Hendrick Motorsports Plans Powerful Talladega Tribute for Beloved NASCAR Icon Dr. Jerry Petty

Just when the NASCAR community was recovering from the loss of Jon Edwards, the sport lost another prominent figure. On Apr. 22, the official Doctor of NASCAR, Dr. Jerry Petty, passed away at the age of 90. Apart from his many contributions to NASCAR as a sport, he touched many lives with his kindness.

Petty was one of the best-practicing neurosurgeons in NASCAR and helped several prominent names in their recoveries. He was often just a call away for medical advice for anyone in NASCAR. He joined NASCAR as a physician and eventually became the sport’s highest-ranking medical professional. Petty was also instrumental in the evolution of NASCAR’s safety protocols, including the inception of the Head and Neck Support Device.

Apart from his medical contributions, Petty also grew close to quite a few prominent NASCAR figures. Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports was one of the many who shared a close personal relationship with Petty. After his demise, Hendrick peid tribute to the iconic doctor.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Tribute to Dr. Jerry Petty

In a press conference, Hendrick revealed being heartbroken after learning about the demise of his dear friend. He said Petty was much more than just a doctor; the neurosurgeon was someone that Hendrick knew he could approach anytime he needed help. He then spoke about his humility and said:

“It didn’t matter if you were a superstar driver or someone behind the scenes. He treated everyone with the same care, compassion, and respect. That’s just who he was.”

Despite holding such a critical position in the NASCAR office, Petty seldom sought recognition or credit and simply wanted to serve the sport to the best of his ability. In 2006, NASCAR honored him with the Bill France Award of Excellence for all his efforts and years of service.

Hendrick also spoke about his family’s close personal ties with Dr. Petty’s family.

“He and his wife Audrey were best friends with my parents – they had breakfast every Saturday morning like clockwork. Jerry was someone I trusted with my life and my family’s lives.”

The HMS owner also mentioned that with Petty’s loss, the world lost an exceptional doctor and a fine and pure-hearted human being. He ended his statement with:

“On behalf of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports, our thoughts are with his children, grandchildren, and everyone who loved him. Jerry Petty made the world better and safer for all of us.”

To pay tribute to Jerry’s massive legacy, all Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the Cup Series—Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman—will wear Petty’s tribute decal on their No. 5, No. 9, No. 24, and No. 48 Chevrolets, respectively, in the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Many others in the NASCAR community mourned Petty’s loss and offered condolences to his family, including NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kenny Wallace.