CONCORD, N.C. – The race to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup all comes down to this weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
Saturday night is the last race of the regular season and it is sure to be an exciting one. Drivers will be racing hard under the lights at the Virginia short track to try and clinch their spot in the Chase.
But before the helmets go on and the battle begins, let’s take a look back at three very memorable Hendrick Motorsports moments from Richmond.
Sept. 10, 1994 – Terry Labonte was in his first year driving for Hendrick Motorsports and he was also looking for his first win at Richmond. After qualifying third, he made the rest of the race look easy. Labonte led more than half of the laps, 237 out of 400, and crossed the finish line first to bring home the checkered flag. He finished the 1994 season with three wins.
Sept. 7, 2008 - Jimmie Johnson was on a roll in 2008. He had already won three races that season, including the weekend prior at Fontana, and he showed up to Richmond hoping to keep his luck going. Johnson rolled off the grid third and after a 14-caution race, he claimed his fourth victory of the 2008 season. The No. 48 Chevrolet went on to win seven races that year and a third championship. Johnson became the second driver ever to win three consecutive championships in a row.
Sept. 8, 2012 – Qualifying at Richmond brought Dale Earnhardt Jr. a front-row start. A qualifying speed of over 127 miles per hour earned him the pole award. After leading the field to green, Earnhardt led 67 laps of the race but ultimately crossed the finish line 14th. His season concluded with one win, 10 top-five finishes and 20 top 10s.
