It's time for Parade of Power

Charlotte Motor Speedway's Parade of Power is set for Tuesday at noon, beginning at Concord Mills Mall and traveling along Bruton Smith Boulevard to the track.

Vehicles from from every form of motorsports competing at CMS this fall will be in the parade.

Drivers scheduled to appear in the parade include NASCAR's Reed Sorenson, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and David Ragan; and NHRA's Doug Foley, Doug Herbert, Matt Smith and Angie Smith. -- David Scott

Ryan Truex lands Nationwide ride

   Ryan Truex will have an opportunity to return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, as he will drive six races in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Toyota beginning with the Sept. 3 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Observer has learned.

   Truex, the 19-year-old younger brother of Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr., competed in 10 races this season with Michael Waltrip Racing until a lack of sponsorship sidelined him.

   In addition to Atlanta, Ryan Truex will also drive the No. 20 for JGR in Nationwide races at Richmond, Va.; Chicagoland; Dover, Del.; Kansas and Phoenix.

   In 17 career Nationwide starts, Truex has one top-10 finish, an eighth at Richmond earlier this season. He won the 2009 and 2010 K&N Pro Series East championships driving for MWR.

Mary Hendrick, mother of HMS owner Rick Hendrick, died Monday

   Mary Hendrick, mother of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, passed away Monday afternoon at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Mrs. Hendrick, a native of Palmer Springs, Va., was 88.

 

   Fondly referred to as “Miss Mary,” Mrs. Hendrick was the car owner of the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 2005 to 2007.

 

   In 2008, she became the owner of the No. 5 Chevrolet. She won seven races as a car owner, with Mark Martin notably recording five of those wins during the 2009 season. That year, Martin drove the No. 5 Chevrolet to a runner-up finish in the championship standings, giving Mrs. Hendrick her best season as a car owner.

 

   In June 2004, then-N.C. Gov. Mike Easley presented Joe and Mary Hendrick with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine -- the state of North Carolina’s highest honor bestowed on a citizen for dedication and extended length of service to his or her organization.

 

   The family requests privacy at this time as arrangements are being finalized. Details will be released when available.