Rick Hendrick gives classic life, business advice for young people

With success in NASCAR and in the car sales business, Rick Hendrick has learned a lot of lessons in life and has advice to share. At 75 years old, Hendrick has built an empire as it relates to cars on the race track and on the highways of America.

2024 marked 40 years for Rick Hendrick as a team owner in the Cup Series. He has experienced the highest highs and lowest of lows. It is a sport that has taken a lot and given a lot back.

Kelley Earnhardt spoke to Mr. H recently on the Business of Motorsports podcast. He was asked about advice he has for young people getting into the working world for the first time.

“I have so many fathers and mothers call me and would I talk to their child that just graduated from college and one of ’em was my godson and he comes in and he says, ‘I just graduated and I got my Master’s and I just feel like I need to be a CEO.’ And I said, ‘Well what makes you think you should be a CEO?'” Hendrick said.

There isn’t much of a shortcut to success. At least not for most people. Rick Hendrick had a bit of classic advice for young folks. Do what you love.

“My message to young people is pick something you like and do it,” Hendrick continued. “If you’re miserable in what you do everyday you won’t be very successful. I get to make a living doing the two things I enjoy the most outside of my family, is racing and the automobile business. Now, has it been easy? No. People if they like hiking and they wanna open a little boutique do that. Just follow that path of what makes you happy because life is pretty short.”

So, it’s that simple. That billion dollar net worth is right around the corner, folks. Now, jokes aside it isn’t bad advice. When people graduate high school or college or grad school or whatever and they get into the workforce, it can be daunting.

While it seems easy for Rick Henrick to say do what you love, he has a point. During the early days of Hendrick Motorsports, he didn’t have the massive wealth he has now. However, he didn’t quit and kept at it.

Now, Mr. H is perhaps the most important and influential team owner in NASCAR. I’m sure it hasn’t been hard for him to walk into work every day for the last 40 years.