Jeff Gordon: Confiscated components ‘weighing on our minds’ at Hendrick

75 decades on the keep track of is some thing truly worth celebrating. All season extended, NBC will be recognizing NASCAR’s 75th anniversary and counting down some of the most iconic moments in the sport’s heritage.

Considering the fact that 1948, the roar of engines and thrill of superior speeds has captivated people around the globe. Now, several yrs afterwards, the pleasure remains as the next generation sets an additional electrifying season in motion.

Whether it’s the to start with NASCAR Championship victory from Pink Byron in 1949 or Ross Chastain’s unforgettable “video activity move” in 2022, there are many reminiscences to relive from the keep track of that will stand the take a look at of time.

We’ll get a appear at some of the most outstanding moments  in NASCAR historical past, updating on a regular basis all through the period. Remain tuned to NBC Sporting activities for memories and moments from about seven a long time of competitiveness.

Connected: Simply click here for the whole 2023 NASCAR program

Talladega 2004: Jeff Gordon edges Dale Earnhardt Jr. in controversial complete

The Earnhardt name is magic at Talladega Superspeedway, where by Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. enjoyed good results soon after results. But it was Jeff Gordon who rode to victory in a controversial complete at the 2.66-mile keep track of in 2004.

Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. were being battling for the lead with five laps to go when Brian Vickers crashed, resulting in a caution flag. Eco-friendly-white-checkered extra time guidelines experienced not absent into effect at that time, and NASCAR made the decision the winner — in this scenario Gordon — centered on which driver was in front at the time of the flag. Gordon appeared to be about a fifty percent-vehicle-length in entrance, and he took the caution and checkered flags for the earn.

The ruling did not go in excess of nicely with lots of in the Talladega grandstands. Drink cans, seat cushions and other debris — some hitting Gordon’s automobile — ended up thrown on to the monitor by followers as Gordon took a victory lap.

Gordon led the race’s closing six laps, which includes the very last four underneath warning.

2013 Daytona 500: Danica Patrick scores first pole gain by woman

Danica Patrick’s final decision to depart IndyCar racing for NASCAR introduced a wave of publicity to inventory vehicle racing’s best degree, and she rode the crest to headlines in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500 at the start of her initially full year in Cup racing.

Patrick, driving for Stewart Haas Racing, ran a lap at 196.434 mph to gain the 500 pole, becoming the 1st woman to do so. Jeff Gordon qualified 2nd. Patrick concluded eighth in the race.

Patrick’s hopes to have a effective job in NASCAR faded. She didn’t get another pole following the Daytona run in 2013, and she hardly ever gained a race.

In 5-furthermore seasons in Cup, she experienced no top rated-5 finishes and seven finishes in the top 10.

2020 The Actual Heroes 400 at Darlington: Back again to racing

The NASCAR Cup Collection experienced run its initially 4 races of the 2020 time ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic took maintain in the United States in early March.

It would be much more than two months prior to drivers and groups strike the observe again. The commence of a significantly reconfigured 2020 Cup routine took put May perhaps 17 at Darlington Raceway.

With rigorous COVID-19 basic safety protocols in spot, the True Heroes 400 ran at the rear of closed doorways. Only important personnel were being existing at Darlington for the race, which was amid the initially big experienced sporting functions in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic.

Kevin Harvick reached a milestone with his 50th career Cup Series win and celebrated by performing donuts at the start off/end line. When he climbed out of his Ford, he was only satisfied with silence.

“The weirdest part of the day for me was finding out of the car or truck and not hearing any one cheering,” Harvick stated.

It was a working day as opposed to any other in NASCAR record. But the sport’s mission experienced been completed. Racing was back.

1959 Daytona 500: Picture complete decides inaugural winner

For several years, automobiles raced on the Daytona Beach front, Florida, shores, but Monthly bill France Sr. experienced an additional concept — developing a superior-banked 2.5-mile speedway a couple of miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

NASCAR’s initial race there was 1959. Johnny Beauchamp was declared the winner, crossing the complete line three-large with Lee Petty and the lapped auto of Joe Weatherly.

