It's all about people when it comes to Rick Hendrick

It would be easier to get Rick Hendrick to drive a Ford than to talk about Rick Hendrick. Any conversation with him about the success of Hendrick Motorsports centers around one thing -- people. In our 20-minute talk before the Atlanta race, Hendrick mentioned at least 19 people. If you throw out the first minute for the, "Hi how ya doing," then that is one person per minute. And I might have missed a few along the way.

I first met Hendrick about 18 years ago. Every story I have done with him or on him comes back to the same thing, the people in his organization. I've known a number of them over the years too, and most reflect the class and quiet confidence of the man they call "Mr. H."

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There have been 33 Nextel Cup races this season. Sixteen have been won by a driver from Hendrick Motorsports. Jimmie Johnson has eight wins, Jeff Gordon six, Kyle Busch won at Bristol in the spring and Casey Mears won at Charlotte in May. That might be the most impressive stat of the season -- four different drivers for one owner winning sixteen races. Now that means a tip of the hat to the guys at Roush Racing as well (sorry, I can't say the "F" word in the new ownership name). They have sent four different drivers to Victory Lane this season as well, combining for six wins.

For the record, Hendrick Motorsports now owns 165 victories in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. That is second only to Petty Enterprises (268). Junior Johnson is third (132), followed by Roush Racing (100), a tie between the Wood Brothers and Holman-Moody (96) and Richard Childress Racing with (86). How does he do it?

"It is all about people," Hendrick said.

Told ya. According to the Hendrick Web site, more than 500 people now work at Hendrick Motorsports.

"I don't care what you're doing or what your business is, it's all about the people. They have to be able to work together, believe in each other and be able to share information. They have to be motivated to come in and go through it everyday. It's no different in the racing business than it is in the automobile business."

And Hendrick has been pretty successful there as well. Hendrick grew up on a farm and quickly learned the rules of survival; rely on others to help and be ready to help others when needed. It served well as a child, as an automobile dealer and the owner of a racing organization.

"I grew up living on a farm and we had to depend on other people when there were rough times, when you had to irrigate your crops and needed to borrow water. We learned from those experiences and you take them with you.

"I had the opportunity to learn in the automobile business. When I was starting, I took people I knew with me, people that could do the job. And then we attracted new people and that's how the business grew."

And grew, and grew and grew into one of the largest ownership chains in the country. Something like 65 dealerships in 10 states. I think they make a lot of money. (Continued)