[Bob Tanner]

I just went off, to BiscuitMan on my favourite villian, Rick Hendrick. To be fair and balanced, please allow me to reprint a thread I did awhile back:

#1 (permalink) 06-15-2007, 05:55 PM
Bob Tanner
Tanner, in defense of Rick Hendrick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To those of you who haven't put me on <IGNORE> yet, I've pinged on Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motor Sports, today pretty hard. I admit a bias against the guy and the things I've posted today in other threads are only part of the problem I have with him and his lack of business character.

However, in the interest of being fair and balanced, the guy has some good points which I deeply admire, and truth be known, wish that I possessed.

I don't know the history of Hendrick Motor Sales, and don't care to know, but the guy obviously does a lot of things right. He's gotten very rich and I see franchises all over the southeast. What impressed me most about Rick's sales endeavors is that, in a career where longevity in owning a auto dealership isn't especially long, Rick has been at it successfully for a long time. I've always maintained that making money is easy; keeping the money you make is what's difficult. Rick's success proves this.

Rick has a genuine talent in seeing potential in drivers. Look at the list of guys who were virtual nobodies before Rick spotted them and made them: Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Rob Moroso (died way before his time), Kenny Schrader, Jeff Gordon. I'd add Kyle Busch but I don't want to start a controversy off the topic of Hendrick himself.

He is a great leader. His troops apparently idolize the guy. He gives them what they need to fulfil their jobs at the highest level. Rarely is he not at the track, encouraging his teams. He is always there in Victory Lane to congratulate but manages to not shift the focus of the celebration from his driver and team to himself.

The thing I absolutely respect the guy for is his loyalty to his people. A Reader's Digest version follows:

In 1987 Tim Richmond became very sick due to complications concerning HIV infection (AIDS). NASCAR has attempted to rewrite the history of this story but I was a fan of Tim and I followed the matter as closely as one could in the 1987 and 1988. I remember it vividly going something like this:

Tim was sick. He showed up at the track exhibiting loss of weight, disorientation and weakness. NASCAR had just instituted it's drug testing policy and they made him take a urine test. He didn't race. The next race he showed for he was in no better condition. NASCAR made a public statement that banned substances were found in his urine test and that he had been banned from competition. Rick Hendrick provided a lawyer for Tim to fight this ban and the stigma attached. Under legal threat and pressure, NASCAR relented and confessed that the "banned substances" found in Tim were OTC drugs (Sudafed, I believe it was). NASCAR changed the "banned substances" charge but would not let Tim drive until they saw his private medical records.

Tim refused and Rick backed him up. Remember, in 1987 it was universally believed that the ONLY way to contract HIV was thru homosexual activity. There has been absolutely NO EVIDENCE that this was Tim's preference. In fact it was just the opposite; Tim thought every female skirt had a bullseye just below the waistband.

Tim never returned to racing, but instead returned to Ohio and died from Carposi's Pneumonia in 1989.

Rick knew about Tim's affliction from the start but said nothing. He kept Tim on the payroll, helped get him the best medical attention available, backed him in his fight to keep NASCAR's hands off his medical records, and kept his secret until after Tim had passed.

I don't know if it is still there but at HMS, as late as 1996 there was a section of his museum dedicated to Tim. I will always respect Rick Hendrick's loyalty to Tim Richmond.

I've stated in other threads on Hendrick's traits which stop me respecting him. This one is to show another side of the guy which I believe deserves honoring. Thank you for allowing me to try and be fair in my assessment of Rick Hendrick.

[Phils20]

Bob, when I was there in 99, that car was still there. I had to run down to my Photo albums to make sure.

At the time, he also had a helmet, shoes, and driving suit there.

Here is the text of the plaque by the gear.

"1987 Monte Carlo"

"First race was Riverside, Fathers Day. Tim Richmond won the race in this car. It was his last victory. The car was stored until it was re-skinned for the DAYS OF THUNDER" movie. This ws the black Exxon car used in the opening sequence of the film.

After it's role as a movie star, the car was used by Ken Schrader Kodiak team for short tracks and road courses. The car was then put into storage until it was completely restored to as-raced-at-Riverside Tim Richmond specifications for museum display."

I hope someone else from the site has been there since I have to let us know!

I'll call my Dad tomorrow, I know he has been there since then, and he may remember.

