Gone Too Soon: Kara Hendrick
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- Опубліковано 3 гру 2024
- Kara Hendrick was a racer...and a good one at that.
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#GoneTooSoon #KaraHendrick #Tragic
Race Footage Credits:
Charles Intestine
Phil24MAD
Thumbnail Image Credits:
Getty Images
HOLY FREAKING COW I was there that night when it happened! I was a young sailor in the navy, and A few of us from the ship went to the speedway to watch the races. I remember Kara coming out on to the track and waving at us during introductions. They don't show the race from that night, but I just remember her car flipping violently over the guard rail and bouncing off a advertising board. After several long minutes we finally realized what had happened . It was one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed, and I will never forget her.
I can sympathize because I was at the race when Bryan Clauson was killed.
GOD'S SPEED FOR HER TO HELP MAKE A PLACE FOR US ,We are coming kara❤
Did they put you in the barrel while on the ship?? I hear that's a queer navy ritual that's long standing..how about weather manipulation??did you get in on any of that??fuck the navy and their cia butt buddy.
Kara was not only a great driver, she was an amazing person. She had an absolute heart of gold and always had a smile on her face. We certainly lost a bright star that fateful night. Gone but certainly never forgotten.
I raced 1/4 midgets and every year our track (orange show speedway) had the Kara Hendrick memorial race, promoted my her mother (she’s one of the most friendly people out there , we’ve since moved on from quarter midgets but it’s good to see her). This past weekend was supposed to be the final Kara hendrick memorial because the track was closing, but unfortunately it was canceled due to low car count. I was SOOO greatful to win her race, definitely the highlight of my life. Also my grandmother was sitting with Kara’s mother at El Cajon when she passed. Now we have moved on to Lightning sprints and a lot of her former competitors and friends always say how good of a person, and racer Kara was. I may have never met her but she has always been a hero to me. May she Rest In Peace.
Ryan, my boys share the same feelings about their wins during past Kara Memorial races at Orange Show. So sad to see the track closing in a couple of months. I too shared a connection with Kara, my family was friends with the Patton's and Jonkman's and I competed in quarter midgets in one of their old cars for about a year before funds ran too thin. As Kara was about 5-1/2 years my senior I never got a chance to race a QM against her, but do remember her putting my butt on top of a crash wall at a local go kart track after a PVQMA race. Kara was a great person and a rising star at the time of her passing. This being the last year of the track and the last Kara Memorial I didn't think a 3 car club race paid the proper homage to her or her family. I asked the OSQMRA BOD to consider delaying the race and can happily say that it has been postponed to August 12-14 to coincide with the 5th Leg of the California Monza Series...the last race to be run at Orange Show. Thank you and your family for all the sweat and tears you've poured into the place during your time here, it is devastating to se it go, but it hasn't been without a hard fight.
@@gregstevens527 Hi Greg, I just read your reply about the last race at San Bernardino or OSQMRA and I want to thank you for your very sweet and kind words I know you posted this six months ago but even though Kara‘s been gone 30 some years it still touches my heart to read posts like what you just made here, and it warms my heart, 💖 and I just want you to know that. I know it may be sometime down the road before you read this, but if you do I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your very kind words about my daughter. She was the light of my life although she has a twin brother, Kara was always in the limelight. She was a wonderful wonderful daughter and I had so much fun with her. There was a time when it was just her and I when she was driving her 3/4 midget and I guess they were one of the happiest times of my life. (She pplaced second in the points in 1989 the highest ranking woman in USAC history.
again , thank you from the bottom of my heart for speaking so kindly of my daughter.
Renee Hendrick, Kara’s mom
RIP to a legend... Kara Hendrick.
I can’t believe I’ve come across this video Kara Hendrick is my godmother‘s daughter I went to
Cara Hendrix funeral in 1991. I also was at about half of all of her races. Kara was a big part of my life along with Kenny and Danny Hendrick her brothers. I’m really glad someone has done an expose on her and I’m really thankful to find this video I will share it with her mother which is still alive and her name is Renée Hendrick.
Is the Kenny Hendrick you referenced the one who competed in the Truck Series for a brief while in the 2000's?
Yes the same Kenny Hendrick
If you guys are wondering no she’s not related to Rick Hendrick. Rest in peace to her
So what is she a Cousin to Rick Hendrick?
@@jeremyhernandez8775 NOT related.
