Where's Kasey Kahne?

In honor of Labor Day, Charlotte auto dealer magnate and multi-team owner of NASCAR Cup teams, Rick Hendrick ran a newspaper ad in markets where he has dealerships thanking his loyal employees for their hard work.

Reading down the list of dealerships (which I have attempted a very poor quality scan) I note the names of five current and former Rick Hendrick Cup drivers affixed to various dealerships in the Hendrick Automotive Group network.

The five drivers affiliated with Hendrick dealerships have been known by the following nicknames and you'll recognize each:

* "6-Time"

* "Junebug"

* "Wonderboy"

* "Iceman"

* "Jaws"

The "Jaws" fellow leads the list with three Hendrick dealerships in Tennessee.

The son of "The Intimidator" is next with two Florida dealerships.

The other three drivers have one dealership each linked with Hendrick.

Only one of Hendrick's four current Cup drivers doesn't have a dealership linked to the boss and that is the winner of last night's Toothbrush 500 at Atlanta, Kasey Kahne.

Kahne joins such former Hendrick drivers as Geoff Bodine , Ken Schrader , Benny Parsons , Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch who were ultimately let go by Hendrick without a dealership interest.

Taking nothing else into consideration, the reading of these tea leaves tells me Kasey better have his resume in good order.

TO GET AN RICK CAR DEALERSHIP, DO IT THE DW WAY!!
Rick and I have a couple of things in common: we both love cars, and we both love racing, Waltrip said. We first partnered on the automotive side in 1986, and the next year I went to drive in NASCAR for him. During those 27 years Ive been very successful in the car business and the racing business, and much of it is due to our partnership.

http://www.hendrickauto.com/news/darrell-waltrip-buick-gmc-opens-in-franklin-tennessee.html

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DARRELL WALTRIP BUICK GMC OPENS IN FRANKLIN
DEALERSHIP TO BE MANAGED BY HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Contact for Darrell Waltrip Automotive

Jessica Perry, Winstead Perry
Jessica@winsteadperry.com
615-804-6397

Contact for Hendrick Automotive Group

Kendra Jacobs, Hendrick Automotive Group
kendra.jacobs@hendrickauto.com
704-567-3696

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 9, 2014 Hendrick Automotive Group chairman Rick Hendrick, Darrell Waltrip and Lawrence Martin have partnered to open Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC in Franklin, Tenn. The dealership, located at 1430 Murfreesboro Road, will be managed by Hendrick Automotive Group.

Lawrence Martin is the dealer operator of Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC. Martin, 47, joined Hendrick Automotive Group in 2010 as retail operations manager at the Cary Auto Mall in Cary, N.C. Most recently, Martin was a sales manager at Darrell Waltrip Honda.

The development and now, opening, of this dealership has been a great experience, Martin said. Buick and GMC both have an exceptional lineup of vehicles and we have built a strong team of people here who are looking forward to serving the Franklin community.

Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC is the third dealership Hendrick and Waltrip have opened in Franklin, a suburb of Nashville. Darrell Waltrip Honda, opened in 1986, and Darrell Waltrip Volvo Subaru, was added in 1994. In 2012, the two dealerships collectively sold more than 4,000 vehicles and serviced more than 71,000.

Rick and I have a couple of things in common: we both love cars, and we both love racing, Waltrip said. We first partnered on the automotive side in 1986, and the next year I went to drive in NASCAR for him. During those 27 years Ive been very successful in the car business and the racing business, and much of it is due to our partnership.

Two of the best years I ever had in my career were driving a Buick, Waltrip continued. We're bringing that same winning attitude to the new Buick GMC. I couldnt be more thrilled to be adding these two brands to our existing lineup in Franklin.

Hendrick and Waltrip worked together in racing when Waltrip drove in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports from 1987 through 1990. The duo had success on the track as well, winning 10 Cup races, including the 1989 Daytona 500. Waltrip is a three-time Sprint Cup champion and member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Darrells passion for his customers and Lawrences determination and drive will make this a first class dealership without a doubt, Hendrick said. This is a wonderful community and car market, and Im happy to continue to be a part of what this group is achieving there.

Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC will feature a 28,000-square-foot showroom and service center with 20 service bays. More than 200 new and pre-owned cars will be available on site, plus access to the entire Hendrickcars.com inventory of more than 6,000 pre-owned vehicles. The new dealership features a customer lounge with free Wi-Fi, childrens play area, loaner vehicles for service customers and shuttle service throughout the Nashville area.

Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC currently employs 35 people. Information on future job opportunities at the dealership, as well as information on joining Hendrick Automotive Groups Talent Network to receive notification of these opportunities, can be found at www.hendrickcareers.com .

For more information on Darrell Waltrip Buick GMC, please visit www.darrellwaltrip.com .
About Darrell Waltrip Automotive

Darrell Waltrip Automotive is a premier dealership group near Nashville in Franklin, Tenn. Specializing in Honda, Volvo, Subaru, Buick and GMC new and used car sales, finance, service and parts, Darrell Waltrip Automotive provides high-quality service to its customers. Located at 1430 Murfreesboro Road, Darrell Waltrip Automotive extends its service to nearby areas throughout Middle Tennessee.
About Hendrick Automotive Group

Encompassing 87 dealerships from the Carolinas to California, Hendrick Automotive Group is one of the largest automotive retail organizations in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the company employs more than 9,000 people in its dealerships, collision centers and accessories distributor installers in 13 states. For more information, please visit www.hendrickauto.com .

Thanks for any information or photos posted.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.USA

DIDN'T SEE ANY RICK HENDRICK FORD DEALERSHIPS.
DOES RICK SELLS NEW OR USED FORDS?

Thanks for any information or photos posted.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.USA

How long before you see Chase Elliott Cadillac of Marietta?

I guess since his grandfather, George's Dahlonega Ford Sales no longer exists and Hendrick has no Ford affiliation, the young Chase will be willing to settle for a Cadillac nameplate while ole Kasey drives for his next team.

On a serious note, writer Mike Hembree reminded us this spring that once there was a different heir apparent to the Elliott family racing fame:

Bill Elliott lost nephew, racing hopeful to cancer

(Photo: Jamie Squire, Getty Images)

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. Casey Elliott was expected to be the driver that Chase Elliott has become, and that is a bittersweet reality for the extended Elliott family.

Casey was the son of Ernie Elliott, Bill's brother and the engine expert who provided the power at the center of the family team's NASCAR success in the 1980s. Casey started racing as a teenager and was two races into what was expected to be a productive career in NASCAR's Busch (now Nationwide) Series in December 1993 when a growth on his right thigh was determined to be malignant.

The cancer spread, and the focus of the family quickly turned from building a racing foundation for Casey, who was only 19 when the cancer was diagnosed, to helping him fight for his life.

After a difficult two years, Casey died Jan. 14, 1996, two months after Chase was born. Casey was 21.

"Having Chase racing reminds us all of Casey," says Bill Elliott. "We all had high hopes for Casey, and then everything changed almost overnight. It was tough for everybody.

"I talk to Chase about that a lot and remind him that you can't take anything for granted, that you have to enjoy every moment as you go along. You don't know how long you'll have it."

Follow Hembree on Twitter @mikehembree