Ricky Hendrick, a former NASCAR driver and the son of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, tragically died in a plane crash on October 24, 2004.
Ricky Hendrick began his career in racing following in the footsteps of his father, Rick Hendrick, who founded one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history. Ricky competed in the NASCAR Busch Series (now Xfinity Series) and the Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series), showing promise as a young driver.
However, his racing career was cut short by a shoulder injury in 2002, after which he transitioned into a team owner role at Hendrick Motorsports. Despite stepping away from driving, Ricky remained deeply involved in the sport and was seen as a rising star in the racing business.
The tragedy occurred when a Beechcraft Super King Air 200, owned by Hendrick Motorsports, crashed en route to a NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. The plane went down in the Bull Mountain area near Martinsville due to poor visibility and foggy conditions. All ten people on board were killed, including Ricky Hendrick, his uncle John Hendrick, John’s twin daughters, and several key members of the Hendrick Motorsports team.
The loss of Ricky Hendrick was a devastating blow to the Hendrick family and the NASCAR community. His death profoundly affected his family and the organization, leading to various tributes and remembrances in his honor. Ricky’s legacy continues to be felt in NASCAR, both through the ongoing success of Hendrick Motorsports and through the Ricky Hendrick Performance Honda dealership, which was renamed in his memory.
