CONCORD, N.C. - Boy, did our buddy Sam Ulrich down in archives come up big for you guys this week!
Welcome to the Hendrick Motorsports Artifact of the Week, a weekly story in which ol' Sam digs around all over campus, trying to find some of the coolest trinkets and trophies from 40 years of NASCAR Cup Series history. And despite setting the bar high in recent weeks, Sam may have outdone himself this time.
It's hard to top an original. But we can show one, or eight of them off! Behold, the original pistons run in Geoff Bodine's No. 5 All-Star Racing Chevrolet during practice and qualifying for the 1984 DAYTONA 500. They're intact, original and still in the box, ordered from Competition Engines, a Harrisburg, North Carolina-based independent shop run by Randy Dorton, who would serve as Hendrick Motorsports' long-time chief engine builder in the coming years.
Seriously, check these out:
As the box claims, the parts were run on February 22, 1984, and since has come a cavalcade of success at Daytona International Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports enters this Saturday's race leading all teams with 17 wins, 23 poles, 64 top fives, 114 top 10s and 2,331 laps led at the World Center of Racing.
In other words, Sam to make some choices this week and we think he made the right one.
Now, for your part!
That's right, Sam didn't forget about the dear reader!
Test your trivia might against Sam's quiz and if you're one of the highest scorers, you will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a prize. Or this week, two of them!
As we mentioned, Hendrick Motorsports is no stranger to success at Daytona and that includes each of the last two DAYTONA 500s, both won by William Byron. This week, you can own a 2024 DAYTONA 500 champion hat and shirt (size large) by conquering Sam's quiz.
Remember, entries are limited to one per device. The quiz will close at 11:45 p.m. on Monday.
Thanks and good luck!