Hendrick Blog

Mark Martin's #5 Sprint Cup car

Hendrickcars.com will be the primary sponsor of the  Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet for this Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mark Martin has had two 4^th place finishes in the last two races and finished second in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings.

Hendrickcars.com is the one stop online marketplace for quality pre-owned cars and trucks. The web site covers all the pre-owned inventory in Hendrick Automotive’s 60+ dealerships with  detailed photos, descriptions, CarFax reports, and much more. Hendrickcars.com also launched a #5 Mark Martin – Hendrickcars.com Race Suit Sweepstakes on 3/2/10.  Be sure to check it out.

In 2010, all diesel engine manufacturers must meet very stringent new EPA emmissions standards. Most every diesel will incorporate a new diesel emmissions fluid (DEF) tank which wil add the requirement of keeping this extra cost maintenance fluid’s level at a required volume or the engine performace  could be reduced. If it gets low enough, the system will not let the truck go over 4 mph!

GM’s early estimated price increase for the new diesel will be in the $4,000 range. That means a new diesel engine in a light duty truck may hit $12,000!   

Rick Hendrick Commercial  sales has procured a substantial allotment of new 2009 and 2010 Silverado one ton chassis cabs with current emmission Duramax diesel engines that will not  incur the hefty price increases slated to begin after January. Now is the time to get your diesel truck at a great price savings and take advamntage of year end business tax benefits on vehicle pruchases. Call our Commercial sales department today at 866-566-5193 or email mike.stubbs@hendrickauto.com or visit usonline at www.hendrickatlanta.com .

Congratulations to Todd Perry!  

Todd is the lucky winner of our Buford High School Football Wolves Camaro Raffle. Raffle tickets were sold at $100 apiece and at the October 30th home game, Todd’s ticket made him the proud new owner of a “brand new” 2010 Camaro SS. Todd will get to order the car in the color of his choice.

Todd is pictured with Ryan Regnier, the general manager of our Buford location.  Again our congratulations to Todd and everyone who helped us support the Buford Wolves football prgram.

Tom Cruise and Rick Hendrick

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tom Cruise will narrate an upcoming documentary about the history of  Hendrick Motorsports.

“TOGETHER: The Hendrick Motorsports Story” will air Oct. 11 on ABC before the network begins its coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race at California.  Cruise will narrate during never-before-seen footage and family photographs that chronicle Rick Hendrick’s 25 years in NASCAR.

 The actor became friendly with Hendrick when the car owner did some consulting for Cruise’s racing film “Days of Thunder.” Cruise and his family have been periodic guests of Hendrick at races the past several years, and the actor sat at an HMS table during last year’s championship celebration.

Powell and his wife Carol on a recent river adventure.

You don’t work at Hendrick Chevrolet and not know Powell Hassell. Powell is our inventory control, dealer trade, rebate and incenttive, and whatever else person he needs to be around the store. Most people in their 70’s are relaxing at home and not still working a full time job.  Not Powell! Not only is he at the store before we get there and usually there late, Powell and his wife Carol are very active partners in a variety of outside activities and adventures. One such activity is taking personal watercraft tours on jet skis along scenic waterways and byways. Powell and Carol have hooked up with friends at pwctours.com to explore some beautiful scenery along rivers such as the Cape Fear, Suvannah, and Cumberland from a different perspective.  Powell was voted the dealership’s Employee of the Year, by our employees,  for 2008 and he is most deserving.  Powell is proof that your age doesn’t keep you from enjoying life to the fullest.

Angie tells us about the program. Our employees contributed to the cause.

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet is proud to partner with Hugs for Soldiers, a local non profit organization sponsored by Duluth First United Methodist Church, whose mission is to collect and send our troops in Afganistan packages containing shampoo, toothpaste, gum, candy, batteries, books, and a lot of things we take for granted. In Afganistan, there are no base exchanges, no stores or supply outlets for our men and women to obtain these items.  Hugs for Soldiers works diligently to pack and ship these items, along with cards and letters of support, to these brave men and women.  Angie Doerlich started Hugs for Soldiers in 2003 and came to speak and thank our employees for their support. We appreciate the job that Angie and her staff do for our service personnel and encourage everyone to donate to this very worthwhile cause. Their web site is www.hugsforsoldiers.org .

2009 Callaway Corvette convertible

 The Callaway Corvette is a specialist version of the C6 Corvette, built by Callaway Cars Inc. and sold through selected Callaway/Chevrolet Retailers  They are professionally engineered, seriously fast and an unbeatable value. They are also fully warranted and emission compliant in all states.  New cars may be ordered through, and are serviced by, trained and authorized Callaway Corvette Dealers nationwide. Super high performance is now available in either platform: Convertible or Coupe. 6 speed manual or 6 speed paddle-shift automatic transmission.

Thinking of a Z06 or ZR1?  Consider a test drive in the Callaway Corvette at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet. The performance of the Callaway Corvette is within two tenths of the ZR1 in the quarter mile and costs substantially less.  The Callaway Corvette is approximately the same price as a Z06. However, it is faster and more exclusive. The Callaway Corvette is available as an automatic and a convertible.  Rick Hendrick Chevrolet is Georgia’s only authorized dealer for Callaway performance automobles. Call Alan Cavell today at 888-711-8566 or 404-957-6588 (cell) for more info or to set up your demonstration drive!

• 580 bhp, 510 lb-ft 6.2L LS3 engine*
• CS2000 Eaton supercharger, polished finish
• Air/liquid intercooler, integral to intake manifold
• Electronic fuel system controller
• High flow fuel injectors
• Callaway body-color injector covers

PERFORMANCE DATA
Man. Trans. -  Auto. Trans.
0-60 mph 3.5 -  sec 3.7 sec
1/4 mile 11.2@124 mph  - 11.3 @123 mph
Top Speed: 204 mph  - 200 mph

Dave speaks to the crowd as Hannah Martin looks on.

At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, the foundation of our success is clearly our employees. Our employees pride themselves on doing the right thing, not only by our customers, but our fellow employees as well. This was all too evident at our monthly dealership employee luncheon on the June 19, 2009. As part of our monthly luncheon, a few lucky employees get to spin a prize wheel for a cash prize. Landing on the one spot on the wheel which paid a top prize of $2,000 is a very rare occurence. Our service employee, Dave Walker, after hitting the big payout spot on the wheel, asked Hannah Martin, who is an expecting single mother, to come up beside him. Dave then surprised not just Hannah, but everyone in attendance when he asked our office manager to take the money and split it among the single moms at the dealership.  Of course we all gave Dave a round of applause for his generosity. Dave is a great example of our employee family. Thanks Dave!

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet was recently recognized, by the Atlanta Regional office of the Better Business Bureau, for their 2009 Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics. This prestigious award program recognizes only two automotive businesses, per year, in the Atlanta metro and Northeast Georgia areas who have demonstrated their commitment to ethical business practices in all aspects of their relationship with customers, associates, vendors, shareholders, and their contributions to the community.

Hendrick employees Amy Harris and Bell show off the awards.