CONCORD, N.C. – This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports is staying right at home.
Sunday night the cars will turn left and race 400 laps around the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the longest race of the year.
The 1.5-mile oval is a home track for many and has provided some unforgettable memories.
But before the drivers start their engines for 600 miles of racing, let’s take a look back at three Hendrick Motorsports moments at Charlotte.
Oct. 6, 1996 – Terry Labonte was in the midst of his third season driving with Hendrick Motorsports and was hoping for his second win of the 1996 season. He qualified 16th, but by lap 61 he was leading the pack. After staying out front for 129 of 334 laps, Labonte took the checkered flag. He also went on to win his second championship at the end of the season. And now he’s a NASCAR Hall of Famer.
May 25, 1997 – 1997 was a good year for Jeff Gordon. When Charlotte weekend rolled around, he had already won four races that season. After winning the pole at the 1.5-mile track, Gordon led a mere 44 out of 400 laps of the race. But he led the right laps all the way into Victory Lane. Gordon ended the 1997 season with 10 wins and his second championship.
May 25, 2014 – Jimmie Johnson started from the front and ended in the front. The race at Charlotte was the 12th of the 2014 season, and Johnson was determined to get his first win. He won the pole, led almost half of the race (164 of 400 laps) and took the checkered flag. Johnson went on to claim four wins in 2014.
