NASCAR legend and HMS owner Rick Hendrick will drive the pace car at Indianapolis’ Brickyard 400 event

Automotive tycoon and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick will pilot the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 pace car during this year's Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 21 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The fact that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the prestigious event at the 2.589-mile racetrack, and also the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports, makes it even more auspicious.

Rick Hendrick founded Hendrick Motorsports in 1984 and currently, the team has 600 employees working day in and day out to support four full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers; Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, and William Byron.

Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the current Vice Chairman for the Chevy team, won the inaugural Brickyard 400 back in 1994. Reflecting on the same and also on the opportunity to drive the pace car for the very first time, the 75-year-old Hall of Famer said (via Jayski):

"Time goes by fast. I can’t believe it’s been four decades since we started Hendrick Motorsports and 30 years since Jeff (Gordon) won the inaugural Brickyard 400. I’ll never forget the excitement around that event and the thrill of winning a race at Indianapolis."

Rick Hendrick continued:

"I’m grateful to our 40-year partners at Chevrolet for the opportunity to drive a Pace Car for the first time. I also want to thank my great friend Roger Penske and everyone at the track. Taking the field to green on Sunday will be something I’ll always remember."

Besides being the man behind the winningest Chevy team in NASCAR, Rick Hendrick owns Hendrick Automotive Group, which boasts 131 retail stores across 13 states in the USA. With its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hendrick Automotive Group is home to over 10,000 employees. Last year, the company generated more than $13 billion in revenue.

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Rick Hendrick breaks ties with a longtime NASCAR sponsor

According to a report by AP News from earlier this month, Rick Hendrick's NASCAR team has decided to part ways with Hooters, a fast-food chain best known for its chicken wings. Hooters has been an ally of former Cup Series champion Chase Elliott's No. 9 team since 2017.

"Due to these unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, and despite extensive efforts on both sides to identify a workable solution, it became necessary for Hendrick Motorsports to end the relationship," Hendrick Motorsports announced in a statement, as reported by renowned journalist, Kelly Crandall.

Hooters entered the arena of NASCAR in the early 1990s as a sponsor for the late Alan Kulwicki. Unfortunately, 2024 marks the end of their seven-year-long relationship with Hendrick Motorsports.

"Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores," the company said, as per AP News.

Lately, Hooters has shut down over 40 of its outlets all over the country due to current market conditions and underperformance. Therefore, the company has not been able to cater to the financial needs of Hendrick Motorsports.