Charlie Henderson, NASCAR Truck Series team owner, passes away

Unfortunate news in the NASCAR world. Charlie Henderson, longtime Truck Series team owner of Henderson Motorsports, has died. Henderson and his race team were noted for their underdog status and ability to overperform on the track.

Charlie Henderson was not only the owner of Henderson Motorsports but also the owner of Food Country USA. The company was often featured on his race trucks throughout the years.

Earlier this season at Daytona, Parker Kligerman won the Truck Series season opener. That win was vacated after a post-race disqualification. Since their debut in 1982, Henderson Motorsports has raced in all levels of NASCAR.

In total, Henderson Motorsports earned five wins, three Xfinity and two Truck Series victories. The organization earned eight pole awards across those two series. WCYB in Virginia reported on his passing.

Charlie Henderson started his NASCAR organization in 1982. That year, Brad Teague drove a combination of Chevy and Pontiac cars. In 1983, Henderson qualified for its first-ever Daytona 500 with Ronnie Hopkins behind the wheel. Morgan Shepherd would make the final Cup start for Henderson at Martinsville in 1984, finishing P26.

It was in 1985 when Henderson went racing in the Busch Series (now Xfinity) with its iconic No. 75 where things really picked up. Brad Teague was the driver that year as well. He finished P2 and P3 at Darlington that season.

Charlie Henderson found success in NASCAR

During the 1987 season, Teague and Henderson had their big breakthrough. The No. 75 Chevy led the most laps and won the Martinsville race. Teague wouldn’t win another race for Henderson, but they weren’t out of victory lane for too long.

The 1989 season saw Rick Wilson in the car for Charlie Henderson’s organization. He won two races that season in the Busch Series. Starting on the pole at Bristol, Wilson led the most laps on his way to the win. He would then go on to win at Dover, leading more laps than anyone else that day as well.

When it came to the Truck Series, Parker Kligerman and Henderson Motorsports found success with one another on multiple occasions. Everyone will think of the DQ at Daytona this year, which the team disputes. However, Kligerman got it done for Henderson on two other occasions.

Kligerman was able to deliver two official wins to Charlie Henderson and his team. The first at Talladega in 2017. Then he did it again in 2022 at Mid-Ohio, the only road course win in NASCAR for Henderson Motorsports.

Our thoughts are with the Henderson family and NASCAR organization during this difficult time. Charlie Henderson dedicated much of his life to stock car racing and the pursuit of speed and victories. He will be missed.