@@bingusworshipper yeah sure ok
@@jeremyhernandez8775 yeah she is
@@sundaxe10 sure buddy I’m not sure if you know this but they are people who have the same last name but aren’t related
That shot of a young Jeff Gordon panning over to focus on her is haunting in a way. A name that would become a household regular, and someone who was cut from proving themselves way too soon
Thank you for doing a video about her. I’ve never heard of her until now. She was truly ahead of her time. RIP Racer
Thanks for making a video of her, Darian.
She may not be well known by many, but Kara will never ever be forgotten.
Her charm was irresistable. She would have become racing's sweetheart.
Gone Too Soon: Ayrton Senna
Gone Too Soon: Ricky Hendrick
@@NoahGragsonFan629 He already retired from actually driving in 2002 because of a shoulder injury from a racing crash.
Thanks to his father, he became the owner of the Busch car that Vickers drove to the series championship.
Maybe gone too soon, but his driving career was already over.
@@JoeGator23 Never knew that
@@NoahGragsonFan629 Me either, There is a Wiki page for him. Small planes are more dangerous than race cars apparently. Tons of accidents, even these days.
Very unforgiving.
This 1 touches my hart I was there when she died I was 10 years old saddest thaning I ever saw at a race track
Thanks for Sharing her story.
I have had the belief that if a woman can do a job a man can without any special consideration then I am all behind them, I drove a tractor trailer for 42-/+ years and met a lot of women drivers along the way that where just as good and bad as men drivers, always treated them with the utmost respect and I alway remember I had a pick up on Gold Street in Brooklyn, NY under the bridge and it was a tough spot to get into well this one lady driver was there every time I was and one day she asked me if I wanted a tip to get into the dock quicker so I said “sure” and I listened and it made sense so I tried it and damn it made my job so much better at that pick up ! That’s why I always listen to others no matter what sex or nationality or anything else makes them different from me and I am glad because it made my life so much better !!
And I'm sure that must've brightened her day too to see you were paying attention and even afterwards finding you there and maybe seeing you using her tip. 👌👍
I was 11 or 12 yrs old and was present with my Dad that night at El Cajon Speedway. I remember he car flipping through the air and slamming into a telephone pole/track light and then into the pits outside the track. My dad went into the pits to chat with friends he had racing. He came back crying and told me she was dead. They “life flighted” her out of the track but according to the first responders she was dead when they got to her. That night was my first experience with human death and has stayed a vivid memory throughout my life. Gone too soon.
ESPN Speedworld...
Back when ESPN didn't just cover sports ending in "ball".
Cole Trickle was right when he said in 1990: "ESPN. Their coverage is excellent, you'd be surprised at how much you can pick up."
@@joaquinperez9146 and then, our Speedvision got the Old Yeller treatment
Ain't that the truth. Even on the website, it's not even on their homepage. You have to click on those three dots just to see NASCAR on an extended menu in between horse racing and men's college basketball on the third column. Seriously?
Or sports using a ball like Golf or Bowling, with at best the once a year real Nathan's Hotdog stance in Coney Island doing the most prolific eating contest in the USA on ESPN 1 & 2. I mean up to sometime in 2000's you could see lower levels of NASCAR on there like the qualifying, Darts, and a few other non Ball related sports like curling or the lesser for USA Track & field events before NBC sports became a big deal for Track & field and other Olympic sports due to NBC having a contract to broadcast the Olympics coverage for winter and summer.
I'm not sure how I stumbled upon this but I was deeply moved by Kara's story. If any family of Kara's sees this comment please know that I will put Kara and her family in my prayers beginning today. I lost my oldest and dearest friend at 23. The pain never ceases. Blessings from Kansas~
Wow Sad
Requests: Good Seasons: Joey Logano 2015
Gone Too Soon: Paul Dana
If not for bad luck that night, she might’ve been a great racer, as she was that good at that young. Some things just aren’t meant to be unfortunately.
shes not even on wikipedia!
Robby Moroso
And she would had 1 or 2 wins in her belt.
@@TheEpicPlayer_90 wow you’re right! I tried looking her up couldn’t find much but a few articles on her big ups for BFM for recognizing her I’d definitely never heard of her.. I wonder if anyone ever bring her up to Jeff Gordon
I miss Speedworld and Speed vision.
I remember you doing a "What video should I do next" survey years ago & this video came up as a possibility. I researched her out of curiosity & saw that video narrated by Dave Despain. That's exactly how I would have put it.
I'm getting into a racing career and the thought of accidents like these are always a looming thought in my head. Honestly if anything would ever happen to me I hope it would at least be on the race track following my passions and I think many other drivers can agree with that statement. RIP Kara Hendrick you died doing what you love
Good luck and be safe my friend.
