Larry Hedrick wore many hats in Iredell County.
He was a businessman, starting the Statesville Auto Auction more than 40 years ago. He was an auctioneer. He later went into a different type of business, owning a NASCAR team, and was involved with the Minor League Baseball Kannapolis Boll Weevils.
Hedrick also was involved in politics, serving on the Iredell County Board of Commissioners in both the 1970s and 1980s.
Hedrick, 79, died Monday. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced but local officials remember a man who as a county commissioner reached across the table to both parties.
Hedrick’s involvement in NASCAR began in the early 1990s.
Hedrick owned teams in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1992 through 2000.
Hedrick had a host of drivers in his car, starting with Larry Pearson. Drivers who piloted his Cup entries include Dave Marcis, Greg Sacks, Hut Stricklin, Phil Parsons, Dick Trickle, Joe Nemechek, Ricky Craven, Steve Grissom, David Green, Gary Bradberry, Derrike Cope and Rick Mast. Hedrick’s team earned $5.6 million in earnings over the course of the career. His top points finish came in 1996, when he was 20th with Craven behind the wheel.
He made 259 starts in the series, earning 23 top-10 finishes, eight of them top fives.
See more at: Statesville Record & Landmark