Hendrick Durham Auto Mall congratulates Kevin White on his appointment as the new athletics director at Duke University and sends him a hearty "Welcome To Durham."

White, the former AD at Notre Dame, was named to his new position during a Saturday news conference at Duke. He replaced Joe Alleva, a former good customer of Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, who resigned in April to become AD at LSU.

At the press conference, Duke President Richard Brodhead called White "a passionate, inspiring leader" committed to pushing athletes to excel on the field and in the classroom.

According to news reports, White will be expected to carry out Duke's first strategic plan for the athletics program. Released in May, the plan calls for bolstering its competitive athletics -- including facilities and scholarships -- and increasing options for intramural sports.

Duke reportedly has placed an importance on improving its struggling football program and has announced an ambitious plan to update Wallace Wade Stadium.

In addition to being a skilled AD, White holds a Ph.D. in education and has taught graduate-level business classes.

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who drives a Tahoe purchased from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, said in a story published on WRAL.com that he considered White "a good friend and one of the most respected people in intercollegiate athletics.

"He brings a wealth of experience," Krzyzewski said, "and is someone who people admire,in addition to respecting."

Prior to joining Notre Dame, the 57-year-old White served as AD at four other colleges and coached track and field on the college and high-school levels. He earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and also did graduate work at Harvard University and Central Michigan University.

He and his wife Jane, a physical education instructor and former track-and-field coach, have five children.

"This hire is not just a home run, but a grand slam home run for Duke," ACC Commissioner John D. Swofford told reporters.

Labels: Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, Kevin White, Duke, Joe Alleva, Mike Krzyzewski, John Swofford, WRAL.com, Richard Brodhead

Labels: Chevrolet Duke, Hendrick Duke Basketball, Hendrick Passionate, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Congratulates, Rick Hendrick Inspiring Leader, Rick Hendrick Scholarships, Welcome To Durham Rick Hendrick.

Saturday will be a great day to buy a vehicle from Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. Not only will it be the last day of the month (great deals always are available on a month's final day and final hours), but heavy rain that is forecast for that afternoon could put a damper on outdoor activities.

According to WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel, a cold front moving across the state will bring the chance of severe thunderstorms by the late afternoon.

Saturday morning reportedly will continue the hot, humid weather from Friday, when temperatures reached the mid 80s. Sunshine, combined with increasing moisture and winds, could turn into storms with strong winds and hail.

The high Saturday will be about 90 degrees.

The greatest threat to get wet, according to Fishel, is between 3 and 9 p.m.

So, instead of being cooped up inside, use that opportunity to come on down to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall -- at 409 S. Roxboro Street -- and see what deals are brewing. Managers and a full staff of sales consultants will be on hand to offer you one of the area's finest selections of new and pre-owned vehicles as well as some of the most aggressive pricing, financing rates and other consumer-friendly purchasing incentives.

There will be no gimmicks or deception. Just an abundance of hot sales and a great chance to drive off in a new vehicle.

"I would rather not sell a vehicle than mislead someone into coming in," General Manager Doug Harbison said.

The dealership is located at 409 S. Roxboro Street, just down from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. We will be open Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. but will not close until the last customer leaves.

Labels: Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, WRAL, Greg Fishel

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Dealership., Hendrick Chevrolet Final Day, Hendrick Chevrolet Great Day, Hendrick Chevrolet Heavy Rain, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Great Deals, Rick Hendrick Pre-Owned Vehicles

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, an auto dealership that is very involved in and supportive of community affairs, wants to wish "good luck" to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and N.C. State baseball teams as they begin competition in the 2008 NCAA baseball tournament this weekend in Raleigh.

For the first time in history, both the Tar Heels and Wolfpack will serve as hosts for opening-round games at the same time. Both teams will be playing less than 20 miles from each other as baseball grabs the local summer spotlight like perhaps never before.

"I think it's great and really exciting that both teams are hosting," UNC coach Mike Fox told the News & Observer of Raleigh.

Said NCSU coach Elliott Avent: "Baseball in the Triangle has been so good for so many years, but I think this shows the attention and recognition is finally catching up with product."

The Tar Heels, ranked No. 2 in the nation and seeking their third straight trip to the College World Series, open tournament action Friday at 6 p.m. at USA Baseball's national training complex in Cary. Carolina has played all its home games this season in Cary while its on-campus facility, Boshamer Stadium, has undergone renovations.

For directions to the USA Baseball complex, click here.

