Three memorable moments at Kansas
CONCORD, N.C. – And then there were 12.
All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers were able to breathe sighs of relief on Sunday after racing their way into the next round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
After Jeff Gordon tamed the Monster Mile and his teammates survived the elimination round, their focus quickly turned to the next race of the Chase. Kansas Speedway has been kind to Hendrick Motorsports recently, as Gordon took the checkered flag there earlier this season. Since Cup teams began racing at the 1.5-mile track in 2001, Hendrick Motorsports drivers have finished in the top 10 in more than 57 percent of the races.
Before the teams head to the track, let’s take a look at three memorable moments at Kansas in Hendrick Motorsports history.
Sept. 30, 2001: Kansas Speedway was making its debut in NASCAR’s Cup circuit when Hendrick Motorsports arrived in Kansas City for the 401-mile race. Despite the track’s unknowns, Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag that day, making Hendrick Motorsports and Gordon the inaugural Cup winners at Kansas. After his victory in Kansas City, Gordon went on to win the 2001 Cup Championship for Hendrick Motorsports.
Sept 28, 2008: Jimmie Johnson got off to the best possible start in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. After accelerating his No. 48 Chevrolet at 172.007 mph during qualifying, he won the pole, giving him the top starting position for the 267-lap race. His dominating performance continued on Sunday, as Johnson led 124 laps en route to Victory Lane at Kansas. Months later, Johnson would win the 2008 championship, marking his third straight Sprint Cup title.
Oct. 12, 2012: The 2012 season marked Kasey Kahne’s first year with Hendrick Motorsports – and he wasn’t off to a bad start. In 31 races, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet had recorded 16 top-10 finishes, which included two wins at Charlotte and New Hampshire. Kahne also won three pole positions, which would serve as a precedent for the race at Kansas. After posting a speed of 191.36 mph, Kahne won the pole position, marking the 26th time in his career that he’s led the field to green. That Sunday, he crossed the finish line fourth at the 1.5-mile track, giving the No. 5 team its 10th top-five finish of the season.