Not attacking you, I already lived it & worked along other Nascar drivers & dirt. If this is on your mind already. Your fucked.... Simple as that. Better learn to block that shit out or you won't make it far
@@adamborowiak4995 yeah just accept the risks and don't think twice about it
@@definitelyjustcj4148 There are drivers who've been successful without fully blocking it out... at least before the visor comes down. Some of them will tell you that it made them better drivers... taking control of all the things they have control over - making sure they know all the track and the equipment and the driver are properly prepared etc.
Dont allow those thoughts to enter your mind. Get out there and kick some ass! Good luck! ✌
" Better to be a lion for a day than a sheep for a thousand " Truly talented and a brave heart she was. great respect and admiration for her Godspeed
Darian, what a great video. Such a great tribute to a wonderful young lady. Gone too soon. Thank you for that.
My dad remembers that night at the track. He said it quiet as a ghost town even though people were at the track
Its odd seeing one of these that hits a bit closer to home. My dad was there that night with one of his friends and my grandfather (Woulda been one of last times my dad and his dad went to the races together). Years later my dad would be active trying to preserve the history of the racing scene in San Diego, so Karas crash would occasionally be brought up, and I could always tell it really bummed him out when it did. All hed ever really say was he was there, and "She got into one of the signs above the wall".
1:20 notice she said rookie right there and never mentioned being a woman. I understand That’s a very vague example but still She correctly demanded to be treated as a racer and a competitor which is absolutely awesome. I think that’s where so many female drivers go wrong nowadays. They bring too much attention to the fact that they are female drivers in a “man’s sport” and sell that to sponsorships. That must add so much pressure.
RIP Kara Hendrick
This video is the first I've heard of Kara Hendrick, and it's sad how we'll never know how her career would have been from that point 😥
She had real talent
Search and youll find several videos..
Thanks for posting, I didn't know much of her story. I remember reading a blurb about her in one of the racing magazines I had as a kid, She would have been a great one, like you said, the total package. Sponsors dream, had the personality, the marketability, the talent, and the looks.
Gone Too Soon: Tony Roper and his father Dean
Really he could do a trilogy on the Ropers. Jim, Tony, & Dean all died within a little over a year. 💔
I was at Cajon speedway that fateful night in 91, I went to the races often since I was stationed at the nearby Naval base and I always sat in the back stretch bleachers at the entrance of turn 3 and saw her accident first hand. My opinion on what I saw was that her car tetter tottered on the rumble at the bottom of the track (the sparks that was mentioned was metal on concrete) the car regained traction at the apex of turn 3 and shot straight up the track after coming in contact with another car on her outside, her RR contacted the other cars LF which basically pointed her to the wall. Her car hit the wall, flipped into the air hitting and going thru a sponsor billboard sign and landing in the pits
One more comment: About her (then) potential Indycar future, just imagine her being able to compete with Tony Stewart. I mean, she would've climbed up the exact same ladder as Stewart had she lived a lot longer.
For Tony's non Cup/Bush career yes this would have been something.
Thank you for putting this video out. I had not a clue about Kara Hendrick.
gone way too soon, 22 years old. Such a skilled driver
I was at Cajon Speedway that tragic night and later worked on a NASCAR Craftsman Truck team in Mooresville NC with her brother (Kenny), he worked in the shop and drove a few races for us.
The sad part is that we'll never know if she could have had the same cultural impact Shirley Muldowney or Danica Patrick had, and whether that would have been in stock cars, Indy cars, or sprint cars.
Cynon, Danica Patrick? Are you kidding me. She was terrible. She is very fortunate to be alive or to not have taken someone out too.
1. Her open wheel impact was amazing with the best female in indy 500 history and has an Indycar win
2. She did have a impact in nascar just mostly with the outside wall (or a shoe)
I would say she probably woulda been the next Shana Robinson.
@@easttexan2933 what about "cultural impact" are you too daft to understand
@@wolfgamingnetwork3542 like I say.
Saw her race several times with the Western States Midgets. Her and Page Jones were my favorites. I remember hearing the news and wore black arm bands the next day at school. Very sad.
She was a quick and precise driver. I knew of her and knew her uncle.
Some drivers just never lived long enough to fulfill their full potential. RIP Kara.
Adam Petty 😪
Davey Allison
What a pretty lady and great driver! She is still racing and wining with wings.
Such a great loss beautiful,talented young lady hope roll cages of today are way better construction !!
So do I . Lost a good friend in a quarter midget at Kalamazoo raceway.
