Rick Hendrick honored with Bill France Award of Excellence

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Betty Jane France, wife of the late NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr., presents an emotional Rick Hendrick with the Bill France Award of Excellence at Friday night's 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

RSS Feed
Email to a Friend
Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size RESIZE
Share
- Facebook
- Del.icio.us
- DIGG This
- Reddit
- Newsvine
- Stumbeupon
7 Comments

Bob Pockrass: Fans and entertainment made the difference in Las Vegas

NASCAR shows footage of wrecks for first time in 9 years at awards ceremony

LAS VEGAS – Rick Hendrick was a son of a Virginia tobacco farmer and someone whose passion for cars and racing led him to enter the sport in 1984. Since then, he has built a motorsports organization that is the envy of many in the Sprint Cup garage.

In those 26 seasons, his drivers have won 188 Cup races and nine Cup titles. In those 26 seasons, Hendrick Motorsports has grown to employ more than 500 people and NASCAR has grown in popularity on the national sports landscape.

So maybe that’s why Hendrick sobbed at the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony when honored with the Bill France Award of Excellence from Betty Jane France, wife of the late Bill France Jr., who guided the sport from 1971-2003.

“I wasn’t expecting this one,” Hendrick said during his acceptance speech at the Wynn Las Vegas. “This award means so much to me because of the relationship I had with Bill France and the respect I had for him.”

The award is not handed out annually by the France family, which has owned and operated NASCAR for 61 years. Named for NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., the award is presented when the NASCAR leadership believes someone is worthy of the recognition for contributions to the sport.

“NASCAR has had many iconic figures throughout its rich history, and Rick Hendrick certainly falls into that category,” Betty Jane France said. “Through the years, he has not only won our respect but our hearts as well.”

Hendrick did not know that Betty Jane France was at the banquet and the award was not listed in the agenda for the evening that celebrated Jimmie Johnson’s fourth consecutive title in a season where Hendrick drivers swept the top three spots in the standings.

“I’ve never seen him where he’s in a position where he couldn’t say what was on his mind,” Johnson said after the ceremony. “It really got him. … For a minute there, I thought he was going to need to sit down and start over and come back to the podium.

“It’s amazing. It means so much to Rick because of his friendship with Bill. I could only imagine how much that means to him. And then this year, you look at the 1-2-3 and all the success. You roll it all up in one, he’s going to remember 2009 forever.”

Even before Hendrick received the award, his drivers praised him.

“You taught me to live big and small – live big in your passion for what you do, what you believe in and in your successes, but be humble and appreciative and give thanks for all those things,” Jeff Gordon said during his speech.

Mark Martin said he sees “a little bit of Rick Hendrick in each and every one of” the employees of the team.

“You just win everything there is in NASCAR,” said Martin, who joined the team this year. “You made history, win all these championships. You’re a big winner. Congratulations and thanks for letting me be a part of it. But that’s not the most impressive part of it. To me, you’re a true champion as a person, such an incredible individual that affects so many people in a positive way. I’d like to be more like you.”

RSS Feed
Email to a Friend
Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size RESIZE
Share
- Facebook
- Del.icio.us
- DIGG This
- Reddit
- Newsvine
- Stumbeupon
7 Comments

Comments

7 responses to "Rick Hendrick honored with Bill France Award of Excellence". Post a Comment.

1

gojeffgo said:
Dec 5, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Wish every family could have that joy you bring to all your employees Rick.
Congratulations on a job well done and the optimism you exude in times of triumph and tragedy.
Keep up the good work!
2

Motorsportsphotography said:
Dec 5, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Hey everyone, Please keep DJ Richardson (the front tire changer for Kevin harvick)in your thoughts. he has H1N1, he has a 105 degree temp. and his kidneys are failing and it is turning really bad! Please pray 4 him!!
3

dd88 said:
Dec 5, 2009 at 7:26 PM
So sorry to hear about DJ Richardson. Hope they can get the high temp down and his kidneys functioning. So many of those involved in NASCAR fall in the age bracket for this fast moving flu. I'm a nurse in public health. We've given over 9,000 immunizations and that is just a small percentage of people that could be affected.
Prayers for DJ and family.
4

SS396Chevelle said:
Dec 5, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Rick Hendrick is excellence and knows how to bring the best of his teams. Next year expect the same.
5

Villebilly said:
Dec 5, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Rick was truly humbled by this award, congrats are in store.
6

pws1011 said:
Dec 5, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Congratulations Mr.H.I gotta ask this though?Who and where has ''Elvira''been hiding,(Betty Jane),was she loaded or was that her natural gait.
7

rwilliamhayes said:
Dec 7, 2009 at 1:01 PM
And so it should be.