MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Rick Hendrick will not be in attendance at Martinsville Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race as he recovers from knee replacement surgery, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Saturday evening.
Hendrick, owner of NASCAR’s winningest organization, underwent the procedure last month. The 74-year-old was set to be the honorary pace car driver for the Cook Out 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Hendrick’s four-car team is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024 and has already scored three wins through seven races this season.
MORE: Martinsville site of Hendrick history
Hendrick Motorsports is heavily leaning into its ruby anniversary this weekend at the 0.526-mile oval, where Geoff Bodine scored the program’s first victory in 1984. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman are all carrying special paint schemes in honor of the celebration. The team now owns the record for most Cup Series wins with a current mark of 304.
Larson piloted the No. 5 Chevrolet to the Busch Light Pole Award on Saturday at Martinsville, snagging the pole by 0.001 seconds over Bubba Wallace. Larson’s HendrickCars.com Chevy is also carrying the name of Hendrick’s wife, Linda Hendrick, atop its passenger-side window.