I was the USAC Formula 2000 Series Press Officer the first year and a half of it's existence. It also ran on paved ovals as well as road courses. The idea was to get smaller oval car drivers wing experience so they could move up. At Mesa Marin we qualified Saturday night with the Southwest Tour cars and were the opener for Sundays NASCAR Western Series race. The stock car crowd really liked the tight wheel to wheel action. Later that summer we ran with USAC's Midgets at Cajon Speedway. The F2000 cars put on a stellar show with the first three cars swapping the lead for the entire main event. Kara was there driving Midgets only but she was a hard charger. She was a real sweetheart who always hung around with everyone in the pits. She loved us all, we all loved her. I've been around racing for 72 of my 75 years. I have never been as crushed as when I got the phone call she had died. God Speed Kara. What could have been.
I have heard other people throw the inexperience term around when it comes to accidents and sometimes it is, there is always a first time situation for everyone no matter how many laps you have behind the wheel. You can't exactly blame inexperience on equipment failure simply because you can't be prepared for how the car might react , even if you did experience a similar failure before. No two situations are ever exactly the same.
This is how drivers should come thru the ranks. Not because their grandparents own a nascar team.
I remember this happened. The last I saw her drive was on "Saturday Night Thunder" and she was racing at Ventura. She certainly had skill. Meanwhile, I am happy about the increased safety equipment, including the HANS device that can prevent fatal crashes.
Accurate and moving story. I well remember when the accident happened. She had real talent. RIP
Thanks for the video, never knew anything about her until now. Another great video,if you're at Nashville Superspeedway in a couple of weeks, I hope to get to meet you!
Such a sad story, she was on the rise as a super star, no doubt. She may have been a little over her head, but she was willing to take the chance and learning at a rapid pace. What she lacked in know how and experience she made up for in her heart and natural ability. She died doing what she loved and probably doesn’t regret a thing. She knew the risks she was taking every time she sat behind the wheel and willing and crazy enough to do it. At that age we were all invincible, nothing was going to happen to us, we put that out of our mind because we were too young to die. I have had friends and people close to me die at an early age and it’s just unbelievable when they had so much talent as Kara did. May she ever Rest In Peace and the hearts of her loved ones and fans.
I was at Cajon Speedway the night of her accident, but I was only 6. I still remember seeing the vehicle flipping, but until today I had no idea who she was.
Imagine if she had lived, given the fact that she was competing against Jeff Gordon
I would go as far as to say a potential rival for both Davey Allison and Jeff Gordon (teammates maybe?) and very likely NASCAR's first female winner or even champion in Xfinity or even trucks.
@@justinyoung109 Kara clearly had the talent to compete with the likes of Davey Allison and Jeff Gordon, although she probably would have had to go to stock cars like Jeff Gordon did due to the fact that there was no room for American dirt oval drivers in the highest level of American open wheel racing
Love this story, A legend gone to soon, RIP Kara !! 🏁🇺🇸ML33MI
Never heard of this lady, and that's a shame. Thank you for making this video!
Kara Hendrick Was So Amazing Spirit Car From The 80s And Early 90s ☺😎 Thanks For Uploading
It’s obvious she was special. My heart hurts just seeing this story. I didn’t need to know her to have this story impact me so many years later. A stranger I just found out about, changed my day. She lives on, I am proof.
I remember watching Kara race. She was talented, pretty and full of charisma. Had she lived, she would have likely been very successful. RIP sweet Kara... 🙏
I remember having a crush on Kara. She was a few years younger than me but a pretty gal with skills in a fire suit just works for me. R.I.P. Kara...
RIP Kara Hendrick 🙏
thanks for this, never heard of her. great video commemorating her career and life. thank you again, Darian.
She was truly ahead of her time. She reminds me of Hailie Deegan with her personality. If she got her start in this era, she would’ve been a sensation like Hailie. RIP Kara.
I wouldn’t compare her to Deagan. Kara had an unknown name and her personality wasn’t the sort of social media influencer one that deagan is.
Regardless of talent Deagan has a name that is recognizable. Most people watching this would assume Kara was related to Rick Hendrick or something.
Comparing the two is like apples to oranges.
Terrible comparison
I know that they aren't very similar. I was just saying that her personality reminds me of Hailie's.
Deegan is an immature narcissist. Hendrick had a real personality.
Can you please do another Gone Too Soon video of another USAC driver and that driver's name is Rich Vogler.
He qualified for his NASCAR Cup debut at Pocono but died the night before he was to start that race
@@JJRacer43 And he was supposed to drive full time for Jasper Motorsports the next season but that ride ended up going to Ted Musgrave once when Rich died.