Petty claimed he received the race, but it wasn’t till 3 days later on that photographic proof was discovered that confirmed Petty beating Beauchamp to the end line. The photo was taken by T. Taylor Warrne, who was selected as the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence and honored at the 2023 NASCAR Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The father of Richard Petty went on to get his 3rd collection title, likely with crowns in 1954 and ’58.

2020 GEICO 500 at Talladega: NASCAR stands united for Bubba Wallace

During the June 2020 race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, a member of Bubba Wallace’s crew documented to NASCAR that a noose had been put in Wallace’s garage stall.

On the day of the race, drivers and crew users pushed Wallace’s automobile to the front of pit road in a display of solidarity. Wallace went on to end 14th in the race.

An FBI investigation afterwards ruled that there was no hate criminal offense since the garage rope experienced been like that due to the fact the past October and there was no way to know Wallace’s staff would have that garage several months later.

After the FBI’s conclusions ended up disclosed, Wallace explained he was “relieved” that he experienced not been especially qualified, but also disappointed about the ensuing reaction – which noticed some on social media query his integrity and accuse him of perpetrating a hoax.

Since the incident, Wallace has gone on to grow to be a profitable driver at the Cup Series amount.

In Oct 2021, he claimed his 1st vocation Cup Sequence win at Talladega, getting the initial Black driver to get a race in NASCAR’s leading division in practically 58 years.

A 2nd Cup gain followed in September 2022 at Kansas Speedway.

2011 Daytona 500: Trevor Bayne adds to Daytona’s legacy of shock winners

The Daytona 500 is not only NASCAR’s greatest race, but also 1 of its most unpredictable.

9 drivers have earned their initially NASCAR Cup Collection earn in the Daytona 500. In truth, it happened in both 2021 and 2022 (Austin Cindric – 2022, Michael McDowell – 2021).

In advance of then, the most recent driver to pull this feat off was Trevor Bayne.

The Tennessee native captured the 2011 Daytona 500 driving for Wooden Brothers Racing, a group which is competed in NASCAR given that 1950 but was working only element-time in 2011 (the workforce returned to complete-time position in 2016).

Producing this an even more substantial upset: Bayne received in just his second profession Cup Sequence start out, which matched a standing Cup history set by Jamie McMurray through the 2002 time.

As Bayne took the checkered flag in extra time, his yell in excess of the No. 21 team’s radio summed it all up not just for himself, but everyone watching: “Are you kidding me?!? What?!?”

1993 Daytona 500: ‘The Dale and Dale Show’

The 1993 Daytona 500 was winding down, and a mother and father could only speculate what fate experienced in store for their son.

As Dale Jarrett raced for the acquire, his mother, Martha, viewed from a van within the monitor, while his father, Ned, assisted address the race for CBS Sports activities.

The last laps came, and Dale Jarrett had a possibility. But could he conquer the dominant Dale Earnhardt?

Opportunity offered itself coming to the white flag, and Dale Jarrett produced his shift. He ultimately cleared Earnhardt for 1st position.

CBS producer Bob Stenner then experienced guide announcer Ken Squier go silent – and informed Ned Jarrett to “call your son dwelling and be a Daddy.”

Ned’s ensuing call has echoed by NASCAR heritage ever due to the fact:

“…It’s the “Dale and Dale Show” as we come off Switch 4! You know who I’m pulling for, it is Dale Jarrett. Deliver her to the within, Dale! Don’t allow him get down there! He’s gonna make it! Dale Jarrett’s gonna get the Daytona 500!”

Moments just after Dale Jarrett experienced won, CBS cameras cut to an awestruck Martha Jarrett in the van.

After a minute, she shut her eyes and clasped her hands alongside one another in prayer.

Take a look at NASCAR on NBC for for much more unforgettable moments and historic tracks all time very long, and continue to be tuned to NBC, United states of america and Peacock for protection of the 2023 time.