The Wolfpack, meanwhile, also will play Friday, competing at Doak Field on the NCSU campus and helping to gain Raleigh more national baseball attention.

Pro baseball player Josh Hamilton already has brought attention to Raleigh as a baseball hotbed. A former Raleigh high-school standout, Hamilton has made the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine for how well he has overcome early minor-league struggles and drug addiction to become a star for the Texas Rangers.

Now, the Wolfpack can continue to bring baseball acclaim to Raleigh and give Triangle sports fans a chance to view summer as more than just the basketball off-season.

Another area team, Mount Oilive College, is playing for the 2008 NCAA Division II baseball championship.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, also a proud supporter of youth baseball in general and North Durham Little League in particular, wishes the Tar Heels and Wolfpack well in their quest to bring high-level baseball to Wake County and advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

All-session tickets to the games in Cary range from $35 to $60. Single-game sessions range from $7 to $12.

At NCSU, tournament books will cost from $30 to $60, single sessions $10 to $15.

Winners of the regionals will advance to the best-of-three Super Regional round June 6-9.

Labels: UNC, Tar Heels, N.C. State, Wolfpack, Mike Fox, Eliott Avent, NCAA baseball, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, Durham, College World Series, Josh Hamilton, North Durham Little League, Mount Olive College

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Competition, Hendrick Chevrolet State Baseball, Hendrick Chevrolet Tournament, Hendrick Chevrolet USA Baseball's, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Sports

Jeff Gordon has said that his pit road confrontation with former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Busch after last weekend's Coca-Cola 600 may have stemmed from bitterness Busch feels about being released from the team after last season.

But, perhaps Gordon, a four-time NASCAR champion with a lifetime contract at HMS, may be a little bitter himself about the success Busch has found since joining his new team -- Joe Gibbs Racing.

The 23-year-old Busch has three victories in the season's first 12 races and a 94-point lead in the Sprint Cup standings over Jeff Burton, who drives for Richard Childress Racing. Hendrick's four drivers, meanwhile, have totaled just one Cup victory after winning 18 of 36 events in 2007 -- Gordon has yet to win in '08 and has just six top-1o finishes.

Regardless of the reason, Busch and Gordon appeared to have a problem with each other Sunday night after they battled intensely for a third-place finish over the final laps. Busch managed to finish third just ahead of Gordon.

The two drivers had a brief, seemingly heated conversation after the race.

Their encounter made for more -- and perhaps continuing -- drama and controversy that the sport of stock-car racing seems to thrive on.

According to an article in SceneDaily.com, Gordon said Busch may harbor bitterness toward his former organization, which replaced Busch with Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"I think that you look at the situation, and there was going to be one person that was the odd man out," Gordon said. "We chose him, and I'm sure he questioned why would we choose him.

"We all know how talented he is and how fast he went and how he won races, so obviously there's a reason why he was the odd man out, and I'm sure that he probably does have some bitterness towards that. But look at the situation that he's in: Shoot, I feel like we did him a favor."

"He's at an organization that they're fast," Gordon said of Busch. "He's leading the points; he's winning races. He's really got this sport kind of the in the palm of his hand right now. I think that he sort of is not appreciating and respecting that because he could have easily drove by me the other night, and he just likes to do things the hard way."

Busch apparently felt Gordon made him work too hard for his finish and interrupted Gordon during an interview to voice his displeasure.

Gordon said there was no animosity, that he was just racing like he always does.

"I raced him hard just like I did everybody," Gordon said. "And when track position is as important as it is here, you've got to race every single car for every single position. I wasn't going to give anybody an inch."

Busch has chosen not to discuss the incident publicly. Gordon has continued to talk it about this week.

"I like Kyle," Gordon said. "He has my (phone) number. He can call me any time. But don't come up after the race while I'm doing an interview and tap me on the shoulder and want to ask me if there's a problem -- especially when he finished third. He had a pretty good night."

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Coca-Cola 600, Hendrick Chevrolet NASCAR Champion, Hendrick Chevrolet Replaced Busch., Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Bitterness

The Memorial Day holiday traditionally is a weekend reserved for travel, cookouts, popular sporting events, tributes to fallen U.S. soldiers --- and drinking milk

Drinking milk?

Well, at least one grown person drinks milk each Memorial Day weekend, on national television, no less.

That person is the winner of the Indianapolis 500. This year, that was Scott Dixon.

Dixon's drinking milk after the race offered a strong contrast to the sight of NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, who won the Coca-Cola 600 later Sunday, hoisting a championship beer.