Such an awesome tribute for an awesome young racer.
Thanks for remembering her. I'm old enough to remember when she was killed. She'd be an elderly states person for the sport now, just ask that Gordon kid.
Honey wake up, Darian is talking about dirt racing!
When I saw Hendrick, I thought she was one of the casualties in the Hendrick Plane Crash
Great video, she started paving the way for today’s stars
I was their that night. I was only 11 but I still remember that night. It is a lost speedway now.
Dad used to race with Kara in TQ’s, sadly I was present for her last crash.
What that voice over says is still true today, society clings for dear life to its stereotypes of women
31 years ago........I was 9. RIP Kara. Good video of someone I've never heard of.
Thanks for this
RIP Kara
Great video
Oooooof,,,, Kara was in fact ahead of her time, she was a talented competitor and was not to be taken lightly on the track. I grew up racing 1/4 midgets with her up until she moved onto TQ’s and midgets.
She had great support from her family, friends and others throughout the racing community.
No doubt she would have ended up being a champion ,,,,,
R.I.P. Kara , you are missed and always in our thoughts.
This series of “Gone Too Soon” is a great way to introduce and honor those drivers gone too soon. It can be seen as a sad series, but it’s respectful and real.
There could be a whole series on drivers lost in usac
God Bless you my racing friend !
This was nice. Never heard of the young lady but I am glad you told me about her. Been to the El Cajon speedway, never saw midgets there but it was small, fast and smooth in the 80's. The final pic with Kara posing in her car, the tiny diameter roll cage and the sharp angles in the design made my butt pucker.
To the "in over her head" A-Holes, you don't break track records by accident or being in over your head.
@@MidwestFarmToys Found one! lol
Me and my brother grew up with Kenny Irwin Jr who was quite a midget racer in those days. Loved those thunder shows from Winchester and Salem Indiana
Rest In Peace Kara Hendrick. You Would Have Been A Champion Many Times Over. You Will Be Missed
This is a super sad story, and a quick google search shows me that there is BARELY anything out there about this accident or her. There's absolutely nothing on wiki except for a very brief mention on Kenny Hendrick's wiki page. Thanks for getting this story out there
Sad....RIP lady..we all, will miss your smile....and talent
So sad, she seems like she had everything going for her and was on her way to greatness 😥
My Dad was at Cajon SPEEDWAY that night. What a great up and coming driver. Very Sad. My Dad was very close to the accident and he told a gruesome story. God bless Her and ALL Drivers and Riders in MOTORSPORTS
Please do one on Rich Vogler
Gone too Soon: Jason Johnson
saw him shatter the track record at Devils Bowl 2 months before he died. Met him several times. Super nice, humble, soft-spoken guy.
So sad, what a wonderful well spoken person!
I was there at Cajon Speedway sitting at the end of the back straight. I was looking right at her when she ran up over the left rear tire of the car in front of her with her right front. She didn’t “flip wildly”. the front end went into the air and when her right rear hit the other car’s left rear the car continued by going over backwards. while continuing forwards with the car pointing backwards and upside down the tail end of the car went over the concrete, dirt backed wall. The cage hit the wall. One of the worst crashes I’ve seen. She didn’t really have a chance.
@@MidwestFarmToys Oh, you were there?
@@MidwestFarmToys Incorrect? Oh, you were there?
@@JimAndDeePatton nah, it's just being a contrary fool.
We ran at Cajon- the wall at turn 3 seemed to come out at you- you had to be on your toes there- and there were practically no pits- had to park our trailer across the road.
I've never followed this type of racing,but now at 69,I remember this tragedy. I wonder,did they implement new safety upgrades for the cars,like NASCAR did whenever a driver lost his life? I certainly hope they did! Another brite star with a promising future turned out way,way too soon. RIP Kara.❤😔😥
First time this series has had a female
Thank you. I never knew about this story before.
I'm pretty sure all the folks that had derogatory comments about her being in over her head were just guys who were jealous of her talent and the equipment she ran in, always has to be a few DB'S with something bad to say .
Damn, that eulogy hit me in the feels
great piece as always, thank you
☮️❤️🎵🌍🤗🏁
Wow... so sad...
Gone Too Soon: Shane Sieg
If she hadn’t have died, I do believe she could have become an Indy champion. She had the talent, charisma, and ambition to go the distance.
R.I.P. Kara Hendrick
You should do one on sara fisher she use to race at my local track and almost dated my cousin
Gone to soon Bryan clauson
How sad....... And tragic. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.