Ricky Hendrick

**Joseph Riddick** "**Ricky**" **Hendrick IV** is an American stock car racing driver and partial owner at Hendrick Motorsports, a NASCAR team that his father Rick Hendrick founded.

## Ricky Hendrick

### Born

April 2nd 1980, Charlotte, North Carolina

### First Race

1999 Myrtle Beach 250 (Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity)2004 Daytona 500 (Pepsi Cup)

### Last Race

2019 Steven Universe Future 400 presented by Ford (Pepsi Cup)

### First Win

2004 Charter 350 (Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity)2009 Ford 400 (Pepsi Cup)

### Pepsi Cup Series Career

#### 2004: Tough Beginnings (Part-Time)

In 2004, Ricky Hendrick debuted for his father's team Hendrick Motorsports in the rebranded number 35 car that was the former 60 car. GMAC was the sponsor for all 4 races. He raced the Daytona, Phoenix, Martinsville, and Homestead races. Here are his finishes in order. 19th, 22nd, 33rd, and 15th. He finished 59th in the point standings.

#### 2005: Improvements (Part-Time)

In 2005, Ricky won many Busch Series races about 4 after getting his first win last season in the Busch Series. GMAC still sponsored Ricky for that and the now 10 races Ricky raced in the 17 this season again. His finishes are in this order. 20th, 15th, 14th, 14th, 12th, 33rd, 17th, 39th, 10, and 9th. His two top 10s came at Daytona July and Homestead. He finished 50th in the standings.

#### 2006: Rookie Year

In 2006 after second in the 2005 Busch Series championship. He was able to get no top 5s and 12 top 10s. He finished 25th in the standings with the number 35 GMAC car.

#### 2007: Summer Streak

In 2007 the season started off as the same as 2006 with no top 5s and 5 top 10s before June. He was 30th in the standings but between June, July, and August and some of September, Ricky collected 8 top 5s and 14 top 10s. He got all the way up to 16th in the standings during that time and finished 18th overall. He had a total of 12 top 5s and 22 top 10s. He also did have 5 DNFS at the start of the season and year which didn't help points situations.

#### 2008: Second Place Is Tiring

In 2008, Ricky got second place a total of SIX TIMES! 4 of those were to teammate Jimmie Johnson and the other 2 to teammate Kyle Busch. He got a total of 11 top 5s and 16 top 10s. He got 9th in the standings with a pretty good season.

#### 2009: Win, Comebacks, Dominance, & Rivals

In 2009, Ricky was able to get his first career pole at Darlington out of all places. He led the first 90 laps by storm over teammate Kyle Busch. He was sadly spun by Kyle Busch his teammate. Very upset, Ricky Hendrick made a comeback from last to second in 130 laps. With 2 to go he finally started gaining on Busch but on the final lap he hit Busch and spun himself and put Busch into the wall. Busch lost the race along with Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports didn't even win. Ricky was determined to fire Kyle after this seeing he was part owner but his father convinced him not to. He got 14 top 5s and 17 top 10s this season. He finished second twice and got 11th 4 times. He was able to win the final race of the season for his first win in the 2009 Ford 400 at Homestead a race he has gotten all top 10s in since 2006. It was a big celebration also seeing how teammate Jimmie Johnson got his 4th career championship.

#### 2010: Brutal Firing & Rivals Continue

In 2010, HMS fired Kyle Busch after he signed a contract with Joe Gibbs Racing. They found out before the Daytona 500 so that was interesting. The 5 car did not run the season and some say even if we knew it was already gonna race, Dale Jr.'s 88 kinda of replaced him and the 5 along with Vickers and his 55. Ricky Hendrick was able to grab 2 more wins at Dover and Talladega this season. Dover rained out and Talladega a last lap pass. GMAC still stayed strong with him and Hendrick as Ricky and Kyle Busch had 2 incidence during this season. The first was in the Sprint Unlimited after Kyle was very upset after getting straight up kicked out without saying any warning even if he did sign a new 2010 contract anyway. Ricky was leading the Unlimited and Kyle was second and coming to the checkered flag Kyle dumped Ricky and won the race. Anyway Ricky did ruin his victory celebration. The other race was the All Star Race where Ricky wrecked Kyle to try and win it but got passed himself. The biggest fight in a while broke out after the race while both of them lost. Ricky got 13 top 5s and 15 top 10s this season. He finished 11th in the season standings.

