Charlie Henderson, the longtime team owner of the Henderson Motorsports team, which currently competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has passed away. The Henderson Motorsports team issued a statement confirming the death of the team owner on Saturday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our team owner, Charlie Henderson,” the statement from the team began. “Charlie was not only the driving force behind Henderson Motorsports, but also a beloved member of the NASCAR community and a dear friend to us all.”
No details were given on Henderson’s cause of death.
The statement from the team continued, “Charlie was the second longest active team owner in NASCAR, behind only the Wood Brothers. He began his racing career at Kingsport Speedway in 1975 and had been a part of NASCAR since 1982. His passion for racing, commitment to his team, and love for the sport left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.
“He built his team on hard work, family values, and a love for competition that will continue to inspire us moving forward. We are grateful for the many years of leadership, friendship, and memories that Charlie gave to Henderson Motorsports and the entire NASCAR community. We ask that you keep the Henderson family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Since its inception in 1982, Henderson Motorsports has competed in 430 combined races in the NASCAR National Series ranks, including 24 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 298 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and 108 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Overall, the scrappy race team has collected five victories, three in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and two in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Henderson Motorsports team won the season-opening NASCAR Truck Series event at Daytona International Speedway in February with Parker Kligerman, but the truck was disqualified for failing to meet minimum heights.
Kligerman has been behind the wheel of the No. 75 Chevrolet Silverado for its two race wins, which came in 2017 at Talladega and 2022 at Mid-Ohio.
In a quote post of the Henderson Motorsports statement on X, Kligerman called this a sad day for the sport of NASCAR.
“Very sad day for this sport and the Henderson family. Charlie, his whole family & this race team have meant so much to me over the last decade,” Kligerman said in a very in-depth memorial post in reference to Henderson.
Brad Teague scored the first-ever win for the Henderson team in the 1987 NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Martinsville Speedway, while Rick Wilson captured two wins for the organization during the 1989 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, one at Bristol and one at Dover.
The Henderson Motorsports team has competed in five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events this season, four with Kligerman behind the wheel and one with Patrick Emerling driving the entry.
