Howes Honored: Ken Howes, director of competition for Rick Hendrick’s race teams, became the first recipient of the “Papa Joe” Hendrick Award at Hendrick Motorsports. The award, formerly named for the late Robert Gee, a well-known car builder, is given annually to the employee who best displays outstanding job performance, leadership and teamwork, and for contributions above and beyond expectations. The name of the award was changed this season to honor “Papa Joe” Hendrick, Rick Hendrick’s father and owner of the No. 25 Chevrolet driven by Joe Nemechek. Howes received the award Friday during year-end celebration at the team’s shops. “I lot of the folks here didn’t know Robert because he was here a long time ago – and we’re still leaving the Robert Gee Award in place – but coming in they all know Pop because he’s around here all the time,” Rick Hendrick said. “We decided we should make it to honor him because of what he’s meant, bringing me in the sport and for the overall success of the organization”(ThatsRacin.com)(12-21-2002)
