Three memorable moments: Atlanta

CONCORD, N.C. - This week, Hendrick Motorsports has Georgia on its mind.

All four teams will hit the road, hoping to bring the heat to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second race of the 2015 season. Hendrick Motorsports has many unforgettable moments racing at the 1.54-mile track with 12 wins and 2,884 laps led over the past 31 years.

But before the excitement begins, here is a look back at three memorable Hendrick Motorsports moments at Atlanta.

Mar. 19, 1989 – Darrell Waltrip kicked off the season with a win at the prestigious Daytona 500, and two races later he was looking to bring the checkered flag home from Atlanta. After starting fourth, Waltrip battled his way around the Hampton, Ga. oval for 328 laps, running up front with the leaders for the majority of the race. The Owensboro, Ky. native inherited the lead with nine laps remaining and led the organization to its first Victory Lane at the 1.54-mile speedway. Waltrip went on to earn four more trophies that season and finished fourth in the championship standings.

Mar. 12, 1995 – Jeff Gordon headed south looking for his first win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After taking the lead four different times, 250 out of 328 laps, Gordon crossed the finish line to claim his second win of the 1995 season. This was the beginning of an incredible year for Gordon as he went on to claim five more checkered flags that season, which ultimately led to him becoming a NASCAR Cup Series champion for the first time.

Aug. 31, 2014 – A berth for the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup was at Kasey Kahne's fingertips. He just needed a win to officially lock himself in as a contender for the championship. Having visited Atlanta's Victory Lane on two separate occasions, Kahne knew what he had to do in order to have a chance in competing for his first championship. And he did just that. After a second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, Kahne pulled ahead of the pack, clinched his first win of the 2014 season and joined his teammates in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.