Beer may seem a more appropriate and more manly choice of adult beverage than milk during Memorial Day weekend. But Kahne drank beer to promote his sponsor, Budweiser, while Dixon carried on one of sport's longest-running traditions.

Story has it that milk became the official drink of the Indy 500 champion after the 1936 winner, Louis Meyer, was photographed drinking buttermilk, his favorite drink, which, reportedly, his mother had recommended to him because of its refreshment quality.

Refreshment quality? How many adults drink milk because of its refreshment quality? How many adults grab for the milk when they are hot or tired after driving a long way, or after running a few miles, or after working up a sweat cutting their lawn or doing yard work?

An executive at the Milk Foundation reportedly saw the photo of Meyer drinking buttermilk and set out to ensure that the Indy 500 winner every year would receive milk to drink. So, a tradition was born.

The National Dairy Council has declared its support for the tradition, calling the celebratory chugging of the milk "a winning example for people everywhere who are looking to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle."

Kahne, meanwhile, received great support from the 200,000-plus fans who attended the Coca-Cola 600, many of whom were drinking beer.

No doubt, beer may seem more refreshing than milk this holiday weekend. But no one enjoyed milk more than Dixon.

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What Gas Problem?

Anybody who thought the number of travelers this weekend would be down over previous years because of high gas prices must not have been a race fan.

Because, just as gas prices are up over this time a year ago, so was attendance at two of the nation's premier auto races -- the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.

Close to 250,000 people -- a quarter of a million - attended Sunday's Indianapolis 500. More than 200,00 fans were at the Coca-Cola 600 outside Charlotte later Sunday. Many of them traveled more than 500 miles to watch people drive 500 miles. Many of them traveled to the races in motor homes, which got similar gas mileage to the race cars themselves -- about 4 to 5 miles per gallon.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Drinking Milk, Hendrick Chevrolet Championship Beer, Hendrick Chevrolet Holiday Weekend, Hendrick Chevrolet Official Drink, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet

According to news reports and Department of Transportation data, nearly 805,000 North Carolina drivers were expected to hit the road Friday for the long Memorial Day holiday weekend.

In spite of rising gas prices -- which reportedly are about 60 cents higher than this time last year -- the number of people traveling this weekend should be roughly the same number as last year.

The price of gas in the state reportedly ranges between $3.73 and $3.78 a gallon. Nationally, the average is $3.83.

To see where gas prices are the lowest in your area, go to the WRAL.com Fuel Tracker

Regardless of the price of gas, highway traffic is expected to be so heavy this weekend that the state DOT is changing its work schedule to help ease any road congestion. The department has announced that it will suspend most road construction from 4 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Click here to find out more statewide travel information from the DOT.

Traffic could be particularly heavy around Charlotte because of the Coca-Cola 600 stock-car event, NASCAR's longest and perhaps most popular race of the season. More than 200,000 people are expected to flock to Lowe's Motor Speedway outside Concord, where Rick Hendrick will field four teams in Sunday's race.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall hopes to have a lot of traffic at the dealership this weekend. If you do happen to stay home for the holiday, or close to home, and would like to take advantage of the dealership's big Memorial Day Sale, please come by. We'd love to have you; the sales will be tremendous, and each purchase of a new vehicle will include a free fill-up of gas.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Highway Traffic., Hendrick Chevrolet Memorial Day Sale, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, Memorial Day Weekend, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet

As All-American Week leads into Memorial Day, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall
announces an All American sale designed to help you take advantage of your government stimulus check and drive away in a new vehicle. In some transactions, the dealership will as much as double your check.

President George W. Bush celebrated All-American week Thursday with a return to Fayetteville to address troops at Fort Bragg. He delivered a speech to members of the 82nd Airborne Division and toured the post.

All-American Week has been an annual event at Fort Bragg but was canceled last year after all four of the 82nd's combat brigades and its headquarters unit were deployed. This year, the annual celebration of troops began early Monday with the Division Run.

The 82nd, comprised of 16,000 paratroopers, is known as the All-American Division. When it was formed in World War I, it had members from all 48 states. The nickname led to the design of the unit's famous shoulder patch, with the twin letters "A" on it.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall would like to be your 'All-American' dealership. Sales have been good this month, and we hope that surge continues with its big sale.

The dealership has announced that it will double your stimulus check up to $2,000 toward a new or pre-owned car or truck. You must come to the dealership within seven days of receiving your check.

In addition, the dealership is giving aggressive numbers on trade-ins. Professional appraisers will be on the lot through Monday to give you absolute top-dollar for your trade.