#### 2011: Break Out Season

In 2011, Ricky Hendrick was able to finally after 7 years have a break out season with winning. He won 5 times at Las Vegas, Martinsville, Bristol, Atlanta, and Daytona July. He was able to finish 4th in the season standings after 15 top 5s and 21 top 10s.

#### 2012: Second Place Curse Is Back Again...........

In 2012, Ricky Hendrick failed to win any races but did finish second 11 times. He had 16 top 5s and 24 top 10s. He finished 2nd in the standings to Brad Keselowski who he did finish second to in the final race at Homestead.

#### 2013: Outrages, Suspensions, & Injury

In 2013, Ricky Hendrick had his worst ever season of bad luck or just sometimes bad decisions being the most. He only had 8 top 5s and 12 top 10s and didn't make it to the chase. He got 11th 1 point behind Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman. The four bad luck or decisions that happened in 2013 were simple. Number 1 was a bad luck with the Gen 6 car that didn't really match up with Ricky Hendrick's driving style like most during this time. (He would overcome it next season). Number 2 was trying to wreck Kyle Busch so bad that he got loose at Talladega Practice while trying to do so and slammed the wall very hard. He was okay but suspended for 2 races. Ty Dillon replaced Ricky during those races and got 15th and 11th. Number 3 was a bad decision after trying to take it three wide at Bristol and wrecking himself. Another was a bad decision after he tried to FORCEFULLY DUMP KYLE BUSCH AT PHOENIX. Kyle got loose and turned into Ricky in the dog leg which sent him FLYING INTO THE WALL. He also got hit by Martin Truex Jr. so it made him climb the wall and go on his side but never flipped. This was the worst crash yet of his career. He missed the finally at Homestead which Ty Dillon took over again and got 5th after a great strategy that almost helps the team get good finishes out of bad races all the time!

#### 2014: Better!

In 2014, Ricky Hendrick still had GMAC on the car as he did for EVERY RACE OF HIS WHOLE ENTIRE CAREER! Even in Busch & Trucks & Arca which he also shined at. Ricky was able to get second 8 times which were his only top 5s of the season. He never won and got 17 top 10s. He finished 9th in the season standings.

#### 2015: Final Good Racing Season

In 2015, Ricky Hendrick had his final good and decent noticeable season in The Pepsi Cup Series. Racing for the win about 8 times, Ricky won his final career Pepsi Cup Racing Series races at the 2015 Daytona 500, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400, and Ford EcoBoost 400. He was able to get 5th in the standings with 12 top 5s and 22 top 10s.

#### 2016: Struggles

In 2016, Ricky got 2 top 5s and almost won at Texas but lost to Carl Edwards after a rain delay happened. His other Top 5 came in the Daytona 500. He got 4 top 10s also. He finished 16th in the standings making the Chase/Playoffs for the final time.

#### 2017: Not Noticeable

In 2017, Ricky got 1 top 5 in the Geico 500 at Talladega and 2 top 10s at Texas and Homestead. He finished 19th in the season standings.

#### 2018: A Joke

In 2018, Ricky got no top 5s and 1 top 10 at Homestead in the Ford EcoBoost 400. He wrecked Kyle Busch for the top 10 and got fined 1,000 dollars and sued by Busch 2.000.

#### 2019: Final Season

In 2019, GMAC decided to say this would be their last season in NASCAR. Ricky Hendrick also decided to retire after this season. He did decent with 4 top 5s and 10 top 10s. He got 2nd all 4 top 5s and almost won in a photo finish at Homestead with Kyle Busch who won the championship anyway. He finished 17th in the season standings.

The 35 was retired by him and Rick Hendrick forever. Ricky decided to race 1 race a year in ARCA, Trucks, and Xfinity. GMAC agreed to return just for that.