Spotting Rick Hendrick snap a sharp salute during the national anthem at Martinsville last weekend had fans buzzing—what’s behind that gesture from NASCAR’s quiet powerhouse? The man behind Hendrick Motorsports has always carried a deep respect for service, rooted in family stories passed down from his dad, Papa Joe, who flew dangerous missions over Europe in World War II. That hand to the brow felt personal, like a thread pulling back to the garage where father and son first chased speed together. Let’s rewind to see how those early days built the legend.

What were Rick Hendrick’s early life and career before NASCAR?

Rick Hendrick grew up on a tobacco farm in Palmer Springs, Virginia, the kind of place where hard work came with the sunrise. Born on July 12, 1949, he was the middle kid

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