I'm heading down there for the fall race, I'll check then!

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I just went off, to BiscuitMan on my favourite villian, Rick Hendrick. To be fair and balanced, please allow me to reprint a thread I did awhile back:

#1 (permalink) 06-15-2007, 05:55 PM
Bob Tanner
Tanner, in defense of Rick Hendrick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To those of you who haven't put me on <IGNORE> yet, I've pinged on Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motor Sports, today pretty hard. I admit a bias against the guy and the things I've posted today in other threads are only part of the problem I have with him and his lack of business character.

However, in the interest of being fair and balanced, the guy has some good points which I deeply admire, and truth be known, wish that I possessed.

I don't know the history of Hendrick Motor Sales, and don't care to know, but the guy obviously does a lot of things right. He's gotten very rich and I see franchises all over the southeast. What impressed me most about Rick's sales endeavors is that, in a career where longevity in owning a auto dealership isn't especially long, Rick has been at it successfully for a long time. I've always maintained that making money is easy; keeping the money you make is what's difficult. Rick's success proves this.

Rick has a genuine talent in seeing potential in drivers. Look at the list of guys who were virtual nobodies before Rick spotted them and made them: Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Rob Moroso (died way before his time), Kenny Schrader, Jeff Gordon. I'd add Kyle Busch but I don't want to start a controversy off the topic of Hendrick himself.

He is a great leader. His troops apparently idolize the guy. He gives them what they need to fulfil their jobs at the highest level. Rarely is he not at the track, encouraging his teams. He is always there in Victory Lane to congratulate but manages to not shift the focus of the celebration from his driver and team to himself.

The thing I absolutely respect the guy for is his loyalty to his people. A Reader's Digest version follows:

In 1987 Tim Richmond became very sick due to complications concerning HIV infection (AIDS). NASCAR has attempted to rewrite the history of this story but I was a fan of Tim and I followed the matter as closely as one could in the 1987 and 1988. I remember it vividly going something like this:

Tim was sick. He showed up at the track exhibiting loss of weight, disorientation and weakness. NASCAR had just instituted it's drug testing policy and they made him take a urine test. He didn't race. The next race he showed for he was in no better condition. NASCAR made a public statement that banned substances were found in his urine test and that he had been banned from competition. Rick Hendrick provided a lawyer for Tim to fight this ban and the stigma attached. Under legal threat and pressure, NASCAR relented and confessed that the "banned substances" found in Tim were OTC drugs (Sudafed, I believe it was). NASCAR changed the "banned substances" charge but would not let Tim drive until they saw his private medical records.

Tim refused and Rick backed him up. Remember, in 1987 it was universally believed that the ONLY way to contract HIV was thru homosexual activity. There has been absolutely NO EVIDENCE that this was Tim's preference. In fact it was just the opposite; Tim thought every female skirt had a bullseye just below the waistband.

Tim never returned to racing, but instead returned to Ohio and died from Carposi's Pneumonia in 1989.

Rick knew about Tim's affliction from the start but said nothing. He kept Tim on the payroll, helped get him the best medical attention available, backed him in his fight to keep NASCAR's hands off his medical records, and kept his secret until after Tim had passed.

I don't know if it is still there but at HMS, as late as 1996 there was a section of his museum dedicated to Tim. I will always respect Rick Hendrick's loyalty to Tim Richmond.

I've stated in other threads on Hendrick's traits which stop me respecting him. This one is to show another side of the guy which I believe deserves honoring. Thank you for allowing me to try and be fair in my assessment of Rick Hendrick.

Come on Bob.... You were doing so good the last few days!!

Also I didn't remember Rob Moroso ever having anything to do with Rick Hendricks. I might be wrong and if so what was the connection?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Come on Bob.... You were doing so good the last few days!!

Also I didn't remember Rob Moroso ever having anything to do with Rick Hendricks. I might be wrong and if so what was the connection?

I try to be honest, Loco. When a guy's a putz I'll say it; when a guy does something worthwhile, I'll also acknowledge that. Too much narrow mindedness going around today and I do my best to be the antithesis of that.

The Felon gave Robby his first chance at Cup in...? either 1987 or 1988; I don't remember which year it was. I'm sure, but don't know for sure, that it was an agreement between Rob's dad (who owns a company which puts out some kick-ass aftermarket performance parts) and Rick, and was probably done quid pro quo.