In deciding what to buy, you can choose from seven different models that get 30 miles per gallon or better. There are more than 400 cars and SUVs in inventory.

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Ford Expects Loss Of Profit; RHC, GM Continue Selling SUVs

DETROIT (RHC staff and wire reports) - Ford Motor Co., no longer expecting to return to profitability by 2009, announced Thursday that will cut North American production of pickups and SUVs for the rest of this year.

The company cited high gas prices and the weak economy as factors in its decision as well as reasons for diminished sales.

Meanwhile, at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, sales of SUVs and pickups continue. The dealership has sold several Tahoes, Suburbans and pickup trucks this month and even had occassion to take in a Honda sedan as a trade-in for an SUV.

Furthermore, the top-selling GM vehicle in the last year has been the Silverado pickup truck, outselling even the new 2008 Malibu and its 31 mpg rating.

Ford, based in Dearborn, Mich., also has cut back its projections for total U.S. sales in 2008 to between 15 million and 15.4 million vehicles -- down from 17 million vehicles as recently as 2005.

"Unless there is a fairly rapid turnaround in U.S. business conditions, which we are not anticipating, it now looks like it will take longer than expected to achieve our North American Automotive profitability goal," Ford President and Chief Executive Alan Mulally said in a statement.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Dealership, Hendrick Chevrolet Inventory, Hendrick Chevrolet New Vehicle, Hendrick Chevrolet Suvs, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Sales., Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Week Leads

The classy new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is a four-door family sedan completely redesigned for your needs and passion. The Chevrolet Malibu is built on the same European-derived platform used for the Saturn Aura. The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is larger than before and rides on a 112-inch wheelbase, one of the longest in the mid-size sedan segment. A robust chassis with a quiet cabin and suspension tuning looks sporty and strikes an agreeable balance between ride and handling. The interior’s attention to detail matches the Malibu's exterior, with an ergonomic design using premium materials that convey quality and value.

The 2008 Malibu sedan comes in LS, LT and LTZ trims and offers fresh styling, more available power and more safety features. A standard 169-horsepower 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine supplies to power to the Malibu LS and LT models. Optional on the LT and standard on the LTZ is a more powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 252-horsepower. The new Malibu is now roomier, more powerful and of notably higher quality with more luxurious fit and finish.

Visit Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, the leading dealership for new and used Chevrolet vehicles in Durham, NC and test ride the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. For more details, log on to our website at www.rickhendrickchevrolet.com.

Labels: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, 2008 Malibu Luxurious Vechicle In Chevrolet, Chevrolet Sedan, Chevrolet Vehicles Leading Dealership, Hendrick Chevrolet New Vehicle Specials, Redesigned Vechicle In Chevrolet

The all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, on sale now at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall in a variety of colors and packages, has surpassed the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord for fuel economy.

According to an article in Car and Driver, the Malibu claims a fuel-economy rating of 22 miles-per-gallon in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway. The Accord and Camry, meanwhile, can claim numbers of only 21 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway.

It would appear that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of those numbers. Chevy dealers, including Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Durham, have a hard time keeping the 08 Malibus in stock, and GM seemingly can't build them fast enough.

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RHC Of Durham Wants To Buy Back Your Vehicle

For the rest of this week, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is conducting a special test-market buy-back event.

The dealership is looking to acquire many pre-owned vehicles by Saturday in order to meet special inventory requirements. Managers have been authorized to buy certain vehicles back at above-market prices.

The dealership also is offering to apply the trade equity of customers' vehicles toward any new 2008 Chevrolet or preowned vehicle, in stock. Furthermore, we have rebates of up to $5,250 on select models.

Please stop by anytime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday or Friday, or between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, or call (919) 682-0451 to schedule an appointment. A visual inspection of your vehicle is required to assess its value.

Labels: All-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Honda Accord, Chevrolet Or Preowned Vehicle, Hendrick Chevrolet Claims., Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Special Inventory, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Toyota Camry

Today is a special day at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Durham.

It is a day to remember the life and times of Frank Sinatra -- 'Ole Blue Eyes. One of the most famous and influential entertainers of all time died 10 years ago today at the age of 82.

To commemorate the occasion, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is offering special discounts to people with blue eyes or others who have a good memory or story to tell about Sinatra.

There will be remembrance ceremonies nationwide, including one conducted by Sinatra's family that will involve three cities -- New York, New Jersey and Las Vegas.

