Hendrick Automotive Group Gears Up for Florida Expansion

Before his name became synonymous with automotive excellence, Rick Hendrick was simply a young man with a genuine passion for cars. That passion laid the foundation for one of the greatest success stories in the automotive industry.

Raised on a tobacco farm in Palmer Springs, Virginia, Hendrick spent much of his youth racing, working on, and restoring various vehicles. Alongside his father, “Papa Joe,” he rebuilt his first car at 14 years old, a 1931 Chevrolet he still owns today and considers his most prized possession.

After high school, Hendrick moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to pursue a co-op program with North Carolina State University and Westinghouse Electric Corp. He originally planned to become a tool and die maker, but his love for cars never wavered. He partnered with Mike Leith, a reputable dealer in the Raleigh area, and the pair opened a small used car lot. Hendrick’s knack for the business was unmistakable, and at the age of 23, Leith named him general sales manager of his new car import operation. Hendrick fell in love with the business and never looked back.

In 1976, after earning the attention of General Motors executives, Hendrick was presented with an intriguing yet daunting opportunity. A struggling Chevrolet dealership in Bennettsville, South Carolina, needed new leadership. At 26 years old, this would make Hendrick the country’s youngest Chevy dealer, but success was anything but guaranteed in this small rural community. After much thought and consideration, Rick and Linda Hendrick decided to sell all their assets, purchase the dealership, and relocate south.

Hendrick’s natural talent and people-first approach quickly transformed the once-troubled location into the region’s most profitable. This opened the door to an additional ownership opportunity and a defining milestone in company history.

Two years later, Chevrolet backed Hendrick in a competition to acquire City Chevrolet, a large and established franchise in Charlotte, North Carolina. Once again, the dealership thrived under Hendrick’s leadership, achieving a dramatic sales increase and becoming the top volume Chevy dealership in the Carolinas. Later featured in the 1990 racing blockbuster “Days of Thunder,” City Chevrolet became Hendrick’s flagship location.

The early triumphs in Bennettsville and Charlotte were just the beginning of the remarkable journey that shaped today’s Hendrick Automotive Group.

Hendrick Automotive Group has since grown to become the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the country, with 96 dealership locations, 21 collision centers, and four accessories distributor installers across 13 states. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hendrick Automotive Group currently employs over 11,000 teammates, all pursuing a shared goal of being the premier quality vehicle retailer in the world, with Mr. Hendrick continuing to lead the charge as chairman and CEO.

While expanding his automotive retail business, Hendrick also set out to forge a legacy in one of his greatest pastimes – racing. In 1984, he founded Hendrick Motorsports. He didn’t know it at the time, but that venture would redefine success at NASCAR’s top level. What began as a single-car team evolved into the sport’s most accomplished operation. They currently hold every major statistical record at NASCAR’s top division, including an unmatched 15 Cup Series Championships.

In 2021, Hendrick Motorsports broke a record that had stood for over 60 years, becoming the all-time winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. Fittingly, the record-breaking win took place at Charlotte Motor Speedway, just minutes from the Hendrick Motorsports Campus in Concord, North Carolina. Today, Hendrick Motorsports continues to rewrite the record books with four full-time stock-car teams piloted by drivers Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Kyle Larson.

“The best people, the best practices, get the best results,” Mr. Hendrick often says. Passion, performance, and teamwork helped Hendrick Motorsports set the standard of excellence in racing, and those same principles guide everything we do at Hendrick Automotive Group.

Serving Florida Communities, Then and Now

The connection between Hendrick Automotive Group and the state of Florida runs deep. As one of the 13 states in which we currently operate, Florida has played an integral role in our company’s nearly 50 years of growth and expansion across the country.

Our journey in Florida began in 1985, a time when Hendrick Automotive Group had fewer than 15 locations across three states. The opening of a single Chevrolet dealership in Pasco County marked a historic milestone. Not only did it represent our company’s arrival in Florida, but it was also the moment Rick Hendrick became the first dealer authorized to own and operate multiple General Motors dealerships.

Four decades later, Hendrick Automotive Group currently operates six dealerships across the state, with locations in Tallahassee, Bradenton, Naples, and Pompano Beach.

The momentum isn’t slowing down. We’ll soon open our sixth Florida location – Rick Hendrick Honda! Construction of this state-of-the-art dealership is in its final stages. Once complete, it will deliver a world-class, modern buying experience that embodies our company’s Passion for Winning and Commitment to Customer Enthusiasm.

Located along State Road 64 in Bradenton, just off I-75, Rick Hendrick Honda will serve drivers throughout the greater Tampa Bay area as a trusted destination for expert vehicle sales, service, and care.

As we prepare to open the doors to our beautiful new facility, we’re proud to strengthen our connection in the Sunshine State and offer customers in Bradenton, Palmetto, St. Petersburg, and beyond a convenient new option for all their automotive needs.

Stay tuned to learn more about Hendrick Automotive Group’s newest Florida dealership, and follow along – X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok – for exciting news and updates.

Coming soon – Rick Hendrick Honda in Bradenton, Florida!