Martinsville Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports Provide Advance Preview of 40th Anniversary Celebrations

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Martinsville Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports joined forces for an advance celebration today ahead of the special festivities that will take place during the Cook Out 400 in April. Drivers, crew chiefs and pit athletes from Hendrick Motorsports, as well as Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell came together in anticipation of the spring race weekend.

The track also brought a special treat “all the way” from Martinsville and provided their famous Hot Dogs to all those in attendance, ramping up the excitement even more for the Hendrick 40th anniversary celebrations at the famed short track on April 7.

• Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell discusses the rich history between Hendrick Motorsports and Martinsville Speedway. Campbell also touches on some of the festivities that will take place during the Cook Out 400 to celebrate 40 years of Hendrick Motorsports at the track they earned their first win (2:10)
   
• Chris Haymaker (Mechanic, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) discusses his roots in Moneta, Va., growing up just down the road from Martinsville Speedway, and competing for a team with such an accomplished history at the famed short track (3:37)
   
• Chase Elliott (Driver, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) talks about the reason Martinsville Speedway is such a special track for the Hendrick Motorsports organization (4:22)
   
• Alan Gustafson (Crew Chief, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) speaks about the evolution of Hendrick Motorsports throughout his career in front of one of the organization’s many Martinsville Grandfather Clock trophies (5:26)
   
• Kyle Larson (Driver, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) discusses the significance of winning at Martinsville Speedway (6:25)
   
• Cliff Daniels (Crew Chief, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) remarks on the intertwined history between Martinsville Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports and the similarities between the two organizations (7:13)
   
• Alex Bowman (Driver, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) talks about Hendrick Motorsports’ first win at Martinsville Speedway 40 years ago and his personal history with the famous Martinsville Hot Dogs (8:38)
   
• Blake Harris (Crew Chief, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) talks about the Hendrick family and what it would mean to win during the 40th anniversary celebrations at the Cook Out 400 (9:15)
   
• William Byron (Driver, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) speaks about the pride of Martinsville Speedway and the significance of winning a Grandfather Clock (9:55)
   

All four Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series drivers are looking to add another Grandfather Clock to their collection at the Cook Out 400, with the organization winning the last four spring races at Martinsville Speedway (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).

The Cook Out 400 is part of a triple-header NASCAR race weekend at Martinsville Speedway in April, kicking off on Friday, April 5 with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The race weekend continues on Saturday, April 6 with the NASCAR Xfinity series.  

Then, on Sunday, April 7, Martinsville Speedway honors Hendrick Motorsports’ 40 years of racing with “Mr. H” himself leading the field to green after a command given by NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports legends Jeff Gordon and Geoff Bodine ahead of the Cook Out 400.