MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Hendrick Motorsports’ 1-2-3 finish at Martinsville Speedway on the team’s 40th anniversary weekend was straight out of a storybook.
William Byron outlasted teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott in a NASCAR Overtime finish to earn the team’s 305th NASCAR Cup Series win and their 29th at Martinsville (both marks are the most by any team in the series. The 1-2-3 finish was the team’s first at the Virginia short track and the fourth such result in team history. Alex Bowman finished eighth to place all four Hendrick Motorsports cars in the top 10 for the sixth time at Martinsville.
For Byron, it is his series-best third victory of 2024 and his 13th triumph in the sport’s top series.
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Team owner Rick Hendrick could not attend the race as he recovers from knee replacement surgery last month. Following the race, he called into FOX Sports 1’s post-race show and spoke with Shannon Spake, Larry McReynolds and Jamie McMurray.
"It was a special day," Hendrick said. "I never thought that we'd end up running 1-2-3. When that caution came out, I thought, we're in trouble. I've been there before when we were 1-2, there was a caution and we ended up not winning.
"It is just a great day for all of our people to celebrate 40 years. To come back to Martinsville and run 1-2-3. All the people are going to stay and celebrate with the drivers. Wish I was there."
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Rick and Linda Hendrick were unable to attend the Martinsville race as Mr. Hendrick recovers from knee replacement surgery, so the team brought victory lane to them.
The 2024 season marks the 40th anniversary of the team. The spring Martinsville race served as the team's 40th anniversary weekend, celebrating its first win in the Cup Series at the 0.526-mile track on April 29, 1984, with driver Geoff Bodine. Hendrick has previously said that the team would have had to close its doors without that victory.
Team vice chairman Jeff Gordon and Bodine served as the co-grand marshals for the race. Hendrick was initially slated to drive the pace car for the race. The team's four entries sported ruby red paint schemes and the drivers wore red firesuits to honor that inaugural win. The No. 5 car featured Linda Hendrick's name above the door. Over 1,500 employees, family and friends of Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group were in attendance in a spot overlooking turn two at the track.
"We are celebrating 40 years and we have been planning this for so long," Hendrick said. "It's such a momentous occasion. I don't think I've had one (win) that means any more than this one. Maybe that first win that kept us going, but this has been a special day."
