OT: NASCAR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS PLANE CRASH

[DARTH POOH]

Hendrick plane crashes on way to Martinsville
Oct. 24, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

MARTINSVILLE, Va.-- Ten people were killed in the crash of an airplane owned by the Hendrick Motorsports racing team, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

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There was no word on fatalities or injuries, FAA spokeswoman Arlene Murray said.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the FAA has notified the National Transportation Safety Board, and "they're investigating to see what might have happened or what has happened."

Murray said the Beech 200 took off from Concord, N.C., and crashed in the Bull Mountain area about seven miles west of the Martinsville airport at about 12:30 p.m.

Virginia State Police Sgt. Michael Bailey said rescue workers could not immediately reach the crash site because of the rough terrain.

NASCAR has spoken with team owner Rick Hendrick, Hunter said, but he added no other details about who was on the plane were immediately available.

"We're working very closely with members of the Hendrick organization," Hunter said. "We're just saying extra prayers right now."

Hendrick owns the teams of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte and Brian Vickers in the Nextel Cup Series.

Johnson won Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway.

NASCAR learned of the plane's disappearance during the race and withheld the information from the Hendrick drivers until afterward, Hunter said. All the Hendrick drivers were summoned to the NASCAR hauler immediately after the race and Johnson was excused from Victory Lane.

Hendrick has been on a season-long celebration of its 20th anniversary in NASCAR's top series. The organization has won five of the series' top titles, three truck series titles, and one Busch series crown.

The team has over 100 Cup series wins, making Hendrick just the second team owner in NASCAR's modern era to surpass that mark.

Hendrick employs more than 400 workers at the Charlotte-based Motorsports compound, which includes race shops and a 15,000-square-foot museum and team store.

He recently began grooming his son, Ricky, for a larger role with the company.

Ricky began his career driving a Busch car for his father, but retired in 2002 because of a shoulder injury suffered in a racing accident.

His father then made him the owner of the Busch car Vickers drove to the series championship last season, and Kyle Busch currently pilots.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

[DARTH POOH]

All 10 died including Rick Hendrick's son, Brother and 2 other family members..R.I.P. [img]frown.gif[/img]
Ricky Hendrick, Rick Hendrick's son and also a NASCAR (search) driver; John Hendrick, Rick Hendrick's brother and president of the organization; Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, Rick Hendrick's twin daughters; Joe Jackson; Jeff Turner; Randy Dorton, the team's chief engine builder; Scott Latham, a pilot for NASCAR driver Tony Stewart; and pilots Dick Tracy and Liz Morrison.

<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ October 24, 2004 07:34 PM: Message edited by: DARTH POOH ]</font>

[StV]

...I have no words. [img]graemlins/wilted.gif[/img]

[sculpey]

Very sad news.

[chaserfan]

.

[Peter Peeker]

I don't know who these people are, but that doesn't matter.

Godspeed, and prayers for the families. [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[SlappyMcNasty]

....

[flukeman]

[img]graemlins/wilted.gif[/img]

<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ October 25, 2004 02:42 AM: Message edited by: flukeman ]</font>

[SlappyMcNasty]

I must say this is a horrible occurence but one that could have/should have been avoided....really they should not have been flying under such weather conditions....the pilot should have known better....the ceiling was very, very low....I know I live 20 miles south of the Speedway and it was murky and misty all day. I don't know how much time they would have saved by flying when it's only about 100 miles from Concord to the racetrack....

[grail25]

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