Hendrick Durham Auto Mall congratulates David West of nearby Garner, who helped the New Orleans Hornets roll into the second round of the NBA playoffs Tuesday night. West scored 25 points, making 10 of his 17 shots, in a 99-94 victory at home.

The Hornets won the best-of-seven series 4-1, led by West and guard Chris Paul, who played college ball at Wake Forest.

West moved with his family from New Jersey to Garner prior to his junior year in high school. He enrolled at Garner High and did not intend to play basketball until the coach encouraged him to play.

"The coach saw me and said there was no way a 6-8 kid at his school was not going to play," West said in a recent interview. "It took a month of him getting on me. He followed me around school. He finally got me to show up at some practices, and I fell in love with the game again."

West said he had lost his desire to play after having problems with the coach at his New Jersey school, which prompted him to quit the game before he moved to Garner.

"I wasn't the quickest guy or the strongest guy," he said. "I could play, but because I wasn't the type you'd look at and say 'he's going to be great,' my coach wrote me off. He said I couldn't do this; I couldn't do that. When you're a young kid, you get broken."

Now, West is the one breaking down the opposition.

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Congratulations, Ronnie Ferrell

Congratulations also are in order for Riverside High School softball coach Harvey "Ronnie" Ferrell, a loyal customer at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall who has bought several vehicles from the dealership. His wife and children also have purchased from here.

One of our best customers, Ferrell apparently is an even better coach. His local softball team won its first eight PAC-6 games of the season to take over first place in the conference and 13 of its first 14 games overall. The Lady Pirates have built strong momentum for the 4-A state tournament that starts next month.

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Congratulations, Matt Hardy

Another good customer of the dealership, professional wrestler Matt Hardy, recently won the United States Championship with a victory over bitter rival MVP. MVP had put Hardy out of action for several months with a knee injury, so the title Hardy won last weekend proved sweet revenge.

Hardy, who lives in Cameron, N.C., bought a Corvette at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. He is a multiple-time tag-team wrestling champion and fomer cruiserweight, European and Hardcore champion.

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Bulls Upstage Hampton

Congratulations to Charlie Mason, Mitch Talbot and the Durham Bulls, who have posted two sraight shutout victories and beat former Major League star pitcher Mike Hampton.

Playing just across the street from Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, the Bulls got a 2-0 victory over the Richmond Braves on Wednesday afternoon -- marking the first time Durham has gotten back-to-back shutouts since 2003.

Bulls manager Charlie Montoya has said "we're going to go as far as the pitching takes us." Talbot was the man on Wednesday -- following Tuesday night's eight-strikeout, 4-0 shutout of the Braves by fellow Durham pitcher Mason. The early start (11 a.m.) did not seem to bother Talbot, who allowed just five hits and struck out six in eight innings.

Wednesday's game spotlight was supposed to be on Hampton. The two-time MLB All-Star and 1999 National League Cy Young runner-up was in town for his second rehabilitation start of the season. He threw 71 pitches before leaving the game in the fourth inning because of tightness in his left armpit.

Hampton, who has been plagued by injuries the past few years, is trying to get back on a Major League mound for the first time since 2005. But Mason and Talbot, should they continue to perfom like they did Tuesday and Wednesday, may beat him there.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Dealership, Hendrick Chevrolet Matt Hardy, Hendrick Chevrolet Ronnie Ferrell, Hendrick Chevrolet Victories, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall., Rick Hendrick Chevrolet David West

Welcome to Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. The showroom doors will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., and the sales consultants will scramble for last-minute deals on the penultimate day of the month.

8:30 a.m.: Morning meeting - Today begins in the conference room with the daily meeting between the sales managers and their sales staff. The discussion includes a wrap-up of the previous day's activities and a chance to discuss pending deals, as well as a few laughs and inside jokes to help create extra comraderie, energy and enthusiasm.

10:00 a.m.: Larry Brown - The showroom buzzes with the news that 67-year-old Larry Brown will be named later today as the next head coach of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. A UNC grad, basketball Hall-of-Famer and one of only five coaches to have 1,000 NBA victories, Brown also is a close friend of Bobcats owner Michael Jordan. Charlotte will be the ninth NBA team he has coached. He has had success everywhere he's gone, even winning an NCAA championship as coach at the University of Kansas in 1988. Brown, whose mother lives in Charlotte, played point guard at Carolina under Dean Smith decades before Jordan led the Tar Heels to a national title under Smith.

