Three memorable moments at Dover
CONCORD, N.C. – For Chase drivers, strong performances at this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway are crucial. After Sunday’s race, the Chase for the Sprint Cup grid will be cut from 16 drivers to 12, as the first round of NASCAR's playoffs ends and the Contender 12 round begins.
In honor of the final race in the Challenger 16, let’s take a look at three memorable Hendrick Motorsports moments at the Monster Mile.
Sept. 20, 1992: Ricky Rudd wanted a win. He had come close, finishing in the top 10 in the last three races, but he hadn’t been able to secure a victory in 1992. All that changed on Sept. 20, 1992, when Rudd made his way to the hills of Dover, Delaware. After starting sixth, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet led 32 laps on his way to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway, marking Hendrick Motorsports’ 32nd victory in the Cup series and first win of the 1992 season.
June 2, 1996: It was nearly halfway through the 1996 Cup season and Jeff Gordon was having a great year. The 24-year-old had reached Victory Lane three times that season and most recently scooped up a pole position and top-four finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Now he was looking for his second career victory at Dover International Speedway, having recorded his first one at the end of last season. After starting from the pole position, Gordon dominated the competition, leading a race-high 307 laps before ultimately taking the checkered flag. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Terry Labonte finished right behind him, giving the organization its third one-two finish since 1984. Gordon would win the second 1996 race at Dover later that season, completing a three-race winning streak at the concrete oval.
Sept. 29, 2013: Jimmie Johnson has a history of running well at Dover International Speedway. In 2012, he tied Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison for the most all-time Dover victories (seven) with a win at the Monster Mile. And one year later, on Sept. 29, 2013, Johnson changed the history books. The 38-year-old driver led an impressive 243 laps at the concrete oval en route to his record-breaking eighth win at the track. Johnson’s teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished right behind him in second, while Jeff Gordon crossed the finish line fourth. Today, Johnson remains the Dover champion, having won the summer race earlier this season.
