAR family. All of them will be greatly missed."

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch: "It's such an extremely unfortunate situation. It's certainly something that illustrates how close-knit the entire racing community really is, and right now we're all just thinking and praying for all of the families."

Carl Edwards: "This is certainly a great tragedy not only for Hendrick Motorsports but for the entire sport. My thoughts and prayers go out to all my peers at Hendrick Motorsports and to all the family members and friends of each of the 10 individuals who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy."

Ed Clark, President, Atlanta Motor Speedway: "We are all deeply saddened by the tragic events of Sunday, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization during this tremendously difficult time. "It is at times like these that the NASCAR family pulls together. Although our hearts will be heavy this weekend, we will come together to race and try to bring some comfort to the family, friends and peers of those who perished."

Roger Penske, Owner, Penske Racing; Don Miller, President and Co-Owner; Drivers Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman and Brendan Gaughan: "In a sport that has seen tragedies occur throughout its existence, this is by far the worst that it has ever experienced. Our sport teaches us to deal with adversity and disappointment because there are far more losses than there are victories, but this event transcends all of these disappointments. This is a tragedy of insurmountable proportions. Not only did we lose great competitors, but outstanding people and friends, as well. We offer our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones, and to Hendrick Motorsports."

Kevin Harvick: "One thing that makes the sport of NASCAR so great is its sense of family. Despite the fact that there are many different organizations, teams, drivers, and sponsors we operate like one big community. This is never more evident than when tragedy strikes. On Sunday afternoon, we lost ten members of our NASCAR family. On behalf of myself, DeLana, and all of Kevin Harvick, Incorporated, we extend our deepest condolences to the families involved in this tragedy. You will be in our thoughts and prayers."

Brian France, CEO, NASCAR: "The thoughts and prayers of the entire NASCAR family go out to all the families affected by this accident. I am confident that the NASCAR community will rally to provide comfort and support during this trying time. As a family oriented sport, we are all feeling a very personal loss at this time."

Richard Childress

Richard Childress: "It's a tremendous loss to the Hendrick family, the Hendrick Motorsports organization and NASCAR as a whole. It's really hard to imagine. We spend so much time together during the year that, when a tragedy like this strikes, it hits deep and it hits hard because we are so close to one another. We are like family and our thoughts and prayers go out to Rick and all of the families who lost loved ones."

Clay Campbell, President, Martinsville Speedway: "I speak for everyone at Martinsville Speedway when I say we are deeply shocked and saddened by Sunday's losses. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the families and employees. And we will keep them in our prayers and hearts in the coming days."

Dale Earnhardt Jr: "It's hard to express how it feels to hear the news about the Hendrick plane crash. It's like a hammer to the chest. It takes the wind out of you. The Hendricks are a great family and they've always been very generous to me and to everyone in NASCAR. It's helpful to have a strong family to surround you, and I know the Hendricks are a great family. For me, being in the garage is like being surrounded by your closest friends and family, and it really helped me through some rough times. I'm sure Rick and all the families involved will receive the support they need from everyone in the NASCAR family."

Michael Waltrip

Michael Waltrip: "This is obviously a tragedy for the Hendrick family as well as the NASCAR family. I hope that all the Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Inc. fans will lend their prayers to strengthen all the families affected by this heartbreak. God has a plan for each of us and it is important during times like this that we rely on our faith."

Robin Braig, President, Daytona International Speedway: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Hendrick Motorsports, their family, friends and all those who have been touched by this tragedy. The Hendrick team has been instrumental in the growth and success of the sport and we are all saddened by this tragic incident."

Tony George, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: "At moments like this, it is difficult to adequately express the deep sense of loss so many friends and families are feeling. Times of reflection for me in the near future will be full of prayer for Rick Hendrick, his family and his entire organization. We can take comfort, though, in knowing that the 10 souls that were taken yesterday made our lives richer for having known them, and we should always hold dear their memory."

Schrader (right) with team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau

Ken Schrader: "Ann and I have lost some great friends, and our hearts are broken for all of their families. While we are grateful for the time we had with them, we will miss them greatly. Through nine years of working for Rick Hendrick, his family became our family. It's incredibly hard right now; we just need to keep our thoughts and prayers with all of the families involved. As much as they did for our sport, it can't begin to compare with how they touched our lives."

Beth Ann Morgenthau, Owner, BAM Racing: "We were all shocked at the news Sunday, and certainly saddened. As the race progressed at Martinsville, it really began sinking in, and it was a horrible feeling. Tony and I, and everyone at BAM Racing, offers our prayers and support to the families and to the Hendrick organization."

John Andretti: "I think everybody in the sport is in shock right now. We lost a lot of talented people, but we also lost of lot of really good people. This obviously affects Hendrick Motorsports but it affects all of us in motorsports when good people with great talents are taken away from you. "Nancy and I are praying for the families and friends of those we lost, and we mourn with them."

Greg Sacks: "We are all family in this garage. You spend so much time together and so many people end up working together and some point or another, you just get to be that way. A single loss is incredibly hard but to lose 10 friends like this is just devastating."

Jack Sprague: "It is difficult to find the words to express my sympathy and concern for the devastating loss suffered by Rick, Linda and Lynn Hendrick; Cathy and Alesha Hendrick and the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization. The loss will be keenly felt within the NASCAR racing family, especially by those who had the privilege of knowing them on a personal level as well as compete against their teams. For over seven years, my family was part of the Hendrick racing family. From my perspective, there are no finer people to work for and with than Rick and John Hendrick. Ricky was the best teammate any driver could ask for in this sport. Randy was a positive influence to everyone. Jeff Turner treated everyone in the organization with respect regardless of his or her jobs. My wife Rhonda, my daughter Paige and myself have everyone associated with Hendrick Motorsports and all the families who lost a loved one in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."

Rusty Wallace: "On behalf of myself and my family, as well as everyone at Rusty Wallace, Inc. and RWI Racing, I wish to send our most heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of everyone involved in this horrible tragedy. Situations like this really put our lives in perspective; in comparison to the events of yesterday, what we do on the racetrack means next to nothing. The people on that aircraft not only possessed great amounts of talent and success, but also unlimited potential. They will all be greatly missed. Moments like this really cause the racing community to bond together and I want Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports to know that our thoughts and prayers are certainly with them."

Greg Wallace: "What happened yesterday is an unthinkable tragedy, not only for those directly involved, but for all of us in the racing community. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this incident. The people on that aircraft had done so much for our sport and we will greatly miss each and every one of them. Of the victims, I was most familiar was Ricky Hendrick. While we were not extremely close, his career was one which I closely followed, as it somewhat mirrored my own. After graduating around the same time from rival high schools, we both pursued driving careers in some form, but eventually chose to pursue business and team leadership interests. He had done an excellent job with his teams and I really looked forward to one day competing against a Ricky Hendrick-led Hendrick Motorsports organization. Just the other day, Jamie McMurray and I were talking about how down-to-earth and thoughtful Ricky was, especially considering his position. That's exactly how we'll remember him."