10:30 a.m.: Frankie's - Showroom discussion turns to Frankie's, a nearby amusement park that serves as testament that money still flows in Durham. Anyone who believes there is a recession should have been at Frankie's last Sunday, when the place was packed with kids playing arcade games and grownups forming long lines for $6 go-kart rides and putt-putt rounds.

11:05 a.m.: SMART Car - Diane Brown sits in the SMART car she and her husband purchased 2 months ago in Dallas, Texas. Similar to the vehicle in the photo at left, only white, it is one of only 72 SMART cars in the U.S., according to Brown, and gets 42 miles to the gallon. It was purchased by the Browns for $13,000 as a vehicle they could transport behind their RV. With a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine and 71 horsepower, it is a curiosity among the bigger cars and SUVS in the Rick Hendrick parking lot.

12:15 p.m.: Lunch Crowd - There are salesmen in position on the lot, salesmen inside on the phones, a full tower of sales managers ready for the lunch crowd. This dealership usually gets a steady stream of customers between noon and 2 p.m. as shoppers take advantage of their respective lunch hours to check out the new inventory and find out the latest specials. It's often a period when appointments are set for later in the day. Alicia Keys is playing on the radio. It's a very nice day outside, a little breezy but sunny, and the sales force is all business.

1:20 p.m.: Traffic - The showroom is starting to fill up with guests. Now, we're making some deals -- a pre-owned Impala, a pre-owned Aveo, a 2008 Impala deal that began yesterday. What's been a slow morning could turn into a busy afternoon. With the incentives we are offering, financing rates as low as 2.9 percent and rebates as high as $4,000, today can be a great day to buy a vehicle.

2:15 p.m.: Completely Satisfied - The 2008 Impala has been delivered. The new owner, Roger Jackson, says he is "completely satisfied" with his purchase as well as his buying experience. He actually tells sales manager Shawn Cooley that he is "shocked" with how well everything went, with how well he was treated. In a few weeks, he will receive a survey (CSI) from General Motors, a report card of sorts, and he will be able to grade his experience. "Completely Satisfied" is the only passing score. This dealership, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, consistently brings the highest CSI scores in the area -- a large reason why people like to do business here.

3:27 p.m.: Hoops In Detail - Back in the detail department, employees are busy cleaning and preparing new inventory for the lot. A 2005 GMC Sierra truck is looking real nice -- a great unit for someone in the market for an inexpensive preowned pickup. You know what they say: all homeowners need a good truck. Could this be that truck? But of perhaps more interest than the truck is the conversation: Can the Hawks actually beat the Celtics in the NBA playoffs? The No. 8-seeded Hawks have tied the best-of-seven series 2-2 with two straight victories. If you want to talk hoops or trucks, this is the place to be.

4:21 p.m.: Lot Party - There is activity on the lot. While a sales consultant presents a new Impala to a potential buyer, Inventory Manager Howard Fisher stocks in a couple of preowned vehicles just purchased from a GM auction. There's a 2005 Saturn Vue and a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am, each one silver in color and each equally as shiny in the bright sun. Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is known for its large selection of affordable, reliable preowned vehicles, and these two units will provide a strong complement to the existing inventory. And you can't buy these vehicles for any lower price than you can get right here.

5:30 p.m.: Hours To Go Before We Sleep -- As we head into the dinner hour, many of our customers are just getting out of work. But they still have plenty of time to come visit us. There are three appointments on the board, in fact, scheduled for between 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Hendrick Durham Auto Mall does a good amount of business after 5 p.m., so our schedule is not about to slow down today. A customer just e-mailed in to get a price quote on a 2LT Malibu, and the super low price he received might bring him in from Raleigh before we close.

6:33 p.m.: Twilight Zone - The service department closes at 6 p.m., but today, service techs and service writers have stayed late to try and catch up on backed-up work and make a little extra money at the end of the month. Two more scheduled sales appointments, meanwhile, have failed to show up -- did you know that almost 70 percent of people who make appointments at car dealerships fail to show up and don't call to cancel? Another frustration of the business. As business slows down entering the twilight hour and we enter a zone of inactivity, could the frustration mount in the next two hours?

