CONCORD, N.C. – It’s time to head back to the Sunshine State.
For the second time this season, drivers will be racing at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. But this trip will be to race under the lights at the superspeedway on Sunday.
As Hendrick Motorsports teams prepare to spend their July 4th weekend at the track, let’s take a look at three very memorable moments from Daytona.
July 4, 1986 – What better way to spend the 4th of July than racing for a win at Daytona International Speedway? Because that is exactly what Tim Richmond did in 1986. He started the race ninth but quickly maneuvered his way to the front to capture the checkered flag and trophy. Richmond was in his first and only season driving for Hendrick Motorsports and what a season it was for him. By the end of the 1986 season, Richmond had won seven races and finished third in the points standings, which was a career high.
July 1, 1995 – Jeff Gordon was looking for his first victory at Daytona. After having a not-so-lucky race at the superspeedway earlier in the season, Gordon was ready to turn that around. He qualified third and ran a tough race but eventually ended up on top. That was his first of now six wins at Daytona International Speedway, and his fourth win of the 1995 season. Gordon finished the season with his first championship in the bag.
July 6, 2013 - Jimmie Johnson had already seen Victory Lane at Daytona earlier in the season, and he was back hoping to sweep the track. When the green flag dropped he started the race eighth but eventually led over half of the laps, 94 out of 160 laps, and claimed his second Daytona victory of the season. Johnson went on to dominate the rest of the 2013 season and was awarded his sixth championship to prove it.
