Rick Hendrick will not be at Homestead-Miami Speedway to celebrate his team's ninth championship tonight.
His niece, Alesha Gainey, 29, is in critical condition in a North Carolina hospital awaiting a liver transplant, according to Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Marshall Carlson.
Gainey is the daughter of the late John Hendrick, who died in the 2004 Hendrick plane crash on the way to Martinsville, Va. Two of John Hendrick's other daughters, twins name Jennifer and Kimberly, also died in that crash.
"Rick wishes he could be here, he's incredibly proud of the teams," Carlson said. "Rick's priority is supporting family at this critical time."
Hendrick drivers Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin are the only two drivers in contention for the 2009 Sprint Cup championship. Whoever wins, Hendrick will become NASCAR's winningest owner in the Cup series with nine championships.
Johnson, the three-time defending champion, leads Martin by 108 points and needs a 25th-place finish to clinch the championship.
Related searches:
alesha gainey, hendricks motorsports, hendrick motorsports, rick hendrick niece, nascar