7:00 p.m.: Diamond Talk - William from the detail department comes into the showroom to dust off the orange Corvette Z06 prominently displayed inside; the Vette has gotten dusty in recent days, and William's rag does wonders to bring out the shine. As the Durham Bulls -- a minor-league baseball team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays -- begin a game in their stadium across the street, the conversation turns to baseball. Tomorrow at 11 a.m., former Atlanta Braves All-Star Mike Hampton will pitch against the Bulls as part of a rehab stint in the minors. Hampton has not pitched since 2005 due to a series of injuries. He holds a career record of 138-101 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Atlanta. He finished second in the Cy Young Award voting in 1999, when he went 22-4 for Houston with a 2.90 ERA. His outing in Durham will come two days after Tampa Bay ace Scott Kazmir pitched five innings for Durham in a Monday rehab assignment. Noting that the Rays lead their Major League division, Williams says: "It's only April. Don't get your hopes up."

8:02 p.m.: Final Hour - Less than an hour until closing, until the final day of the month, the final opportunity for April. There are customers in the finance office, buying a vehicle. It's been a good month at this dealership -- we've outperformed most of the other stores in our area. Our top three salesmen this month have combined for nearly 50 sales. That's impressive considering how rising gas prices have led to rising concern within the industry. In fact, according to a survey on how changes in the economy have affected people's lives, paying for gasoline easily tops the list of economic woes facing families in the United States. About 44 percent of survey participants said paying for gasoline was a "serious problem" for them. Across all income levels, the cost of gas was the most frequently cited economic concern.

9:00 p.m.: Closing Time -- Back tomorrow for the morning meeting.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Financing, Hendrick Chevrolet Last-Minute Deals., Hendrick Chevrolet Latest Specials, Hendrick Chevrolet Pre-Owned Impala, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Sales

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DURHAM, N.C. -- This just in: The 2008 Malibu Hybrid is now for sale and in stock at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Come on down to 409 S. Roxboro Street, just down the street from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, to get a closer look at the much-anticipated hybrid and take a test-drive. With a sales price of just $26,885, plus tax and fees, the vehicle is a bargain as well as a super-efficient fuel saver.

Powered by the standard 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and a 36-volt electric motor/generator, the Malibu Hybrid produces a respectable 164 horsepower and 159 pound-feet of torque. This is the same mild-hybrid Belt Alternator Starter system found in the Aura Green Line Hybrid. Tire Pressure Monitoring also comes standard on the new Malibu, making sure tires are properly inflated and the highest possible level of efficiency is preserved.

Come on down to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall while the Malibu Hybrid remains in stock because the vehicle is expected to be a strong seller. We are open until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

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Kyle Busch Flourishes After Firing

TALLADEGA, Ala. - Sunday's victory in the Aaron's 499, his second NASCAR Sprint Cup triumph of the season, continued an incredible start to the season for the sometimes-bratty Kyle Busch -- who was fired from Hendrick Motorsports last year in spite of his immense talent because the team could not tolerate his often irrational temperament.

When Busch was dumped by Hendrick Motorsports after last season, the powerful team decided to go with fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Though no one doubted Busch's potential, he was known for being reckless and impatient, as likely to wreck his car as get to the finish. Plus, he was a bit of a brat, rubbing plenty of folks the wrong way with his behavior.

His new team, Joe Gibbs Racing, could not be more thrilled with his performance. Busch, who turns 23 next week, sits second in the Sprint Cup points standings (just 22 points behind leader Carl Edwards) and has driven his Toyota to two Sprint Cup victories in nine races.

Earnhardt, meanwhile, has yet to win for Hendrick. He is third in the standings, 59 points behind Busch.

Busch came back from a lap down Sunday, then survived a near wreck for his first victory at Talladega. The race was won under caution when a 12-car accident brought out the yellow flag on the final lap, freezing the field and allowing Busch to slowly make his way across the finish line - a rare completion considering his history at the track.

Busch has a combined seven victories this season in all three of NASCAR's top series. He has been in Victory Lane four straight weekends dating to a Nationwide Series victory in Texas earlier this month.

