Hendrick Sentenced

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, 48, was sentenced to one year of home detention, three years of probation and a $250,000 fine for his part in the American Honda Motor Co. bribery and kickback scandal.

Hendrick, who has a life-threatening form of leukemia, cannot participate in his auto dealership business or his NASCAR operations during the home detention, U.S. District Court Judge Lacy Thornburg said. Hendrick owns cars driven by Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven.

Several witnesses testified about Hendrick’s work on behalf of leukemia and bone marrow programs. His wife, Linda, sobbed repeatedly during the testimony.

“I’ve come to realize that what I did was wrong and I accept responsibility for that,” Hendrick, 48, told the court as he apologized to his family, friends and employees. “I would rather die than hurt these people the way I have.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Miller said it was difficult to fashion a sentence that took into consideration Hendrick’s illness and also had the punitive and deterrent effect that the government wanted.