To mark the anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service is releasing 120 million 42-cent first-class stamps carrying portraits of the late entertainer.

In addition to being an actor and singer, Sinatra was a well-known patriot.

"Our father loved this country," said the Sinatra family, represented by Nancy, Frank Jr. and Tina Sinatra, in a prepared statement. "This would have been one of his happiest days."

Sinatra was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m. on May 14, 1998, in the emergency room of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering from bladder cancer as well as heart and kidney disease.

Sinatra was a master craftsman and ranked as one of the most influential singers in this country's history. In more than 200 albums, his music led the evolution of Big Band to vocal American music.

He also won an Academy Award as best-supporting actor in the 1953 film "From Here To Eternity."

He was born Dec. 12, 1915, in Hoboken, N.J. He found fame and fortune on the Las Vegas strips, which is where tonight's three-city family celebration will finish.

"We'll honor the 14th at midnight," said daughter Tina Sinatra, a film producer. "All the marquees (on the strips) are going to put up his name simultaneously. It is going to be like a big toast at midnight. I think it will be fabulous."

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Frank Sinatra, Hendrick Chevrolet Medical Center, Hendrick Chevrolet Remembrance Ceremonies., Hendrick Chevrolet Special Discounts, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Special Day

The latest edition of Fortune Small Business gives high praise to Durham, ranking the city 12th on the magazine's list of the 100 best places to live and launch a business.

Magazine staff canvassed the country to find what they considered towns with the best mix of business friendliness and lifestyle appeal. Durham ranked higher on the list than Raleigh (20), Cary and Chapel Hill.

An integral part of what's good about Durham is a revitalized downtown that includes the American Tobacco historical district. The Durham Bulls Athletic Park also is downtown, and so is Rick Hendrick Chevrolet -- a dealership that makes Durham the best place in the Triangle to purchase a vehicle.

Not only does Hendrick Durham Auto Mall provide a great service for all of its customers -- earning consistently high marks in consumer satisfaction -- but it also is a key player in promoting the Durham community through its connections to and partnerships with many local non-profits.

Small Business notes in its profile of Durham that the city is "perceived as the underdog of the Triangle region." It describes the "pros" of the city as "thriving biotech and pharmaceutical industries, lots of local arts festivals and college sports."

The magazine also wrote that: "the creative class in the Triangle area (Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh) has begun to set up shop in the unconventional workspaces that are available in downtown Durham's 'American Tobacco Historical District' and in recently renovated office towers."

Other benefits of Durham are the Nasher Museum of Art and lower cost of living than Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Magazine's List Top Place, Hendrick Chevrolet Renovated Office, Hendrick Chevrolet Top Place, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Dealership, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Small Business

When it comes to keeping their private information private, customers at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall have a level of trust and expectation that we will take care of them.

According to Myra Wilson, the dealership's Safeguards Coordinator, one in every eight people is a victim of identity theft. That makes all people -- particularly those car-buyers who are asked to provide what's called "non-public information" to a dealership -- wary of giving out such information.

That also is why the employees at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall take such information very important and comply with a strict and consistently-enforced procedure for protecting that info and keeping it private.

The objective of the dealerhip's "Safeguards" initiative is provide higher quality service and privacy to all customers who visit the dealership by increasing our efforts to properly secure and protect personal customer information that is received during business transactions.

All dealership employees receive regular Safeguards training and testing and are frequently audited to ensure that they remain in compliance with the standards and procedures set forth by dealership management. The sales staff, in fact, received its latest round of training and testing on Monday.

The goal and philosophy at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is that all dealership personnel give the same level of security to all customers' information that they would give to their own information. Not only is it the law; it also is the right thing to do.

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White Wins Again In RHC-Sponsored Monte Carlo

For the second straight weekend last Friday night, Jason White -- driving a Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Hendrick Durham Auto Mall -- won the feature race of the Limited Late Model stock car competition at Wake County Speedway.

White, of Siler City, drove the red No. 51 into Victory Lane after winning the 30-lap race. He qualified for the feature by finishing second to Tony Cooper in an earlier, 7-lap heat race. Cooper finished fourth in the feature race.

Working on White's crew was Joe Fitzgerald, who is employed as a service tech at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Durham.

Wake County Speedway, located in Garner, is a quarter-mile track with four 17-degree banked turns. Originally built using clay, the track changed to asphalt for the 1987 season.

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Happy Birthday, Odometer

On May 12, 1847, the odometer was invented by Mormon pioneer William Clayton.

