My mother called me on Sunday with some bad news. She told me that members of Rick Hendrick’s family had been killed in a plane crash.

I told her, “That’s impossible. I just saw them last Saturday. They are on their way to Martinsville for the race.”She replied, “They didn’t make it.”

On Oct. 24, a plane departing from Concord, N.C. to Martinsville, Va., crashed in the Bull Mountain area about seven miles from its destination. It carried family members and employees of Rick Hendrick Motorsports, one of the world’s premier racing organizations.

The crash killed all 10 people aboard. These people included Rick Hendrick’s brother, John Hendrick, who was president of the company; his son Ricky Hendrick, owner of the No. 5 Busch Series car; Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick, his twin nieces; Jeff Turner, vice president and general manager of the organization; Randy Dorton, the engine director; Joe Jackson, an executive for DuPont; Scott Lathram, NASCAR Cup racer Tony Stewart’s pilot; and the pilots flying that day.

No matter what happens on race day, in the end everyone is still family. I used to think that the drivers hated each other, but after having an internship at a track I saw things much differently.

Most of the drivers are friends. Before races they talk with one another, laughing, fellowshipping and joking. It’s like a big family reunion at each race. That’s why I know the NASCAR community was affected just as much as Hendrick.

I saw that most recently on Oct. 16, the UAW-GM 500 was ran at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LMS) in Concord, N.C. I was invited back to work with the public relations representatives.

Many cup series and Busch drivers were there including Jimmy Johnson, who drives the No. 48 Lowe’s car, along with Jeff Gordon. Both are a part of the Hendrick Motorsports dynasty. They were two of the three reasons for the large celebration after the race on Saturday..

Gordon was wrecked twice during the race falling near last, but astonishingly finished in second place. Johnson, who won the UAW-GM 500, had become the first driver to sweep both races at LMS.

The Lowe’s car finish was another addition to the great success the Hendrick organization has been receiving during their 20th anniversary this year.

I can remember watching Rick Hendrick hugging everyone in Victory Lane. The entire family made its way to the winner’s circle to congratulate Johnson and take pictures.

When they arrived in the press box where I was located, the smile on Rick’s face was unforgettable.

He kept saying, “This is so special because we did it at home.”

I wonder will he ever smile that way again.

Johnson won again the next weekend in Martinsville, Va. After the race he was told about the crash-he skipped all Victory Lane celebrations.

My heart goes out to Rick. It will be a long road to recovery. I hate that this tragedy happened during the 20th anniversary, a year owed to a dynasty of champions.

Rick Hendrick’s loss is shared with everyone who loves NASCAR. We love you and you are in our prayers.

• Denada Jackson