Race Story: http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/8075532

Race Results: http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/results

Point Standings: http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/standings

NOTE: If you have a comment about this blog, or an idea or suggestion for a future blog, click here

Labels: Chevrolet Hybrid, Hendrick Chevrolet Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Hendrick Chevrolet Strong Seller., Hendrick Chevrolet Test-Drive, Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet 2008 Malibu Hybrid

April is Earth Month on the campus of Duke University. Hendrick Durham Auto Mall supports efforts to sustain the environment and keep our communities green.

For more on Earth Month:http://www.duke.edu/sustainability/earth_month08_calendar.html

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People who shop and work at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall seem to share a common fondness for and friendliness toward people. Perhaps the best appeal of the dealership is the people you will find in there on a daily basis.

Rick Hendrick himself has credited his success, in the racing business as well as at his many dealerships, to the people that make up his businesses.

"It's all about people," Hendrick has been quoted as saying. "I don't care what you're doing or what your business is; it's all about the people. They have to be able to work together, believe in each other and be able to share information. They have to be motivated to come in and go through it every day. It's no different in the racing business than it is in the automotive business."

A lot of information that people share at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has nothing to do with cars or racing but is of the social variety; there a lot of long hours put in by many people who have time get to know each other and share personal stories, ideas, anecdotes and knowledge. Here are some of the coversations that have occurred in the dealership this week:

* Go Vegan; Reduce Global Warming

The United Nations and the University of Chicago have published reports indicating that people actually can do more to help the environment and reduce global warming emissions by switching to a vegan diet than by switching to a hybrid vehicle. And what is it that Herbert Hoover once promised: "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage?"

See complete UN report:

http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.pdf

See complete U of Chicago report:

http://geosci.uchicago.edu/~gidon/papers/nutri/nutriEI.pdf

* Counting Down To 2009 Camaro

The questions abound: when will the 2009 Camaro be available for sale? The vehicle featured in the movie Transformers has a lot of car consumers clamoring for information. The first Camaros, including the car that brought the movie character "Bumblebee" to life, could be available for sale within a year. All reviews of the car seem to be overwhelmingly positive. Stay tuned for more...

* Malibu Sales

People also want to know: how are sales of the 2008 Malibu, which were projected to do well, actually doing? The answer is: quite well. As of early April, Malibus were selling at a higher rate and higher price than before -- sitting on dealer lots an average of 18 days, according to data from J.D. Power and Associates. That's an extremely quick turn rate.

The Chevy four-door is the automaker's most competitive entry in decades in the massive midsize sedan segment and is bringing in more cash for the automaker than the previous model. The average transaction price on a 2008 Malibu is $5,000 higher on average than the previous model, according to J.D. Power data. The car also is making headway generating interest among import buyers, which few domestic sedans have managed to do in recent years, according to J.D. Power.

* Jimmie Dean

Finally, people ask almost daily: where is Jimmie Dean? A sales consultant at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall for the past 25 years, Dean has been a big asset to the dealership. But he has been out of action for a while after foot surgery.

Dean's tenure is a testament to what Hendrick tries to stand for as a dealer and an employer. He was just honored for his 25 years of service at a corporate function in Charlotte. He stopped by briefly this week to show off his Rolex and said not to worry; he'll be back at work soon.

Labels: Chevrolet Knowledge Dealership, Hendrick Chevrolet Cars, Hendrick Chevrolet Friendliness, Hendrick Chevrolet Share Information., Hendrick Share Personal Stories, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet

What you demand from an SUV has changed. You want more power, but also better fuel efficiency. You want remarkable hauling capacities, but also enhanced driver control. Add to that cutting-edge safety, and a very civilized cabin with a wealth of amenities. How can all these demands be satisfied in one vehicle? The answer is found in the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. It employs the latest in technology to advance the state of the full-size SUV.

A small-block V-8 family powers the Tahoe lineup. Fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology also enables better fuel economy. When combined with other vehicle-wide features, including improved aerodynamics, the small-block V-8 helps give the Tahoe the segment's best fuel economy.

Tahoe is also designed with safety in mind. It delivers a 360-degree safety system of occupant protection and crash-avoidance technology, with features such as standard StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation technology. Visit Rick Hendrick Chevrolet (www.rickhendrickchevrolet.com) to drive home the new 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe in style!