Story has it that Clayton originally calculated how many miles he had traveled by counting the revolutions of a rag tied to a spoke of a wagon wheel and then multiplying that count by the wheel's circumference. But he grew weary of that method. So, after consulting with a mathematician named Orson Pratt, he developed a design consisting of a set of wooden cog wheels attached to the hub of a wagon wheel. The mechanism recorded by position the revolutions of the wheel.

Clayton's journal records: "About noon today, Brother Appleton Harmon completed the machinery on the wagon called a 'roadometer' by adding a wheel to revolve once in 10 miles, showing each mile and also each quarter mile we travel, and then casing the whole over so as to secure it from the weather."

The "roadometer" was first used on the morning of May 12, 1847.

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Late Model, Hendrick Chevrolet Of Durham, Hendrick Chevrolet Safeguards, Hendrick Chevrolet Security, Hendrick Chevrolet Victory., Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Identity Theft

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall would like to wish all mothers a Happy Mother's Day. Although the local weather may turn cooler and damper, our dealership hopes the day shines hot and bright for all those who will be celebrating their special Sunday.

We'll see you back here on Monday.

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Hendrick Motorsports Museum Re-Opens

CONCORD, N.C. (NASCAR.com) -- Check out Rick Hendrick's first Chevrolet. Watch a dissected Impala SS new car being pieced together. See the cars and memorabilia of Casey Mears, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

These are just a few things visitors can do now that Hendrick Motorsports has reopened its museum. The 15,000-square-foot facility, which was closed the last four months for renovations, pays tribute to nearly 25 seasons of Hendrick Motorsports history and offers fans the latest in team-related apparel and merchandise. Admission to the museum is free of charge.

"We are extremely proud of this museum, and we hope our fans will enjoy it," team owner Rick Hendrick said. "We've had a lot of success and a lot of special moments over the years, and it's humbling to reflect on that. But the one thing we always keep in mind is that it wouldn't be possible without our fans' support."

Throughout the year, the museum will exhibit a rotating stable of famous Chevrolets -- such as an original All-Star Racing entry, multiple Daytona 500 champions and the inaugural Brickyard 400 winner. Featured currently are cars driven by Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Ken Schrader and Ricky Hendrick, among others. Visitors will be met at the entrance by the Monte Carlo SS that Johnson drove at Homestead-Miami Speedway to clinch the 2007 Sprint Cup Series title.

Highlighted by Hendrick's 11 NASCAR championships, the museum will showcase significant memorabilia from nearly three decades of competition. Unique items on display include dozens of trophies collected over the years by Hendrick's teams, a Days of Thunder movie manuscript and personal notes from actor Tom Cruise to Rick Hendrick.

The facility, which first opened its doors in October 1995, blends the company's past with its present in cutting-edge ways. Notably, visitors can check out the No. 48 "war wagon" used during the team's 2006 championship season, get up close and personal with a Chevrolet R07 engine, sit in a carbon-fiber racing seat, and see how pieces of an Impala SS come together in a one-of-a-kind automated exhibit. Flat-panel televisions throughout the museum feature original content.

To complete their Hendrick Motorsports experience, fans can check out the race shops, which also are open to the public and feature the Nos. 5, 24, 48 and 88 Sprint Cup teams of Mears, Gordon, Johnson and Earnhardt. There, fans can watch crew members work on this season's cars and see even more from the organization's storied past.

The Hendrick Motorsports museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Visitors can find special announcements, extended race-week hours, driving directions and additional information related to the museum at http://www.HendrickMotorsports.com

Labels: Chevrolet Special Moments, Chevrolet Special Sunday, Hendrick Chevrolet Celebrating, Hendrick Chevrolet Mother's Day, Hendrick Motorsports, Hendrick NASCAR, Hendrick Offers, Hendrick's Championships

If you like parties, then you need to come now to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

The doors are open. The tunes are blasting. The grill is fired up. The conversation is lively.

The excitement level could not be higher, and the deals could not be better.

Building upon its reputation as "the people's dealer," placing a premium on customer satisfaction and putting fun into the vehicle-buying process, the dealership will be rocking all weekend long. Sales manager Harold Lamptey kicked off the festivities early Friday by setting up speakers and bringing out his personal I-POD collection of 10,000 songs -- that's right, 10,000 songs -- dating back to the 1970's.

Hotdogs and hamburgers are on the grill. Coolers are filled with cold beverages. Customers new and old will be entertained in addition to receiving outstanding, unprecedented discounts as they enjoy the festivities at Durham's No. 1 downtown dealership.

