Editor’s note: This is the first in a 40-part series highlighting 40 of the greatest wins in the history of Hendrick Motorsports to finish its 40th anniversary season. A new installment will be released each day from Nov. 22, 2024 through New Year’s Eve. Votes were taken from Hendrick Motorsports employees as well as representatives of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Racing Insights with all unanimous selections being ushered in automatically. The remaining wins were deliberated and decided upon by a small panel.
CONCORD, N.C. – Jeff Gordon called it, "surreal." Rick Hendrick said it felt like, "divine intervention".
William Byron had another term for it.
"Pretty badass to win at Martinsville," he grinned.
Truth is, his victory, the podium sweep and a day of celebration were all of those things.
RELATED: Hendrick says Byron's win capped 'special day' at Martinsville
So, what better place to start the list of 40 great wins in Hendrick Motorsports history than perhaps the biggest victory of a successful 2024 season and in the place where all the winning started back in 1984, Martinsville Speedway?
Certainly, the first 1-2-3 finish in the history of Martinsville in front of 1,500 or so ruby-red-clad employees, friends and family celebrating the first win in Hendrick Motorsports history made Byron’s conquest a shoe in.
RELATED: Photos from a historic day at Martinsville Speedway
The day began in Charlotte, North Carolina, with an early bus ride. The aforementioned 1,500 faithful supporters arrived to Hendrick Motorsports' shop before sunrise and caravanned to the "Paperclip" with the goal of cheering on their company.
The show they witnessed would not disappoint.
| RACE FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Date: | April 7, 2024 |
| Venue: | Martinsville Speedway |
| Winner: | William Byron |
| Hendrick Motorsports win: | No. 305 |
| Laps led by winner: | 88 |
| Starting position of winner: | 18th |
| Top 10: | 1. William Byron; 2. Kyle Larson; 3. Chase Elliott; 4. Bubba Wallace; 5. Ryan Blaney; 6. Joey Logano; 7. Tyler Reddick; 8. Alex Bowman; 9. Ryan Preece; 10. Chase Briscoe |
| Did you know? | Hendrick Motorsports’ 29 wins at Martinsville are the most by any company at any track in NASCAR Cup Series history |
"You can’t script it like this. These guys, these three guys, as well as Bowman, they drove their butts off. How about that William Byron, the 24 car? Every time we have a milestone day or opportunity or moment, he steps up. He got number 300. This is going to be a huge win for him and the whole organization."
Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman
Starting from pole position, Kyle Larson held off a hard-charging Bubba Wallace for a stage-one win. For stage two, Larson again led the team with a third-place result followed by Chase Elliott in fourth.
Come the final segment, quick work on pit road allowed for Elliott to restart on the front row and grab the lead for the first time. This was followed again by solid work on pit road to keep the top spot after the final round of green flag pit stops. However, a new challenger had entered the picture late.
After running inside the top 10 for most of the day, Byron's car came to life in the final run to the finish, and he would make his way past Elliott with 89 circuits remaining. However, a late-race caution flag threatened to change the outcome of the day. With limited tire falloff, the leaders chose to stay on the racetrack for the overtime restart.
In the end, it was Byron who took the checkered flag followed by Larson in second, Elliott in third and Alex Bowman in eighth. The scene, celebrating Geoff Bodine's iconic inaugural victory 40 years earlier, was finished with a burnout in front of the Hendrick Motorsports faithful.
It was enough to send fans home happy. And it was enough to leave vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Gordon, scrambling to find the right words, even after he'd reached the pinnacle of racing success so many times prior.
"You can’t script it like this," Gordon said after the race. "These guys, these three guys, as well as Bowman, they drove their butts off. How about that William Byron, the 24 car? Every time we have a milestone day or opportunity or moment, he steps up. He got number 300. This is going to be a huge win for him and the whole organization."