Three memorable moments at Talladega
CONCORD, N.C. – This weekend, NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will make the trek down to the Heart of Dixie for the biannual race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Typically an exciting race, Talladega is known for its enthusiastic fans, spirited atmosphere and, of course, “The Big One” – multi-car incidents that can ruin a driver’s day in a split second. And with the Chase for the Sprint Cup field dwindling down to eight after this weekend, avoiding “The Big One” will be especially crucial for the 12 Contenders.
Before heading to the track, let’s take a look back at three memorable Hendrick Motorsports moments from Talladega.
July 31, 1988: Hendrick Motorsports was in the midst of its fifth Cup season when Ken Schrader arrived in Talladega, Alabama, for the restrictor plate showdown. While the team had reached Victory Lane twice at Daytona International Speedway – the Cup circuit’s other restrictor plate track – Hendrick Motorsports had yet to win at Talladega. Schrader quickly changed that. After starting seventh, he led eight laps en route to his first win the Alabama track. Teammate Geoff Bodine crossed the finish line right after him, giving Hendrick Motorsports both its first win at Talladega and first one-two finish among all tracks.
Oct. 7, 2007: Jeff Gordon was looking for a broom in 2007 – he wanted a sweep of Talladega. The 35-year-old driver had taken the checkered flag earlier in the season, with teammate Jimmie Johnson on his heels in second place. However, Gordon didn’t get off to a great start this time at the 2.66-mile oval. He qualified 34th, forcing him to start from the back of the field on race day. But Gordon was relentless – he powered his. No. 24 Chevrolet from 34th to first on the last lap of the event, giving him both the win and the sweep at Talladega. Once again, Johnson finished second behind Gordon, marking the fifth time that season that the duo had finished first and second in the same race.
April 17, 2011: Teamwork was the key to Hendrick Motorsports’ victory at Talladega in the spring of 2011. After starting from the outside pole, Jimmie Johnson led 14 laps on his way to Victory Lane at the Alabama oval. But the reigning Sprint Cup champion had a little help from a friend; teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave Johnson a push on the last lap to edge Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet past the runner-up car. Johnson’s margin of victory of .002 seconds tied the record for the closest win since electric timing and scoring was implemented in the NASCAR Cup series in 1993. Earnhardt ended up finishing fourth, while teammate Jeff Gordon recorded a third-place finish, giving Hendrick Motorsports three of the top-four finishing positions that day at Talladega.