Labels: Chevrolet Crash-Avoidance., Chevrolet Features, Chevrolet Fuel-Saving, Chevrolet Improved Aerodynamics, Chevrolet Safety, Hendrick Chevrolet Tahoe, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet SUV

According to NASCAR.com writer Dave Rodman, this week offers a pretty interesting dichotomy as the Sprint Cup Series goes into an open weekend and the Nationwide Series goes south of the border, to Mexico City.

It is a made-up tale of a hungry man: NASCAR team owner and businessman Rick Hendrick.

Rodman writes that, whatever you could you say about the trials and tribulations of each of his NASCAR seasons, you can say this about Rick Hendrick: His stomach certainly seems to be calm, despite his hunger for NASCAR victories.

Complete Story: http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/opinion/04/15/drodman.rhendrick.always.calm/index.html

Labels: Chevrolet Nascar Victories, Chevrolet New Vehicle Specials, Chevrolet Open Weekend., Chevrolet Rodman, Hendrick Hungry Man, Rick Hendrick NASCAR

GM OFFERS SPECIAL RATE ON CERTIFIED USED VEHICLES

DETROIT -- GM Certified Used Vehicles -- the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used vehicle brand -- has announced a nationwide GMAC rate incentive program on select GM Certified Used Vehicles, including Chevrolet Cobalt, HHR, Tahoe, Suburban and Silverado. Come see a strong inventory of those vehicles and take advantage of this program now at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

See Story:http://www.forbes.com/prnewswire/feeds/prnewswire/2008/04/01/prnewswire200804011500PR_NEWS_USPR_____CLTU072.html

Labels: Chevrolet CERTIFIED USED VEHICLES, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet Manufacturer-Certified, Chevrolet SPECIAL RATE., Chevrolet Used Vehicle, New Inventory Vehicles, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Specials

DURHAM, N.C. - Perhaps Hendrick Durham Auto Mall could be considered the "Mt. Zion" of area car dealerships.

Mount Zion Christian Academy is a high school located just around the corner from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet and could be Durham's best-kept secret. Unbeknownst to even many Durham residents, Mt. Zion has produced some of the best basketball talent in the entire country. The school received recent national acclaim just last weekend, when Mt. Zion alumnus Brandon Rush helped the Kansas Jayhawks capture the 2008 NCAA basketball championship with a victory over a Memphis team that featured Mt. Zion alums Shawn Taggart and Joey Dorsey.

Other famous players to come out of the Warriors' program include NBA stars Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets, Amare Stoudamire of the Phoenix Suns, Jarrett Jack of the Portland Trailblazers and Marquis Daniels of the Indiana Pacers.

McGrady, in fact, went straight from Durham to the pros after being named the Associated Press' North Carolina prep player of the year, bypassing college altogether and becoming the Rockets' No. 1 star.

Rush also considered jumping straight from high school to the pros but decided to enroll at Kansas. He was the Jayhawks' leading scorer this year after suffering a knee injury that caused him to miss parts of the past two seasons.

According to a recent article in the Herald-Sun of Durham, Mt. Zion has been highly regarded for the caliber of basketball players that have sported the school jersey over the years. The school also has been criticizd for being a "basketball factory." None of its biggest stars are from Durham; they have been recruited to play there.

Rush is from Kansas City, Taggart from Richmond. Both of them have said that coming to Mt. Zion not only raised their basketball stock but also made them better students. Taggart signed with Iowa State before transferring to Memphis.

Kansas' victory last Monday made Rush the first Mt. Zion alumnus to help produce an NCAA championship.

"In Kansas City, I really wasn't into the whole school thing -- I was just worried about basketball the whole time," Rush told the Herald-Sun. "But I think Mount Zion was great for me, just to get the feel for school and doing my work and studying all the time and doing well on tests."

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, meanwhile, would like to provide for the car industry what Mt. Zion has provided for basketball. It is a local car dealership that has received national recognition for its successful business practices and outstanding deals.

Inspired by the recent performances of Mt. Zion alums, the car dealership hopes to garner even more attention as it continues to build on its own tradition of success -- priding itself on having the lowest prices and the highest customer satisfaction ratings.

Come take a test drive. Talk a little hoops and take advantage of the many programs we offer that are designed give you the best buying experience possible.

Labels: Chevrolet Area Car Dealerships, Chevrolet 2008 NCAA Basketball Championship, Chevrolet Customer Satisfaction, Chevrolet Lowest Prices., Hendrick Durham Auto Mall