Three memorable moments: Daytona 500
CONCORD, N.C. – This weekend, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will start their engines at Daytona International Speedway for the highly anticipated Daytona 500.
Known as the Great American Race, the Daytona 500 is not only the first race of the year, but also one of the most prestigious. And when the pace car leaves the track, Hendrick Motorsports will lead the field to the green flag. Jeff Gordon sits on the pole for his final Daytona 500 with teammate Jimmie Johnson on the outside pole.
Before the racing begins, let's take a look back at three memorable Hendrick Motorsports moments at Daytona.
Feb. 16, 1986: Geoffrey Bodine accomplished many milestones for Hendrick Motorsports. His first was scoring the first-ever victory for the organization in 1984. Just as notably, at the 28th annual Daytona 500, Bodine took home his first victory at the 2.5-mile track and gave Hendrick Motorsports its first Great American Race win. Since that first win in 1986, Hendrick Motorsports has taken the checkered flag at the Daytona 500 seven more times.
Feb. 16, 1997: Jeff Gordon started the 1997 season looking for a way to reclaim the championship he won in 1995. When the checkered flag waved at the end of the Daytona 500, Gordon was already well on his way to that championship. Hendrick Motorsports posted a one-two-three finish with Gordon leading them all to his first Daytona 500 victory, followed by Terry Labonte in second and Ricky Craven rounding out the top three. At the age of 25, Jeff Gordon became the youngest Daytona 500 winner until Trevor Bayne won in 2011.
Feb. 23, 2014: Despite 10 top-five finishes, 22 top-10 finishes and two pole positions in 2013, Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't find Victory Lane. He was out to change that in the first race of 2014. Earnhardt took the lead six different times throughout the Great American Race, managing to pull ahead with 18 laps to go to bring home his second Daytona 500 victory. He kicked off an impressive 2014 campaign, as he went on to take the checkered flag three more times in the season.
