Rick Hendrick won't drive Martinsville pace car due to knee replacement surgery

As part of Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th-anniversary celebration, Rick Hendrick was scheduled to pilot the pace car during pre-race festivities. Well, due to a recent knee surgery, the NASCAR team owner won’t be at Martinsville.

Rick Hendrick had knee replacement surgery and of course, can’t drive the pace car now. Hendrick’s teams are decked out in ruby red. The cars and the drivers in their firesuits. Kyle Larson will lead the field to green as the pole-sitter.

However, Mr. H won’t be there. Larson and Chase Elliott, starting P3, will try to win this Martinsville race for the whole HMS organization.

Rick Hendrick, because of recent knee replacement surgery, won't be at Martinsville tomorrow so won't be driving the pace car prerace.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 6, 2024

Now 40 years ago at this Martinsville race, Rick Hendrick wasn’t there either. Everything worked out just fine for the No. 5 team back then. Maybe, watching from home, Mr. H will see one of his drivers pull off the win at a track that means so much to this organization.

The Hendrick cars have been fast in 2024 so far. William Byron has two wins, Larson has a win, and Elliott and Alex Bowman appear to be turning the corner again. Larson, Elliott, and Bowman will all start in the top-10. Byron lagged behind in P18 in qualifying.

With more wins at Martinsville than any other organization, HMS has big plans for today. These drivers and crews all know what it would mean to win this race. Larson won here a year ago for his first grandfather clock. Will we see him add another today?

Kyle Larson winning in the No. 5 would mean a lot to Rick Hendrick

One thing about Rick Hendrick, he loves history. That entire organization is built on history and championships and accolades other teams wish they had a fraction of. Milestone wins mean a lot. Whether it’s win 100 or 300, it all serves as a reminder of how great this program is.

The drivers who get it, get it. Kyle Larson knows what the No. 5 car means to this team. He knows what that HendrickCars paint scheme means. When he won at COTA in the No. 17 car in the Xfinity Series, he understood what that represented for Mr. H and the entire Hendrick family.

These ruby red cars that the Hendrick drivers have are ready for the moment. Each of them have speed under the hood. They understand the moment, and now they just have to go out there and compete.

Rick Hendrick won’t be there at the track. But these teams are going to do everything they can to get him another Martinsville win.