We are open until 9 p.m. Friday. The party resumes from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. Don't miss it. Come see us at 409 S. Roxboro Street.

Saturday should be the best day of the weekend, with a sunny forecast and highs in the upper 70s. Most of the Triangle should be rain-free that day, so there's no excuse not to come and join the party.

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Rivalry Builds Between Current, Former Hendrick Drivers

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Entering this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., acknowledged that a rivalry is brewing between Earnhardt and Kyle Busch. The current and former Hendrick Motorsports drivers battled side-by-side in the closing laps of last weekend's race in Richmond, Va., until Busch slid up into the No. 88 Chevrolet and sent Earnhardt spinning into Turn 3.

Given that Busch was bumped out of the Hendrick organization to make room for Earnhardt simply exacerbates the situation.

Read Story: http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/8117040?MSNHPHMA

Labels: Hendrick Chevrolet Customer Satisfaction., Hendrick Chevrolet Customers New, Hendrick Chevrolet Dealer, Hendrick Chevrolet Songs, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, Hendrick Festivities

The U.S. government is providing an opportunity for millions of Americans to have a downpayment when they go to buy a vehicle.

A program to stimulate the economy has begun. The government began sending checks to consumers on May 1, and the checks should be in mailboxes by June 1.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall also is doing its part to make the purchase process as easy as possible for potential customers. We are offering aggressive discounts, special interest rates to qualified buyers and a large inventory of new and preowned vehicles relevant to the needs and motives of our customer base.

Labels: Chevrolet Downpayment, Chevrolet Preowned Vehicles, Hendrick Chevrolet Inventory, Hendrick Chevrolet Of Durham, Hendrick Chevrolet Special Interest Rates, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet New Vechicle Specials

This is an exciting time in Durham, especially at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet.

The downtown dealership earned praise Wednessday from its General Manager for how well it performed last month, when a lot of others in the automotive industry struggled to keep up.Despite reports that car sales are down and gas prices are up, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet has continued to truck along.

The RHC parts and service departments received awards during a noon-time luncheon in honor of their recent successes and the paths they are on to surpass 2008 expectations in many categories. Perhaps chief among those categories is CSI, a customer satisfaction index in which the entire Rick Hendrick Chevrolet has received high marks.

Sales consultant Jimmie Dean also earned recognition, getting a handsome plague and a new Rolex to commemorate his 25 years at the dealership.

"It's a nice award," Dean said, smiling, "even if I did have to work 25 years to get it."

There also was excitement Tuesday in the Duke University Community. The reason: A big man is coming to play basketball.

In an interesting change of fortune, 6-110 Miles Plumlee has been released from the letter-of-intent he signed with Stanford last November and will be joining the Duke team next season. Fans of the Blue Devils consider it quite a coup for a program that also will be getting Plumlee's 6-11 younger brother, Mason, in 2009.

Miles Plumless, originally from Indiana and a senior at Christ School in Arden, N.C., began to change his mind about attending Stanford after Cardinal coach Trent Johnson left after the season for LSU. The Plumlee family reported lost interest in Stanford because of a lack of communication from the school about what was going on with the coaching situation. Even after Stanford hired former Duke assistant coach Johnny Dawkins to replace Johnson last week, the family stuck to its decision to request a releaset.

Duke became a candidate for Miles because it already had gotten a commitment from Mason, a junior at Christ School, in February.

Indiana, Miami, Northwestern, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Xavier were among the programs that initially offered Miles a scholarship before he committed to Stanford in June.

Duke did not originally offer Miles a scholarship but had one available due to forward Taylor King's transfer to Villanova.

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The U.S. government has begun instituting a plan to stimulate the economy, offering millions of Americans the opportunity to make downpayments on new vehicles. Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is here to help local consumers make their purchase as easy as possible.

Over the next several weeks, more than 130 million households will receive economic stimulus checks. The checks should be in mailboxes by June 1.

The checks are part of a plan to federal government wants to keep the economy on the up and up by putting money into the hands of U.S. consumers to encourage increased consumer spending

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This week, May 4-10, is Teacher Apprecation Week. Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is honoring the occasion by offering great deals to area teachers interested in buying a car, truck or SUV.

The "Teacher Appreciation" sale is designed to mark the gratitude for teachers felt by students, parents, employers and the community at large. The week culminates in Teacher Appreciation Day 2008, during which schools all across the nation will recognize teachers with special events of their own.

