[Bob Tanner]

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.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

However, in the interest of being fair and balanced

Bob has become Fox News

hey, most everyone has a little good in them

[tkj24]

I remember Tim Richmond and the Sudafed deal. I don't blame him either. It was none of Nascar's business as long as he wasn't on drugs or a danger to another driver.

I also heard that when Earnhardt-Eldridge was sick and everyone thought she was going to die. Rick Hendrick was the one who flew in Dr's to get her better.

[jks812]

Jr made reference to him doing that for her in his annoncement. Said he had done that for several other people too. So okay, the guy's not all bad.