“Very Close to Dying”- 2X IndyCar Champ’s Rick Hendrick Generosity Expose Stuns Dale Earnhardt Jr

It’s hard to believe that a two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and the winner of the 2018 Indianapolis 500 can find himself in a position to need desperate assistance. But fate, as it seems, has a unique way of leveling the playing field—it doesn’t discriminate between a 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and a double IndyCar victor. And speaking of unexpected moments, picture this: someone extending a gesture to Rick Hendrick, the mogul behind NASCAR’s most triumphant team. It did happen.

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Team Penske’s ace driver crossed paths with HMS owner Rick Hendrick, who was there rooting for his top pick. In a twist of events, Penske’s driver gifted Mr. H something truly memorable that even shocked the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr.—a token so special that Rick Hendrick himself confessed he’d treasure it for life.

Indianapolis witnessed a touching story between two racing giants that shook up Dale Jr

Amidst the closing moments of the 2023 Cup season, Kyle Larson, Rick Hendrick’s driver, is already laying the groundwork for his grand entry into the 2024 Indy 500. But before Larson set his wheels burning on the track, Will Power, the celebrated driver of Team Penske, made his way to Mr. H on the pit lane. With gratitude in his eyes, Power handed over a thoughtful gift, symbolizing his deep appreciation for the support the HMS owner had extended to him and his family in a dire time.

It was earlier in January that a menacing Staph infection had taken hold of Liz Power, Will’s wife, positioning her on the brink of life and death. Facing the possibility of losing his wife and the mother of their young son, Beau, Power was desperate. It was then that Rick Hendrick stepped into the role of Power’s guardian angel. Having gotten wind of Power’s ordeal, Rick Hendrick, the magnate behind the NASCAR Cup Series, extended an invaluable lifeline.

Mr. H swiftly connected Will Power with the top medical experts in Charlotte, North Carolina. The gravity of Liz’s condition was made starkly evident one night as a perilous 106-degree fever threatened her very existence. Recounting those harrowing moments, Power shared, “He put me in touch with the best doctors and the best people to take care of her. She was very close to dying. It was a very tough situation.” It was Hendrick’s timely intervention that steered Liz towards recovery.

In a heartfelt gesture, Power chose the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to gift Hendrick his race-worn helmet from the 2023 Indianapolis 500. Adorning the helmet was a personal message, echoing Power’s gratitude for Hendrick’s life-saving intervention. Even the normally stoic Dale Earnhardt Jr. was taken aback by this. He shared the seemingly emotional video on his Twitter account, showing his gratitude to Rick Hendrick, with a caption that read, “I wonder how many times Rick has done this for someone. As long as I’ve known him, I’ve heard stories of him helping others like this. 👏👏”

Later on, Rick Hendrick, deeply moved, told NBC Sports, “That helmet is very special to me because when I look at that helmet, I think about life.” Hendrick told NBC Sports about Power’s gift. However, the day was doubly special for Mr. H, not just for the moving tribute from Power but also as he watched his own driver, Kyle Larson, shine in the Rookie Orientation Program—a day of triumphs, both on and off the track, for the HMS supremo.

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Kyle Larson’s swift mastery at the Indy 500 orientation

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In an exhilarating display of skill on Thursday, Kyle Larson took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, effortlessly navigating his first official laps in an Indy car. Achieving the Rookie Orientation Program (ROP) was more than just a rite of passage for Larson—it was the initial leap toward his aspiration for the 2024 Indianapolis 500.

His prowess shone brightly as he flawlessly completed the three-tiered ROP. Navigating the 2.5-mile oval in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports vehicle, Kyle Larson undertook his rookie challenges with precision: 10 laps clocking between 205-210 mph, 15 laps at a brisk 210-215 mph, and another 15 laps exceeding a blistering 215 mph.

With a stunning lap speed of 217.898 mph in his final session and a pulse-quickening 221.187 mph on the speed traps, Larson has undoubtedly stamped his mark. And come Memorial Day Weekend on May 26, 2024, he’s poised to join the elite league of racers attempting the exhilarating double challenge—first burning rubber at the Indianapolis 500, then jetting off to Charlotte for the iconic Coca-Cola 600 in NASCAR.

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As race enthusiasts keenly set their calendars for this spectacle, Rick Hendrick’s words linger poignantly: “Life” is indeed what we’re all racing for. Larson’s upcoming endeavors promise a thrilling chapter in that journey.