Any teacher can take advantage of this week's RHC sale by simply coming in to the dealership and showing their school identification. Bring a student with you, if you like, or anybody else who can vouch for your important role as an educator.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is located downtown at 409 S. Roxboro Street, just down from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. We are open until 9 p.m. each weekday and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday.

Thank you, teachers, for all you do.

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Duke Lacrosse Team Top Seed In NCAA Tournament

Members of the Duke lacrosse team, you also can come on down to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall for a great deal. The dealership congratulates the Blue Devils for earning the No. 1 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Coach John Danowski, who purchased a preowned Equinox from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, has led Duke to a 16-1 record and eight straight victories. The Blue Devils open tournament play on Saturday against Loyola at 2:30 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium.

The No. 1 seed is the second straight for the Blue Devils, who lost in last year's NCAA championship game.

All-America attackmen Matt Danowski -- the coach's son -- and Zack Greer headline Duke's offense and rank one-two nationally in scoring. Danowski ranks No. 1 with 84 points on 36 goals and 48 assists, while Greer has 78 points on 56 goals and 22 assists.

Duke and Loyola met back on March 8 in Baltimore, with the Blue Devils posting a 21-8 victory behind Greer's four-goal, four-assist outing.

Duke went a combined 6-0 against the eight seeded teams in the NCAA Tounament. Virginia earned the number two seed, followed by Syracuse, North Carolina, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, Maryland and Cornell.

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RHC of Durham Wins In Wake County

A Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Hendrick Durham Auto Mall won the featured race of Friday night's Limited Late Model stock car competition at Wake County Speedway.

Jason White of Siler City drove the No. 51 into Victory Lane, winning the 30-lap feature after qualifying for the event in an earlier heat race. Working on White's crew was Joe Fitzgerald, who works during the week as a service tech at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Wake County Speedway, located outside of Raleigh in Garner, is a quarter-mile track with four 17-degree banked turns. Originally built using clay, the track changed to asphalt for the 1987 season.

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Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway officially was named "Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400." But who is Dan Lowry?

Dan Lowry is a racing fan from Ohio who won an essay contest in which the winner earned naming rights for Saturday's race. Lowry's submission beat more than 10,000 other written submissions on the subject of consumers' fondest Crown Royal memories that were enjoyed in a responsible manner.

In his winning entry, Lowry recalled a moment when he was working in Venezuela and feeling very homesick. He wrote that he wandered into a local restaurant and did not recognize any of the brands behind the bar except for the purple and gold Crown Royal bag.

Lowry wrote that, upon seeing that label, he did not feel so far from home.

Said Jim Lorenz, senior brand manager of Crown Royal: "To me, there's no better way to make Dan Lowry feel like a king than by actually making this race his, and it will be his forever.

"Congratulations to Dan on this historic accomplishment," Lorenz said. "We look forward to making his race a tremendous experience for everyone."

Lowry's name was incorporated into all official race logos and was recognized by NASCAR's broadcast and media partners as the race's official title. In addition, Lowry took part in pre-race festivities at Richmond International Raceway and participated in the trophy presentation to the race winner in Victory Lane. During the race weekend, he will receive VIP accommodations for himself and a guest.

Next year, the winner could be you. Crown Royal has announced that the "Your Name Here 400" contest will continue in 2008, and the official name of the spring 2009 Sprint Cup race at Richmond will be awarded to another adult fan.

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Nuclear Submarine Commissioned As USS North Carolna

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WRAL.com) — For the first time in nearly 60 years, a Navy warship bearing the state's name will be on the sea lanes.

After a 10 a.m. commissioning ceremony Saturday, one of the U.S. Navy's newest fast-attack nuclear submarine bears the name the USS North Carolina.

About a half dozen native Tar Heels are among the 140-member crew, who will sail her to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The submarine will then serve as part of the U.S. Navy's Pacific fleet.

When she breaks the surface, the fourth Virginia-class submarine to be built is an impressive sight, stretching out 377 feet and displacing more than 7,800 tons.
The North Carolina boasts enhanced stealth and surveillance capabilities and the ability to strike on-shore targets with Tomahawk cruise missiles. She was built to support covert, as well as traditional, naval operations.

The high-tech, high-dollar submarine bears some marks of its heritage: Teak, recycled from the decommissioned battleship North Carolina, was used on some surfaces.

Tight space aboard the submarine is tight leads to tight bonds among the crew. Garner native Tyler Murray considers these sailors an extension of his Wake County family.

"You know everybody by face," Murray said. "You know their families; you know their kids' names."

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