MARTINSVILLE, Va. – For all of Hendrick Motorsports' success at Martinsville Speedway – 29 wins and the first organization to win 10,000 laps led at a track – the team achieved something it had never done and something that has never been done by any team at the 0.526-mile track.
Hendrick Motorsports swept the top-three spots in the final running order on the team's 40th anniversary weekend. William Byron won the race, while Kyle Larson took second and Chase Elliott took third.
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During a media availability after the race, team vice chairman Jeff Gordon marveled over the team's latest accomplishment and shared team owner Rick Hendrick's reaction. Hendrick recently underwent knee replacement surgery and could not attend the race.
"We just had a great moment of kind of in awe and shock," Gordon said. "When we do things like today, especially something that's never been done before, the 1-2-3 finish at Martinsville. He's just so humble and appreciative. I love that about him."
The top-three sweep is the fourth in team history and the third in the last four years. Here's a look at each of them.
DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 16, 1997
Top-three sweep: Jeff Gordon (WON), Terry Labonte (second) and Ricky Craven (third)
Laps led among the team: 40 of 200
Dover Motor Speedway on May 16, 2021
Top-four sweep: Alex Bowman (WON), Kyle Larson (second), Chase Elliott (third) and William Byron (fourth)
Laps led among the team: 382 of 400
Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2023
Top-three sweep: Byron (WON), Larson (second) and Bowman (third)
Laps led among the team: 241 of 271
Martinsville Speedway on April 7, 2024
Top-three sweep: Byron (WON), Larson (second) and Elliott (third)
Laps led among the team: 238 of 415
"Congrats to William (Byron) and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports," Elliott said. Rick and Linda (Hendrick), Jeff (Gordon), Jeff (Andrews), Chad (Knaus) and all the people who put this together for us. They have an unbelievable program and we are all proud to call it home. It was awesome hosting over 1,000 people from Hendrick today—employees and their families. Glad one of us could get it done."
In addition, Hendrick Motorsports finished 1-2 at Martinsville for the sixth time in team history.
Sept. 22, 1996: Gordon (WON) and Labonte (second)
Oct. 19, 2003: Gordon (WON) and Jimmie Johnson (second)
April 1, 2007: Johnson (WON) and Gordon (second)
Oct. 19, 2008: Johnson (WON) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second)
Oct. 26, 2014: Earnhardt Jr. (WON) and Gordon (second)
April 7, 2024: Byron (WON) and Larson (second)
RELATED: See every Martinsville win for Hendrick Motorsports
The team's last 1-2 finish came in February at the DAYTONA 500 when Byron won and Alex Bowman came home second.
On Sunday, Bowman took the checkered flag in eighth place as all four drivers finished inside the top 10. On six occasions, the Rick Hendrick-owned team has placed all four cars in the top 10 at Martinsville.
April 2, 2006: Gordon (second), Johnson (third), Kyle Busch (fifth) and Brian Vickers (eighth)
March 30, 2008: Gordon (second), Johnson (fourth), Earnhardt Jr. (sixth) and Casey Mears (seventh)
Oct. 19, 2008: Johnson (WON), Earnhardt Jr. (second), Gordon (fourth) and Mears (sixth)
March 29, 2009: Johnson (WON), Gordon (fourth), Mark Martin (seventh) and Earnhardt Jr. (eighth)
June 10, 2020: Elliott (fifth), Bowman (sixth), Byron (eighth) and Johnson (10th)
April 7, 2024: Byron (WON), Larson (second), Elliott (third) and Bowman (eighth)
"I loved the fight all of our teams had in them today because I saw both Chase and Kyle fighting hard," Gordon said. "I don't know if they were fighting hard to finish second. They were hoping something happened. I looked at it as they were fighting hard to bring home a 1-2-3."
RELATED: Gordon, Bodine serve as co-grand marshals at Martinsville
The last time that Hendrick Motorsports placed all four cars in the top 10 at any track was at Phoenix Raceway in March of 2023.
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. 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 for Sunday's race in a spot overlooking turn two at the track.
"Awesome to have a Hendrick Motorsports top three on a day like today, with what it means to the company and celebrating 40 years," Larson said. "Having all the Hendrick Motorsports' employees here with their families to celebrate with. We are excited for Hendrick Motorsports and I am happy to contribute to a good day."
