Photo – Charlotte Motor Speedway

Rick Hendrick took a chance on Jeff Gordon and it paid off. The 22-year-old driver found himself in victory lane after NASCAR’s longest event, the Coca-Cola 600.

Gordon’s crew chief, Ray Evernham, used a two-tire strategy to get him out in front for good. The No. 24 car had the best view of Charlotte Motor Speedway, starting on the pole.

The two dominant cars on the night were Geoffrey Bodine and Rusty Wallace. Neither driver won the Coca-Cola 600 up to that point. Both drivers together led 288 of the 400 laps of the race.

Wallace was heading to his first win in the Coca-Cola 600, but everyone still had to make their last pit stop. The No. 2 car took four tires, while the No. 24 bunch only took two. The strategy put Gordon in front of Wallace, settling in second, as leader Ricky Rudd still had to pit. Once Rudd peeled off with nine laps to go, the lead was back in Gordon’s hands for good, as the Hendrick driver scored his first career win in the longest race of the season.

It was an emotional one, as Gordon was overcome with tears in victory lane.
Wallace and Bodine had to settle for second and third respectively, as Dale Jarrett and Ernie Irvan rounded out the top-five.

1994 Coca-Cola 600 Top-Ten

#24 Jeff Gordon
#2 Rusty Wallace
#7 Geoffrey Bodine
#18 Dale Jarrett
#28 Ernie Irvan
#10 Ricky Rudd
#33 Harry Gant
#75 Todd Bodine
#3 Dale Earnhardt
#30 Michael Waltrip