Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway was a significant race for Hendrick Motorsports and driver Kyle Larson on a multitude of levels.
For Larson, it was his first victory of the season and the 20th of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
More importantly, the win came on the late Ricky Hendrick’s birthday. The son of team owner Rick Hendrick would have been 43 years old.
While it’s been nearly 19 years since the tragic plane crash that claimed Hendrick and the lives of nine others in 2004, his legacy lives on brightly.
The paint scheme on the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet that Larson drove to victory is nearly identical to the one Hendrick carried on his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series entries during the early 2000s.
“Me racing this 5 car has been special, but especially this paint scheme,” Larson said.
“I was watching just flipping through old YouTube videos this week of my 2021 season so I could remind myself that I used to be good (smiling), but I didn’t realize after watching it that Vegas was my first win with Hendrick, and that was my first race with that paint scheme and the colors that year.
“Kansas later on that year was — I think it was 17 years to the date of the accident and then now this, winning on his birthday,” Larson continued. “It’s all really special and kind of crazy kind of how things maybe work out from the power above. Things work out that way.
“So pretty special for sure. There are a couple of other birthdays on our team also. You know, my jackman, he turned 30 today. My spotter turned 30 today. So just a special day all around. Looking forward to celebrating with them.”
The special day for Larson and the No. 5 HMS team at the three-quarter-mile D-shaped oval came after the 30-year-old held off challenges from teammate Josh Berry and two restarts during the closing laps.
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon, who serves as the vice chairman at HMS, reflected on the importance of the victory for the organization.
“I think days like today makes you wonder what Ricky’s presence would do for us if he was here with us today,” Gordon said. “He was so passionate about Hendrick Motorsports and racing.
“So it’s nice, days like today, when you do something special on his birthday. I was talking to Rick, and he was emotional and excited, and so his presence is still here.
“I think that certainly our folks try to do everything they can to make Rick Hendrick proud,” Gordon continued. “But when you know what Ricky’s impact could have been on our company and the people and the 5 car and that paint scheme and what that means to the whole company, it’s very rewarding to know that we’re still kind of thinking of him and paying tribute to him as often as we can.
“Maybe he is looking down on us as well.”