Hendrick Aviation: The Lifeblood of Hendrick Motorsports
You might think of Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR, and the first thing that comes to mind is all them fast cars zoomin’ around the track. But let me tell you, behind them cars, there’s a whole lotta stuff goin’ on, especially when it comes to gettin’ them drivers and crews to them races. That’s where Hendrick Aviation comes in, and it ain’t just about airplanes – it’s a big ol’ part of the machine that keeps things runnin’ smooth for the whole NASCAR team. Now, sit tight, ’cause I’m gonna tell ya a bit about this here aviation business they got going on over at Hendrick Motorsports.
First off, y’all need to know that NASCAR ain’t just some hobby where folks show up once in a while. It’s a full-time, high-stakes, gotta-be-there-fast kinda deal. When you’re racin’ all over the country, time ain’t something you got a lotta of, and that’s where them fancy jets come into play. You see, Hendrick Motorsports ain’t shy about usin’ some good ol’ private planes to haul their folks around. We’re talkin’ pilots, drivers, and crew members all aboard them high-tech machines so they ain’t wastin’ no time gettin’ to the race tracks. Speed ain’t just for them race cars, no ma’am, it’s for the planes, too!
Hendrick’s Aviation Fleet: Jet-Set for Success
The fleet they got is somethin’ to behold. I ain’t talkin’ ’bout them little puddle-jumper planes, neither. Hendrick Motorsports uses some of the finest business jets money can buy. The big one folks always talk about is the Gulfstream G650ER, a real beauty that gets the job done with style. Now, if you’ve ever seen one of them jets up close, you’d know what I’m talkin’ about. It ain’t like your average commercial flight where you’re sittin’ all crammed up next to strangers. Nah, this here’s a whole different level of comfort and speed. They got a Gulfstream G650ER registered N1RH, and let me tell ya, that plane sure does the trick. It helps get the crew and drivers to where they need to go quick, and that’s the name of the game when you’re talkin’ NASCAR.
History of Hendrick Aviation
If you think they just started usin’ jets all of a sudden, you’d be wrong. Nah, they been at it for years. Take ol’ Robert Crutchfield, for instance. He was a pilot for Hendrick Motorsports for nearly 30 years, from 1980 to 2008. This fella flew Rick Hendrick himself and all them drivers to races all over the country. The man knew his stuff. And Rick Hendrick, he ain’t no slouch when it comes to makin’ sure his team has what it needs. If it means gettin’ a good jet so they ain’t takin’ no chances on missing a race, then that’s what they do.
Speaking of Rick Hendrick, let me tell ya, that man’s got his hands in a lotta things. He’s not just the big boss over at Hendrick Motorsports, but he’s also a co-owner of JR Motorsports and runs a whole bunch of car dealerships through the Hendrick Automotive Group. He’s a businessman, through and through. And part of bein’ a businessman like him means you gotta make sure your people are always on time. And that’s where Hendrick Aviation comes into play.
The Tragic Beechcraft Accident
Now, with all that speed and movin’ around, sometimes things don’t go as planned. There’s been a few bumps along the way, like that terrible crash back in 2004. I’m sure y’all remember the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 that went down in Stuart, Virginia. That was a hard day for the team. The crash killed all ten people aboard, and it left a mark on the Hendrick Motorsports family. It’s a reminder that, even though they got all them fancy jets and pilots, sometimes things can go wrong. But they didn’t let that stop ‘em. They’ve kept goin’ strong, making sure their aviation department is runnin’ as smoothly as possible.
Hendrick Aviation Today
Nowadays, Hendrick Motorsports keeps a mighty busy aviation schedule. If you think they’re just sittin’ around, you’re wrong. From the beginning of the NASCAR season to the end, them jets are flyin’ all over the country. The folks over at the Hendrick Aviation Department work year-round, but especially when NASCAR is in full swing. They’re makin’ sure the pilots, crew, and drivers are always where they need to be, ready for the next big race. The team operates out of Concord, North Carolina, and you can bet they got a hangar full of jets ready to roll.
Wrap Up
So, when you watch a race and see them cars flyin’ around the track, just remember – there’s a whole lotta behind-the-scenes work goin’ on to get them drivers and crews to the race in the first place. From fancy jets like the Gulfstream G650ER to the hardworking pilots who keep everything runnin’ smooth, Hendrick Aviation is an essential part of Hendrick Motorsports’ success. Without it, they wouldn’t be able to compete at the level they do. So the next time you see that #9 or #24 car zoomin’ around the track, you know they’re all flyin’ high – literally – thanks to Hendrick Aviation.
Tags：[Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR Aviation, Private Jets, Gulfstream G650ER, Rick Hendrick, Aviation Fleet, NASCAR Teams, Hendrick Aviation, Race Transport, Business Jets]
