NASCAR still behind Hendrick

Mike Harris

Friday, Jan. 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

On Dec. 4 NASCAR's top team owner, Rick Hendrick, was indicted by a federal grand jury for money laundering and fraud. Two days later, he walked into a NASCAR banquet worried about how his racing colleagues would receive him.

"A lot of those people are my friends, but I still wasn't really sure what the reaction was going to be," Hendrick said.

He was greeted with applause and smiles as he showed up to accept the Myers Brothers Award for contributions to the sport of stock car racing.

"I went into that room that morning and everyone was there and no one asked me any questions about (the indictments)," Hendrick said. "It was a relief because I really couldn't, and still can't, say anything about the case.

"It was just great to feel all that support and friendship from people who are so important to my life."

The owner of a $2.2 billion car and truck dealership network, Hendrick faces trial on 15 counts of money laundering and one count each of mail fraud and conspiracy related to several Honda dealerships.

He is free on $1 million bond, and no trial date has been set. He pleaded innocent on Dec. 20 to charges from a 49-page indictment alleging he bribed American Honda executives for favorable treatment in the allocation of cars and the awarding of dealerships.

If convicted of all 15 counts, Hendrick faces a maximum sentence of 210 years in prison and more than $5 million in fines.

Despite the problems hanging over him, Hendrick vows his racing operation will stay on track.

"The timing (of the indictments) sure didn't look like it was fair, but what we want to do is just concentrate on '97," he said.

Hendrick goes into the new season, which begins Feb. 16 with the Daytona 500, as king of the hill in NASCAR. His team won the 1995 Winston Cup title with Jeff Gordon and the 1996 championship with Terry Labonte first and Gordon a close second.

"Even though I've enjoyed the championship very much, (the indictment) has been a distraction," Hendrick said recently at the team's sprawling complex in Concord, N.C.

Although he is frustrated by not being able to tell his side of the story, Hendrick is most concerned that his three-car team -- with drivers Labonte, Gordon and newcomer Ricky Craven taking over for Ken Schrader -- not be affected by the court case.

"They're big boys and we're close-knit," Hendrick said. "If anything, I think it motivates them. I've told them to concentrate on what they've got to do. I'll take care of this, and let's get on with it."

Labonte, whose moribund career was revived when he was hired by Hendrick in 1994, said the indictments have pulled the team together.

"You see people here more determined than ever to bring that championship back here again," Labonte said. "Everybody here knows Rick Hendrick and knows what kind of a person he is. I've never worked at a place -- and this is my fourth year here -- that I've not heard one person say one bad thing about the boss. You can't go many places and say that.

"This is something that has hurt everybody here, because we know how Rick is. That's why I think this is something that will strengthen our team."

For now, Hendrick would rather talk about the possibility of becoming the first team owner to win three straight championships since Cale Yarborough won in 1976-78 for Junior Johnson.

"I think you're going to see Terry and Jeff battle for the championship again, and I don't see why Ricky can't be in it, too," Hendrick said, smiling broadly. "Of course, I'm sure Dale (Earnhardt) will be there, and Rusty (Wallace) will be there. But we kept everybody intact and I think we should be just as competitive as we were at the end of the year."