CONCORD, N.C. – It’s time for ‘Dega.
This weekend Hendrick Motorsports drivers will be battling for a win at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway.
The atmosphere, the fans and the cars trying to avoid “The Big One” are sure to make the race an exciting one to watch.
But before the green flag drops on Sunday, let’s take a look at a few very memorable Hendrick Motorsports moments from Talladega.
Oct. 12, 1997 – The end of the 1997 season was creeping up and Terry Labonte was looking for his first win of the year. When the green flag dropped at the superspeedway, he rolled the No. 5 off sixth. After taking the lead five different times during the race and avoiding a 23-car accident on the backstretch, Labonte celebrated a win in Victory Lane. He finished the season with that win and 20 top-10 finishes.
May 1, 2006 – Jimmie Johnson had not won at Talladega yet, and 2006 was his year. He started the race 16th but battled his way through the pack for 188 laps. And although he led only three laps the entire race, he led them at the right time and crossed the finish line first. Johnson was then in control of the points and went on to win his first of six championships.
April 29, 2007 – Jeff Gordon had already won four poles in 2007 and he started the weekend at Talladega by adding a fifth to his resume. After leading 71 laps and an exciting green-white-checkered battle to the finish, Gordon pulled ahead to take the checkered flag. It was the second consecutive race that he started from the front and ended in the front. Gordon currently leads active drivers in wins, top-five finishes, top-10s and laps led at Talladega Superspeedway.
