Denny Hamlin Reveals Emotional Tribute To Late NASCAR Legend

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is set to pay a heartfelt tribute to the late Roy Hendrick this weekend at Darlington Raceway, South Carolina. Hamlin will honor Hendrick, a racing icon in Virginia, whose legacy is intertwined with Southside Speedway. This tribute marks a poignant moment as Hamlin races with the Flying 11 scheme, an emblem symbolic of Hendrick’s illustrious career.

Roy Hendrick, remembered for his dominance on Virginia tracks, particularly Southside Speedway, was a pivotal figure in the racing community. The iconic Flying 11 design—a No. 11 surrounded by a circle with a wing—will be seen on Hamlin’s car, bringing a piece of racing history back into the spotlight.

Hamlin, who has previously used the Flying 11 scheme, felt it fitting to resurrect it in tribute to Hendrick. Hamlin shared on X, formerly Twitter:

“The Flying 11 returns. This one’s for Roy Hendrick. We miss you.”

This weekend, Hamlin faces a highly competitive field at Darlington Raceway. Despite a strong performance in practice sessions, he will start from Row 7 in P14. This mid-pack start presents challenges, including the increased risk of early race incidents and the difficulty of gaining stage points and track position.

Nevertheless, Hamlin aims to secure another victory at the Southern 500, adding to his three wins, with his last triumph occurring in 2021 before the introduction of the Next Gen car.

The race at Darlington is also crucial for Hamlin’s 23XI Racing team. Bubba Wallace, who is starting from the pole position, is in dire need of a win to secure his place in the NASCAR Playoffs. Tyler Reddick, starting from P6, is also a strong contender for the regular season championship. Hamlin may find himself competing against his own drivers as he navigates the competitive field aiming for another Southern 500 victory.

At the time of Hendrick’s passing, Martinsville Speedway’s president, Clay Campbell, released a heartfelt statement (below):

“We’ve lost a great ambassador for NASCAR, and I’ve lost a great friend with the passing of Roy Hendrick. The last couple of years, he was always willing to bring the his father’s iconic Flying 11 to Martinsville to drive in the pace laps before our modified race. My prayers are with his family and friends.

“He will certainly be missed.”

NASCAR Cup Series: Current Standings

1. Tyler Reddick – 823 points
2. Kyle Larson – 806 points
3. Chase Elliott – 805 points
4. Ryan Blaney – 755 points
5. William Byron – 743 points
6. Christopher Bell – 737 points
7. Brad Keselowski – 718 points
8. Denny Hamlin – 712 points
9. Martin Truex Jr – 695 points
10. Ty Gibbs – 676 points
11. Chris Buescher – 658 points
12. Alex Bowman – 648 points
13. Bubba Wallace – 637 points
14. Ross Chastain – 631 points
15. Joey Logano – 586 points
16. Kyle Busch – 552 points
17. Daniel Suárez – 527 points
18. Chase Briscoe – 514 points
19. Austin Cindric – 486 points
20. Todd Gilliland – 480 points
21. Carson Hocevar – 467 points
22. Michael McDowell – 459 points
23. Josh Berry – 448 points
24. Noah Gragson – 426 points
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 404 points
26. Erik Jones – 381 points
27. Ryan Preece – 368 points
28. Daniel Hemric – 365 points
29. Austin Dillon – 360 points
30. Justin Haley – 356 points
31. John H. Nemechek – 343 points
32. Corey LaJoie – 335 points
33. Zane Smith – 316 points
34. Harrison Burton – 306 points
35. Kaz Grala – 166 points
36. Cody Ware – 98 points
37. Joey Hand – 43 points
38. Jimmie Johnson – 39 points
39. Derek Kraus – 32 points
40. David Ragan – 17 points
41. Kamui Kobayashi – 8 points
42. Will Brown – 6 points
43. Cam Waters – 2 points