CONCORD, N.C. – Racing action this week is once again in NASCAR’s backyard for the 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Following the All-Star Race last weekend, where Hendrick Motorsports earned two top-six finishes, the four drivers will return to the 1.5-mile track this weekend for the 400-lap, 600-mile race.
The organization will debut three new paint schemes on the track where its drivers have claimed a total of 18 wins throughout the years. They have also logged 57 top-five finishes, 90 top-10s, 17 pole positions and have led 4,725 laps.
Before the gloves go on and the engines roar to life, take a look back at these three very memorable wins for Hendrick Motorsports at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
May 28, 1989: In 1988, Darrell Waltrip claimed Hendrick Motorsport’s first 600 victory. In 1989, he did it again with three wins already on his resume for the year. Waltrip took the green flag in fourth for the start of the 400-lap event. He led several laps in the beginning portion of the race but would lead the final 80 to take the checkered flag for his second 600 win in a row. The win marked Waltrip’s final career victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
May 25, 2003: Jimmie Johnson won the pole for his first 600 start in 2002 and led 263 laps but ultimately took home a seventh-place finish. However, his second time around in 2003, he came from a 37th starting position (due to an engine change) to bring home the win. He drove his way through the field for the majority of the rain-shortened race, taking the lead for the first time with less than 40 laps remaining. He led for a total of 34 laps before taking the checkered flag.
May 27, 2007: In his first year driving for Hendrick Motorsports, Casey Mears lined up 16th on the grid for the Cup race at Charlotte. He battled for the front the majority of the 600-mile event, finally taking the lead in the final laps of the race. He led the six remaining laps to take the checkered flag for the only career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win he has to his name to-date. The win was the organization’s eighth of 18 victories during the 2007 season.
