Jeff Gordon’s third Daytona 500 victory could hardly make up for team owner Rick Hendrick’s loss, but Gordon was nonetheless thrilled to provide a still-grieving father a moment’s escape.
When Gordon hopped out of his car, the first person he sought was Hendrick. The emotion spilled like fuel at a pit stop. Their thoughts focused on those not here to share in the joy.
Nearly four months ago, one of the Hendrick Motorsports team’s jets crashed while attempting a landing in Martinsville, Va., killing all 10 aboard including Hendrick’s 24-year-old son Ricky and Hendrick’s brother John and his 22-year-old twin daughters.
Randy Dorton, the team’s chief of engine development, also perished, providing one of the day’s sadder ironies. The man most responsible for creating the engine that closed the gap on Dale Earnhardt, Inc.’s recent dominance in restrictor-plate races wasn’t there to watch Gordon roar to victory lane. But he wasn’t forgotten.
“We kept telling ourselves all week that this one’s for Randy,” Hendrick said. “There was a lot of talk about the motors and this was a tribute to what Randy meant and still means to us.”
Gordon talked about how a part of him died in that plane as well. “A day hasn’t gone by when we haven’t talked about how we can honor them,” he said. “We know they’re looking down and smiling at us.”
