Dale Earnhardt used pit strategy to finally break through at Bristol. Credit: Daivd Taylor/Getty Images

Enduring Performance: 1994 Food City 500

Eanrhardt ends three-year, short-track drought at Bristol

If Dale Earnhardt was this good in a car he didn't like, can you imagine how dominant he'd be in one he liked?

Forced to use a two-year-old Chevrolet that he had never raced before -- and starting in 24th place -- Earnhardt snapped a three-year, short-track drought with a seven-second victory over Ken Schrader in the 1994 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was his eighth victory there, and 61st overall.

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	Results 1994 Food City 500 Pos. Driver Make 1. D. Earnhardt Chevrolet 2. K. Schrader Chevrolet 3. L. Speed Ford 4. G. Bodine Ford 5. M. Waltrip Pontiac Complete results, click here

"We dodged trouble, stayed out and stayed cool," Earnhardt said. "Everything just worked out for us."

Taking the lead from Mark Martin on Lap 170, Geoffrey Bodine dominated for nearly 150 laps, keeping both Rusty Wallace and Earnhardt at bay. However, Bodine was forced to pit for fuel under green on Lap 317. That handed the lead to Earnhardt and put Bodine a lap down to the leader.

Now Bodine could go the rest of the way without stopping -- and Earnhardt could not. But luck was in Earnhardt's favor, as a crash brought out a caution flag soon after, allowing Earnhardt to pit at that point and still maintain his one-lap advantage on Bodine.

"Our plan is consistency and to put the pressure on," Earnhardt said. "There are a lot of teams out there that are running good, and we've got to go at 'em."

Bodine, who arguably had the fastest car, wound up fourth behind Earnhardt, Schrader and Lake Speed, as Earnhardt led the final 183 laps.

"It's a shame we got caught in the pits," Bodine said. "But we proved a lot of things today."

Martin's day proved to be less successful. His Ford suffered from a series of tire issues, finally hitting the wall late in the race. He wound up 21st, one position better than Jeff Gordon, who also crashed.

Surprise polesitter Chuck Bown, driving for Bobby Allison, never led a lap as Wallace jumped in front and led the first 58 circuits.

Michael Waltrip's fifth-place finish was his best since running fourth at Rockingham in 1992.

The victory put Earnhardt 40 points ahead of Ernie Irvan in the standings. Irvan's day ended after 167 laps with a broken timing chain.

Irvan would regain the points lead two weeks later -- and increase his margin over Earnhardt by as many as 163 points -- but he suffered serious head injuries in a practice crash before the Michigan race in August.

Earnhardt went on to win his seventh and final championship by 444 points over Martin.